WALTON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISIONERS PASS RESOLUTION FOR NATIONAL CLEAN BEACHES WEEK

Contact: Tracy Louthain

850.267.1216 ext. 122

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. -(June 20, 2007)- The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), has proclaimed that June 29th through July 5th, shall be observed as National Clean Beaches Week in Walton County. The resolution was passed by the BCC on June 11, 2007 and witnessed by Martha Ingle, Clerk and Kenneth S. Pridgen, Chairman. The South Walton Community Council (SWCC) and the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) join the community in celebrating National Clean Beaches Week by hosting a Post-Independence Day Coastal Cleanup on Thursday, July 5th. The coastal cleanup provides residents and visitors a chance to take part in keeping the beaches beautiful and pristine. These efforts pay off each year. Beaches of South Walton is the only destination in the nation to have all 26 miles of sugar-white beaches certified as Blue Wave beaches by the Clean Beaches Council. This is the seventh year in a row Beaches of South Walton has received the Blue Wave certification, America?s first environmental certification program for healthy beaches. ?Beaches of South Walton has been one of our premier partners for more than six years and has consistently set an example for exceptional beach management and maintenance practices,? said Walter McLeod, president of Clean Beaches Council. ?The destination?s participation in Clean Beaches Week further demonstrates the TDC?s and -more-

the community?s commitment to beach preservation.? The TDC has always taken a proactive approach to beach management. By cleaning the beaches 365 days a year and maintaining a vigorous maintenance and repair schedule for pristine and accessible. Caring for the beaches is not a job the TDC takes lightly. The TDC assesses the beaches frequently and assigns beach nourishment activities and or projects as needed. The Dune Restoration Project which helped to revitalize our dune systems through the replacement of native vegetation and the Beach Nourishment Project that renewed upland protection from future storm surge in order to keep the economic vitality of the county healthy through tourism are two or the larger projects overseen by the TDC. Since 2001, these types of programs have directed the planting of 265,000 plants including sea oats, dune panic grass and Salt meadow cord grass and restore eroded beaches by pumping sand and constructing fences to aid in the protection of the dunes. The Beach Nourishment project ran for eight years, was completed this February and restored 26,200 feet of beach over five miles in Western Walton County, adding 75-100 feet of beach in these areas. To participate in the Post Independence Day Coastal Clean-Up, visit one of the following beach accesses on June 5th between 8-10am: Miramar Beach, Dune Allen/Fort Panic, Ed Walline, Blue Mountain, Grayton Dunes, Seagrove Beach at Santa Clara, Eastern Lake Neighborhood, Seacrest at Mistral and Rosemary Beach at Western Green Dune Walkover. Shorts, T-shirt and sunglasses or a hat is appropriate attire. Water and mandatory gloves will be provided on site.

For more information on Beaches of South Walton visit www.beachesofsouthwalton.com.