Bylaws of the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy Corporation

Article I.
Name, Purpose, and Principle Office

1. Name:
The name of this corporation shall be the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy Corporation. The trade name by which this corporation shall more commonly be known and doing business as shall be the: Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy.

2. Purpose:
This Corporation is organized under the Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes, within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

The specific purposes of the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy Corporation include, but are not limited to, the acquisition, holding, and managing of environmentally sensitive lands and archaeological sites; the establishment of nature preserves and natural habitat sanctuaries for ecological, scientific, educational, cultural, aesthetic, historic, scenic or open space opportunities; the scientific study and preservation of native marine, estuarine, littoral, sylvatic and miscellaneous other natural communities together with all individual living entities contained therein; and to ensure the protection, humane treatment and medical care of imperiled, abused, threatened or endangered animals, creatures, or otherwise threatened organisms.

Preservation of habitat lands may be accomplished by acquiring real property or partial interests therein, including conservation easements as described in Florida Statutes Chapter 704.06, and recording appropriate instruments necessary to protect in perpetuity the physical environment of the area for wildlife, ecological, cultural and aesthetic purposes beneficial to the public interest. Protection of entire populations, including the individual living entities of which it is comprised, may be achieved through the preservation or restoration of the natural communities and habitats suitable for the survival and well-being of native flora and fauna, the pursuit of scientific inquiry about native and introduced organisms, and the establishment of facilities for the medical care, shelter and rehabilitation of debilitated creatures, especially those threatened by human residential expansion, industrial operations, commercial ventures, negligence, cruelty, malicious acts or other detrimental activities.

Of special concern for the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy Corporation are threatened, endangered or otherwise imperiled species native to the Choctawhatchee River Basin and the surrounding coastal regions of northwest Florida. Species of particular concern may include but are not limited to those compiled in Appendix A of these Bylaws.

Of further concern are imperiled or unique natural communities, habitats and ecosystems peculiar to the Choctawhatchee River Basin and the surrounding northwest Florida coastal region. Imperiled natural communities, habitats and ecosystems of primary importance to the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy Corporation may include but are not limited to those compiled in Appendix B of these Bylaws.

3. Principle Office:
The principle office of this corporation shall be located in Okaloosa County, Florida in Niceville, Florida 32578.

Article II.
Membership

1. Membership:
This corporation shall have no voting members with the exception of those members, which reside on the Board of Directors. The members of this corporation shall be classified Contributing Member, Research Fellow, and Honorary Member.

2. Requirements, Responsibilities, Rights and Privileges of Membership:
Any person having paid in full all membership dues and fees shall be eligible to be a Contributing Member. Any person actively engaged in research for the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy shall be eligible to be a Research Fellow. The Board of Directors may grant an Honorary Membership to any individuals for distinguished service in accord with the purposes set forth in Article I, Section 2 of these Bylaws. Research Fellows and Honorary Members shall not be required to pay membership dues or fees.

A member in good standing is defined as being one who has met their obligations to the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy. The initial membership dues shall comprise $35/year.

Every member shall have the right, subject to any Rules and Procedures established by the Board of Directors, to present a paper on original research or development work for which they are solely or chiefly responsible, at any scheduled technical meeting of the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy.

Every member shall have the right to be nominated or to nominate another member to be a candidate for a seat on the Supervisory Board of Directors. A list of all members, with the exception of members who do not wish to be placed on such a public membership list, shall be made available to all members upon request.

Every member shall have the right to submit recommendations and proposals to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is to address and vote on any such proposals endorsed by the membership in a timely manner.

3. Meetings of the Membership
The Executive Board of Directors may determine and announce to the general membership the date, time and place for any meeting of the membership, whereby meetings shall not be limited to a specific geographic location but may take the form of a teleconference via a publicly accessible Internet site or other form of electronic teleconferencing.

4. The Society Newsletter
All members in good standing are entitled to receive a copy of the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy Newsletter delivered via electronic mail or U.S. postal service in which matters relevant to this corporation shall be presented including the dates, times and places of the meetings of the membership.

5. Termination of Membership
The membership of a member may be terminated if it is found that the member acts, has acted or has made tangible plans to act in a manner which defeats or is contrary to the purposes of the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy as set forth in Article I, Section 2 of these Bylaws.

