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23 July 2010
WILL THE BOOMS BE GOING BACK IN THE WATER?
WILL THE PRISTINE FORGOTTEN COAST RETURN TO 'BUSINESS AS USUAL'?
As anticipated, much of the protective boom encasing Florida's Forgotten Coast has been removed in anticipation of a breeze from Bonnie. The move was made to keep the floating oil barriers from self destructing and to make sure they can't cause serious environmental damage to the areas that they were suppossed to protect.
Even though no oil has even come close to the Forgotten Coast, the booms were put in place as a "proactive" maneuver "just in case." It is anticipated that Bonnie will push the already leaked oil further to the west and even further away from this region.
That gives rise to a most significant question: will the protective booms be placed back in the bays and Gulf?
There are many who believe it isn't going to happen.
With the well capped; much oil collected; and the Forgotten Coast seemingly out of harms way for the immediate future; it is very possible that authorities will determine there is no need for the bulky boom to be deployed again. That, if it can be removed and deployed in just 48 hours the crews can wait and start deployment if and when the oil this way.
Before the arrival of breezy Bonnie the NOAA predictions called for about a 40% chance of oil hitting our shores. Our guess is the percentage will now drop even lower.
There is also an economic factor.
Someone has to pay the bills and there is little or no chance that "at risk" boom deploying companies are going to be anxious to go out on a financial limb if they don't receive full blessings from the bill payers.
Speaking of economics, for the last three months the Forgotten Coast has been exisitng in a false economy and it will be interesting to watch how things evolve.
Hopefully, things will return to "business as usual."
BP passed out $5,000 checks to area oystermen almost immediately after the spill. Big mistake!
The state opened the local oyster bars to allow as much tonging as possible before disaster struck. It certainly made sense at the time and given the circumstances. Some of the harvesters headed for Disneyland with their checks. Local dealers complained that they couldn't get enough harvesters to fill their orders. Prices went up. Restaurant owners suffered. Consumers suffered. My gallon of shucked oysters went up to $60 and I felt fortunate.
Now the head honcho for the local oystermen is complaining that there are no more oysters in Apalachicola Bay and workers will have nothing to harvest this winter. And she wants harvesters to be compensated. About 1,200 oyster licenses were issued for this year but is unlikely even half of the 1,200 are actually active harvesters. More likely around 200 to 300.
BP representatives hired "Vessels of Opportunity." For $1,200 a day and up. Some local charter boat captains gave up their "day job" to take advantage and to help. Leaving their longtime summer customers stranded and seeking alternative means of transportation and guidance.
Tourism related businesses and organizations immediately felt the pinch as "perception" caused cancellations during the peak season. Promotion was ramped up thanks to a ton of BP money. $25 million in Florida alone. Forgotten Coast Tourist Development Councils and Chambers of Commerce did an excellent job of getting the "Coast is Clear" message out and the Horizon impact was nearly as bad as it could have been.
But we are now heading into August - a mixed blessing month on the Forgotten Coast. After the curtain climbers head back to school the summer swimming season subsides and the area relies on the "empty nesters" and the weekend fishermen and true sun and beach lovers for their business.
The reservations for August are down. But that doesn't mean that they will stay down. A rental manager we talked to on St. George Island remained optimistic that, now that the well is capped, that the phones will start ringing. And noted that through all of this many homeowners in the rental pool have become more flexible and are allowing reservations for less than the traditional week.
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Visitors & Residents Choose NOT to be Impacted
(Editor's Note: As of July 19, 2010 Florida's Forgotten Coast was free of oil and its historically productive seafood harvesting grounds remained pristine. The area has been "proactive" in anticipation of the possibility of a turning of the tides. Meanwhile, thousands of families from throughout the Southeastern United States are on the Forgotten Coast and gathering memories and photographs for their "What I Did on my Summer Vacation" scrapbooks
Reports from across the Florida Panhandle indicate that a great number of our visitors, vacationers, absentee owners and residents are choosing to see the glass half full. You have decided that you will not allow yourselves to agonize over the Horizon Crisis day after day or week after week. That life goes on and mental and physical well-being go hand-in-hand.
