NaGISA Reaching Out
The Niceville NaGISA team has recently partnered with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA). CBA is an organization committed to sustaining and providing optimum utilization of the Choctawhatchee Basin watershed. CBA provides opportunities for citizens, educators, and technical experts to promote the health of Choctawhatchee watershed.
Our team has had experience with global research, so we are now focusing on making our mark on the local scientific community. By partnering with this organization, we hope to have even more opportunities for our students.
Currently, we monitor water quality at multiple sites in the Swift Creek area by collecting and processing monthly samples. We currently use the Northwest Florida State College CBA laboratory for analysis. This data, along with information from other sites, is sent to the University of Florida's Florida LAKEWATCH program.
We look forward to expanding this partnership and beginning an education outreach program to local elementary and middle schools with the objective of teaching about the importance of our marine ecosystems.
Our team has had experience with global research, so we are now focusing on making our mark on the local scientific community. By partnering with this organization, we hope to have even more opportunities for our students.
Currently, we monitor water quality at multiple sites in the Swift Creek area by collecting and processing monthly samples. We currently use the Northwest Florida State College CBA laboratory for analysis. This data, along with information from other sites, is sent to the University of Florida's Florida LAKEWATCH program.
We look forward to expanding this partnership and beginning an education outreach program to local elementary and middle schools with the objective of teaching about the importance of our marine ecosystems.
History of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance
In early 1996, representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), other state, federal and local government agencies, environmental organizations, and members of the business community met with concerned citizens and elected officials at Northwest Florida State College to discuss environmental quality and economic development. The sharing of concerns from participants along with the discussion on philosophies of ecosystem management from the FDEP and Eglin AFB sparked a partnership for sustainable development that is now called the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance of Northwest Florida State College (CBA).
So why is our team involved in CBA? CBA is an organization committed to sustaining and providing optimum utilization of the Choctawhatchee Basin watershed. CBA also provides opportunities for citizens, educators, and technical experts to promote the health of Choctawhatchee watershed.
So why is our team involved in CBA? CBA is an organization committed to sustaining and providing optimum utilization of the Choctawhatchee Basin watershed. CBA also provides opportunities for citizens, educators, and technical experts to promote the health of Choctawhatchee watershed.
The Vision of CBA with NaGISA
The health of our water resources is the foundation for our identity and our economic security. Be it fishing, tourism, or our quality of life, everything depends upon a healthy watershed. As environmental and anthropogenic threats continue to impact these critical natural areas, local citizens need to become active stewards of these precious resources to ensure that future generations can enjoy them. Community support aids CBA in acquiring funding that will make a positive change in our environment for the long term.
CBA utilizes public awareness, public involvement, and collaboration to:
CBA utilizes public awareness, public involvement, and collaboration to:
- Promote optimum utilization of the basin resources through citizen empowerment.
- Engage citizens to practice environmentally sound land management.
- Involve government agencies to act and reflect public needs, desires and values.
- Utilize public support and citizen involvement to initiate technical projects and coordinate efforts between citizens, business owners, environmental organizations, and government agencies to solve specific problems.
