Century in full bloom

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Featured is a plant commonly known as the Century plant which was spotted in base housing here. The plant only flowers every 10 to 25 years and it's a member of the Amaryllis family known as Agave Americana. The plant originally hails from Mexico. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary)

Natural Resources manager named best in DoD

Eglin leaders accept the Secretary of Defense Natural Resources Management Award Jun. 2 at the Pentagon for their outstanding achievements to conserve and sustain natural and cultural resources entrusted to the DoD. From left to right: Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, stood in attendance as The Honorable William J. Lynn III, Deputy Secretary of Defense presented Steve Seiber, chief, Eglin Natural Resources section with a trophy. Also pictured here are The Honorable Terry A.Yonkers, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics and Maria Rodriguez, Eglin Stewardship Branch chief. Other persons in attendance were Randall Rowland,chief, Eglin Environmental Management Division;The Honorable Aston B.Carter, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics and Sherri Goodman, General Council, CNA Corporation. See the full story at www.eglin.af.mil. (Courtesy Photo)

Sediment samples

Melissa Hoover and Jordan Gibson of Brown, Burdine and Associates collect sediment samples, from Choctawhatchee Bay, using a stainless steel Ponar sampling device. The base is collecting samples and documentation to establish a baseline condition of the 18 miles of Santa Rosa Island that Eglin controls along with the miles of shoreline along Choctawhatchee Bay to ensure the base has a strong understanding of its coastal natural resources. (Photo by Jonathan Kramer.)

Wetland samples

Melissa Hoover and Tony Schmucker of Brown, Burdine and Associates collect field samples from wetlands near the Eglin Beach Club on Santa Rosa Island. Surface water and sediment samples were collected from four separate wetlands on the island. The base is collecting samples and documentation to establish a baseline condition of the 18 miles of Santa Rosa Island that Eglin controls along with the miles of shoreline along Choctawhatchee Bay to ensure the base has a strong understanding of its coastal natural resources. (Photo by Jordan Gibson.)

CEG teaches pollution

Travis Adams, 96th Civil Engineer Group uses cocoa powder to simulate dirt and pet waste on a topographical stormwater model at Longwood Elementary recently. With the help of a squirt bottle, the environmental scientist demonstrates how rainfall can collect these contaminates and pollute local waterways. The 96th CEG Environmental Management Division provided the stormwater and air pollution presentations to fourth and fifth graders at three Okaloosa County schools.(Air Force photo/Scott Moorman)

Erosion control

(front) Paula Riley, 96 Civil Engineer Group’s Stewardship Division administrator and Kelly Mandello, 96th CEG Environmental Compliance Division, stack sod during an Earth Day project on Weekly Bayou April 23 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Four pallets of sod was placed along the bank of the bayou to protect it from soil erosion and help Eglin comply with the Clean Water Act. (Air Force photo/Scott Moorman.)

Earth Day 5K

Mike Roberts, 96th Civil Engineer Group, runs the annual Earth Day 5K April 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Nearly 130 Team Eglin warriors participated this year. The 5K run was part of Eglin’s week-long Earth Day celebration. (Air Force photo/Scott Moorman.)

Carry on!

Senior Airman Christopher Lacy, Explosive Ordnance Disposal team member, runs the annual Earth Day 5K in battle helmet and flack vest to prepare for his upcoming deployment April 20 at Eglin Air Force Base. Airman Lacy said it wasn't bad during the run, but his lower back "did not" like him the next day. Nearly 130 Team Eglin warriors particpated in the run this year. The 5K run was part of Eglin’s week-long Earth Day celebration. (Air Force photo/Scott Moorman.)

Heads up

Senior Airman Levi Santos, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, shows an example of the garbage found throughout the Eglin Air Force Base range April 21. 30 volunteers picked up 5,400 pounds of garbage this year. The range clean-up is an annual event that coincides with Earth Day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings.)

Pick it up

Nicole Sowell, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, cleans up garbage found throughout the Eglin Air Force Base range April 21. 30 volunteers picked up 5,400 pounds of garbage this year. The range clean-up is an annual event that coincides with Earth Day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings.)

