Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve - Friends of the Reserve

09/10/2026

Vertical Oyster Gardens

Do you have a dock on your property that has oysters growing nearby? The Apalachicola Reserve and the OysterCorps are working to restore oysters in Apalachicola Bay, and you can be part of this effort!

Called a Vertical Oyster Gardens or VOGs, OysterCorps members string together sun-cured recycled oyster shells on a sturdy rope. The VOGs are hung on area docks to recruit oyster spat and build small oyster reefs on the rope.

We are looking for homeowners with docks on Apalachicola Bay. If your dock is suitable, VOGs will be installed and monitored every 3 months for 1 year. After about a year the VOG is removed and used to seed area restoration projects. If you are interested, sign up here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=g0ydZ6KuNUa08Z9QElUbah9l7bUk0FZBq0Ss1Z6au-5UNkxWVUdPUFpGRDRJWk5HU1lCU1JBT0xQNi4u

For questions, call Ale Rios at the Reserve (850) 670-7716. You can discover more about the OysterCorps at https://www.facebook.com/floridacorps

09/09/2026

Homeschool Programs

Get a chance for your children (k-12) to engage in hands-on learning experiences in the connected ecosystems of our watershed. Each student will leave feeling empowered to be good stewards of the environment. Any homeschool group, individual, or family can sign up for one or all of these creative science-based classes. These inquiry-based multidisciplinary classes will be from 9:30am-12:00pm on December 9th, February 9th, and April 14th.

Scan the QR code or use this link to sign up! https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/uSnTQLf72w

09/08/2026

Go Native
Landscaping in the Apalachicola Bay region can be challenging. Heat, humidity, and storms can often wreck your best laid plans. That’s why it's smart to consider using native plants that have evolved to thrive in this climate. Coontie Palm, Zamia integrifolia, for example, is a gorgeous, tough-as-nails cycad that stays compact, growing only 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. It sports glossy, fern-like foliage that holds its color all year long. Coontie palms have ancient roots that predate the time of the dinosaurs and are the host plant for the endangered Atala butterfly. To learn more about our local flora and fauna, check out the displays at the Apalachicola Estuarine Research Reserve, 108 Island Drive, Eastpoint. And while you’re there consider becoming a member to help with our research and education activities.

09/08/2026

09/05/2026

Sci-Cafe Deforestation vs. Forest Degradation: Why degraded ecosystem function is of greater concern in the Apalachicola

In August, the Reserve's Sci-Cafe series featured John Tracy, PhD Assistant professor at Louisiana State University.

The focus of John Tracy’s presentation was on the state of the Apalachicola floodplain and forest in the past and present, and what that means for the health of the system. The Apalachicola River and floodplain are vital for bringing nutrient-rich water down to Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf, but its functionality in this role has struggled in recent decades due to dry periods. The forests of this floodplain can provide key insight on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and critical threats facing the system.

Various restoration efforts are being proposed in response to these findings, including slough restoration by removing sand in the floodplain, reducing hardwood stems, and planting tupelo and cypress seedlings. These proposals aim to improve flows and water quality in the Apalachicola River, allowing it to better provide nutrients to the estuarine system of Apalachicola Bay.

To register for upcoming Sci-Cafes go to our website events calendar at https://www.apalachicolareserve.com/events/. To see past Sci-Cafés go to https://www.apalachicolareserve.com/previous-events/.

09/03/2026

Meet Melanie Humble, one of the many hard-working staff members at the Reserve!

Melanie is an education specialist part of our education team. Combining her artistic mind and love for our planet, Melanie makes sure no educational opportunity is without a flare of creativity, allowing novel perspectives about our natural world to bloom.

You can learn more Melanie and the rest of our Education Staff at the link below:

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3a66973f5f654874a1aca5848f386005

09/02/2026

Our Education team is hard at work preparing a new limited-time display coming this fall – Estuaries at Night. Stay tuned for more information.

09/01/2026

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 5:00 PM ET for the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Reserve. You may attend in person (park in the rear parking lot off Millender Street and go to the Multipurpose Room) or via Zoom (link below).

Topic: Friends of the Reserve Annual Meeting
Time: Sep 2, 2026 04:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99646454913?pwd=7d1huKrqbbrbpgW6mrYazqC5IZwW0W.1
From the Zoom app or website:
Meeting ID: 996 4645 4913
Passcode: 843677

09/01/2026

The Reserve Co-Hosts Nature-Based Solutions Workshop with Florida Corps and Local Partners

In August, the Reserve co-hosted a regional workshop with the Florida Corps, The Nature Conservancy's Scaling Up Nature-Based Solutions (SUNS) initiative, and Gulf Corps to identify and prioritize future restoration projects across Franklin, Gulf, and Bay counties.

The workshop brought together local stakeholders to evaluate potential sites where nature-based solutions—such as living shorelines, rain gardens, and tree planting—could be implemented with assistance from the Florida Corps.

Chris Shepard, Director of Science for The Nature Conservancy's Gulf Program, facilitated the meeting, providing an update on projects submitted through the SUNS initiative and the progress made since the program launched in 2020. Participants then used an interactive web-based mapping application to identify and prioritize additional restoration opportunities throughout the region. Discussions focused on project selection criteria, community priorities, and opportunities for collaboration, with several projects identified for potential future funding.

The Reserve has participated in the SUNS initiative since its inception in 2020. The SUNS team plans to continue convening Florida Corps members and regional partners throughout the Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast to strengthen partnerships and advance nature-based solutions that enhance coastal resilience, restore critical habitats, and support sustainable communities.