BP be damned - you and your family will enjoy the Florida and Florida’s Forgotten Coast one way or another.
Normally each visitor to the Forgotten Coast gets at least a quarter mile of “private beach.” That isn’t expected to change. With a little searching we are confident you will discover a great, unaffected area for an outing. Ardent beach goers in the western portion of the Panhandle have already proven they are unwilling to give up “a day at the beach” without a fight. Choosing instead to cohabitate with anything “Horizon” can throw at them. We Americans are one resilient breed.
Yes, the Forgotten Coast is famous for having some of the greatest beaches in the country. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park having been ranked number one and the St. George Island State Park having been consistently listed among the Top 10. Heck, Mexico Beach just got listed among the top 35 spots to visit. But th Forgotten Coast also features so much more. For instance, did you know that 87 percent of the land in Franklin County is reserved and preserved? And both Wakulla & Gulf Counties feature much the same characteristics. Do you know what’s in those countless acres of pristine properties?
That’s the point.
GO EXPLORING
This is a heck of an opportunity to explore the unexplored areas of the Forgotten Coast. Did you know that there are expanses out there with nary a footprint? Gather goodies in a backpack; don your hiking shoes; dust off the binoculars and take a hike! They don’t call it “Tate’s Hell” for nothing.
If you aren’t into “roughing it”, there are designated trails in parks and reserves all along the Forgotten Coast. Heck, drive on over to St. Marks in Wakulla County and do the “rail trail.” In fact, after reading this article kindly go to the “B” section and read Bonnie Holub’s “Wakulla Ways” column about all the great things she recommends in her backyard.
FRESHWATER FISHING AND BOATING
Let’s talk fishing and boating. The Forgotten Coast is a series of “islands.” It is both the Gulf and a series of pristine freshwater rivers that slice up the land masses and make it so. Boat up the Apalachicola, Carrabelle and Ochlockonee Rivers and you will discover honey holes galore. Wrestling a bass on light tackle is tantalizing and takes talent. Do you want to learn fly fishing? Practice on the bream that abound. See if you can make that fly temptingly dance across the top pads.
Better still, grab a cane pole, line, worm and bobber and do it the old-fashion way.
Did I mention that when the local folks want to get away from it all for a weekend, they head up our rivers? There are actually beaches along the Apalachicola River.
If you have never taken a boat ride in the “Dead Lakes” area near Wewahitchka (Gulf County) you have missed a fisherman and photographer’s dream come true. And along the route from Port St. Joe to Wewa there are a series of landings off to your right that are a delight.
On the www.forgottencoastline.com website you will find a section entitled “Parks and Attractions” and will discover well over 100 delightful, historic, charming and beautiful spots to visit. You could visit the Forgotten Coast a dozen times before making even a small dent in the potential itinerary.
Take a daytrip to Wakulla Springs and discover why many consider it the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
And if you are a “birder” you’ll be certain to add to your personal list at any and all of the above locations.
If you are a history buff consider a few hours at the John Gorrie Museum in Apalach and the Constitutional Museum in Port St. Joe. Gorrie’s original Yellow fever patients “cooling machine” is in the Smithsonian and the original St. Joe was a pretty significant Florida city until being virtually wiped of the map. In Carrabelle there’s the Camp Gordon Johnston Association World War ll Museum and a local history museum. While there you might as well get your picture taken inside the World’s Smallest Police Station. It is a phone booth on the main drag.
Port St. Joe, Apalachicola and Carrabelle are great “walking towns.” Just park the car (save your quarters -no parking meters); stroll the streets and soak in the local ambiance.
If all of this sightseeing is making you a wee bit hungry or thirsty be sure to stop at one or two of our many fine restaurants and colorful watering holes.
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)Congratulations!