Snake charmer

Taylor Tidwell, 96th Civil Engineer Group, holds an Eastern Hognose snake April 19 after the first-ever Kayak tour through the Eglin Air Force Base range. The Hognose is a rare breed of non-poisonous snake found on the Eglin range. The five and a half mile kayak tour took 10 people down Boiling Creek and the Yellow River deep within the Eglin range. The scenic tour showed off Eglin’s unique wild and plant life. It kicked off Eglin’s week-long Earth Day celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Follow the leader

Kayakers drift toward the end of the first-ever kayak tour through the Eglin Air Force Base range April 19. The five and a half mile kayak tour took 10 people down Boiling Creek and the Yellow River deep within the Eglin range. The scenic tour showed off Eglin’s unique wild and plant life. It kicked off Eglin’s week-long Earth Day celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Chasing the dragon

Dragonflies buzz around a drifting flower bud as it moves down Boiling Creek April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Tree snake

A banded water snake suns itself on a log hanging over Boiling Creek April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Butterfly effect

A butterfly stands along the bank of Boiling Creek April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Snake eyes

A banded water snake watches from a tree branch as kayakers are carried down Boiling Creek April 19 during the first-ever kayak tour through the Eglin Air Force Base range. The five and a half mile kayak tour took 10 people down Boiling Creek and the Yellow River deep within the Eglin range. The scenic tour showed off Eglin’s unique wild and plant life. It kicked off Eglin’s week-long Earth Day celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lilly of the water

A water lilly drifts along Boiling Creek as the first-ever Eglin Air Force Base kayak tour passes by April 19. The five and a half mile kayak tour took 10 people down Boiling Creek and the Yellow River deep within the Eglin range. The scenic tour showed off Eglin’s unique wild and plant life. It kicked off Eglin’s week-long Earth Day celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Bug zapper

Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, opens up the carnivorous Whitetop Pitcher Plant to reveal it’s decayed victims April 19 during the first-ever Kayak tour through Eglin’s range. The five and a half mile kayak tour took 10 people down Boiling Creek and the Yellow River deep within the Eglin range. The scenic tour showed off Eglin’s unique wild and plant life. It kicked off Eglin’s week-long Earth Day celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Environmental motives

Terry Yonkers, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, stands with Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, prior to the signing of the proclamation beginning Water Conservation Month March 26 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Some tips for conserving water are: taking shorter showers, chilling water in the fridge, turning off the facet while brushing your teeth, handing wash dishes or limit pre-washing and installing low flow fixtures. U.S. Air Force photo/Ashley M. Wright.

Back to flying status

Stephanie Kadletz, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, releases a Peregrine Falcon on the secured area of Eglin reservation on Santa Rosa Island Feb.19. The falcon had been rehabilitated by the biologists from the ECWR after being shot in the wing by an arrow in November. The Peregrine Falcon is a migratory bird that most likely came from as far north as Canada. While in the Refuge's care, the bird's injuries were treated and medication applied as needed. The bird is thought to be approximately 1-year-old and is expected to make a full recovery. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Spaits.)

Bear guard

Col. David Maharrey, 96th Civil Engineer Group commander, installs "bear latches" while Andrew Jernigan, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, assists on garbage cans in the Poquito Bayou housing area, Jan. 29 at Eglin Air Force Base. Volunteers from the 96th CEG are installing the latches on every garbage can in housing in hopes of discouraging bears from using the trash as a food source that will keep them coming back. In addition to the latches, the volunteers are also going door-to-door distributing information on methods to prevent bears from returning. All housing residents should have the latches installed within the next few weeks. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

Bear guard

Col. David Maharrey, 96th Civil Engineer Group commander, installs "bear latches" on garbage cans in the Poquito Bayou housing area, Jan. 29 at Eglin Air Force Base. Volunteers from the 96th CEG are installing the latches on every garbage can in housing in hopes of discouraging bears from using the trash as a food source that will keep them coming back. In addition to the latches, the volunteers are also going door-to-door distributing information on methods to prevent bears from returning. All housing residents should have the latches installed within the next few weeks. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

Energy Awareness

Bob Mantovani, Gulf Power, shows Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th ABW Commander, the new Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology to reduce energy.

Biologists release baby sea turtles on Eglin beaches

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Twenty-three Loggerhead baby sea turtles were released into the wild off Eglin’s beaches on Santa Rosa Island, Aug. 14. The baby turtles were removed from their nests by endangered species biologists a few days prior to release to enhance their chances for survival after it was discovered they were unable to dig their way out. Most sea turtles lay three to five nests with 80-140 eggs per nest. Female sea turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Currently, Eglin’s beaches are home to more than 20 active nests. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Andrew Caulk)