How is the Refuge Doing?

Three staff members are  now responsible for managing everything that our Refuges need to do to meet their mission. Their achievements in these first weeks with only half of their already small team is an impressive testimony to their skills and commitment to the wildlife, the land, and the river they signed on to conserve and protect for all of us. However, they cannot possibly do all that is needed.

Here is some of what they are accomplishing.

Achievements

• Maintaining progress toward securing hurricane recovery funding to repair and upgrade the public access fishing and observation dock at Vista
• Identifying potential funding to harden Seahorse Key against future hurricane erosion and initiating preliminary procedures
• Working with Mike Allen, director of the Nature Coast Biological Station, to secure funding for a solar panel array for the Seahorse Key research station and a new restroom to make public access possible again.
• Managing two forestry projects that improve fire lines by removing roadside vegetation and restore forest habitat by mulching overabundant native vegetation

Long before time and storms damaged the dock at Vista, it was a beautiful place to observe the River. We want to again have safe public access.

Erosion at Seahorse Key from Hurricane Idalia. It is much worse now after Hurricane Helene.

• Securing funding to repair hurricane damage to the cemeteries at Atsena Otie and Seahorse Key
• Overseeing the repair of hurricane damage at the Shell Mound fishing and observation pier
• Securing agreements with regional agencies to partially ease our concerns about the lack of law enforcement presence on the Refuge and ability to maintain an appropriate prescribed burning schedule
• Working with Friends to provide new signage highlighting the Refuge's relationship to the Trail of Tears

The Atsena Otie cemetery needs repair to return to pre-Hurricane Helene status.

The roadsides need to be mowed for safety, but we also want to maximize the growth of pollinator-friendly wildflowers.

The achievements speak to how well the Refuge staff set priorities. However, necessarily, some important tasks have to be postponed or outsourced and some deadlines can't be met. 

Tasks Postponed, Timelines not Met

Refuge staff members were able to bring equipment to assist local responders with hurricane recovery in the past.

A previous hunt brochure cover

• For years, the staff has worked with Friends' member and butterfly expert Barbara Woodmansee and others to schedule mowing along the lime-rock roads and of the grass roads so it balances the needs of pollinators and the need  to keep the roads clear and fire-safe. The remaining staff can't do all the mowing themselves. Outsourcing the task shrinks their ability to determine the preferred schedule.
• Preparation of the information brochures for fall Hunt Season is lagging its previous schedule. 
• It is almost impossible to keep up with the preparation of Special Use Permits needed for research projects on the Refuges or those needed by individual hunters who required them because of disabilities.
  
• The deadline could not be met to apply for internal government "permission documents" to provide our local communities with support for hurricane or disaster recovery.
  

A lot is happening. Our Refuges are open and operating. But all is not well.