The Santa Rosa Island Authority Board narrowed down their search for a new Executive Director at a special meeting, May 1. The five finalists are Brian Underwood, William Whitson, Mike Burns, Ted Yates and Clete Saunier.

Interviews are set for May 21; public presentations are May 22 at the SRIA meeting which begins at 5 p.m. Read more for details. 

Escambia County Sea Turtle Conservation Program volunteers greeted the sun early this morning, May 1, as they officially welcomed the start of sea turtle nesting season. Today marked their first daily morning patrol on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, looking for nesting and other turtle activity occurring overnight.

Escambia County has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Coastal Resiliency Fund to enhance native dune vegetation on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.

Escambia County will host at least one public meeting to gather stakeholder input on the design process and develop a dune management handbook to help gulf-front owners and leaseholders maintain and preserve dune systems on their property. The date has not yet been set. 

Planting work is expected to begin in spring 2025.