6. Rules and Procedures
If and when it is deemed necessary the Board of Directors may enact or amend further rules regarding membership including membership requirements, responsibilities, rights, privileges, dues, subscription charges and procedures for payment, which shall at such time be set forth as a section of the Rules and Procedures.

Article III.
Board of Directors

1. Powers:
The Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy Corporation shall have powers to the full extent allowed by law. The governing body of this corporation shall be the Board of Directors, which shall be comprised of the Executive Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board of Directors, hereafter referred to as the full Board of Directors, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board respectively. All powers and activities of this corporation shall be exercised and managed directly by the Executive Board or, if delegated, under the ultimate direction of the Executive Board. The Executive Board may delegate powers, activities, privileges and responsibilities to the Supervisory Board, as it deems prudent or necessary. The Supervisory Board shall be informed of all corporation business. On the occasion that the Supervisory Board in itself is not empowered to act, it shall be given opportunity to voice all objections or misgivings to the acts or rulings of the Executive Board, propose alternate procedures or decisions and provide counsel, professional advice, expert testimony or other convincing arguments to guide the actions of the Executive Board.

2. Number of Directors:
The authorized number of Directors on the Executive Board shall be three. By a two/thirds majority vote of the full Board of Directors, the authorized number of active Directors on the Executive Board may in special circumstances be raised to either five or seven.

The maximum authorized number of Directors on the Supervisory Board shall be twelve. There shall be no minimum limit on the number of Directors on the Supervisory Board. By a two/thirds majority vote of the full Board of Directors the authorized number of active Directors on the Supervisory Board may be amended.

3. Election of Directors:
The Incorporators shall act as the initial Directors of the Executive Board until new Directors are appointed by unanimous consent of all Incorporators. Henceforward, any Member may with the acknowledgement of the Executive Board nominate any other Member as a candidate for Directorship on either Board of Directors. Directors of the Supervisory Board shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the general membership. Directors of the Executive Board shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the Supervisory Board. All elections shall be under the direct supervision of the residing full Board of Directors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at all times within the midst of the full Board of Directors should sit Directors who can demonstrate a special aptitude for, advanced knowledge of or experience in: biology, botany, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, ecology, zoology, or other natural science; animal welfare; veterinary medical care of wild and domestic animals; environmental assessment, land surveying, property appraisal, tax law, environmental law; or knowledge of local flora, fauna, medicinal plants, and the culture of early local indigenous people.

4. Vacancies:
A vacancy shall be deemed to exist in the event that the actual number of Directors on the Board of Directors is less than is required to effectively perform the corporation's stated purpose. Resignation shall be effective upon receipt of written notice by the full Board or the Secretary. The Executive Board may remove by majority vote any Director with or without cause.

5. Annual Meeting
The first annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on the 8th day of November of 1999. The date of the annual meeting for the subsequent year shall be determined and announced at the preceding annual meeting. The time and date of the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be changed by mutual consent.

6. Meetings:
The Board of Directors, by resolution, may establish a schedule of regular meetings of the Board of Directors as well as regular meetings of the General Membership. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President, or any two Directors on the Board of Directors, with written notice of date, time, place and order of business, delivered personally or by telephone or telegraph, or sent via electronic mail to each of the Directors with a confirmation of receipt at least three days prior to such special meeting. Meetings shall not be limited to a specific geographic location, but may take the form of teleconference or similar communication via the publicly accessible Internet website www.coastalconservancy.org .

7. Quorum:
A majority of the Directors then in office on the Executive Board, Supervisory Board, or the combined Board of Directors respectively, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the respective Board, except to adjourn as provided in Section 3.9 of this Article III. Every act or decision by a majority of the Directors on the Executive Board present shall be regarded as an act or decision of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act, especially those provisions relating to (i) approval of contracts or transactions in which a Director has a direct or indirect material of financial interest, (ii) appointment of committees, and (iii) indemnification of Directors. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of Directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

8. Waiver of Notice:
The transactions during any meeting of the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board, or the combined Board of Directors, however called and noticed and wherever held, are as valid as though the meeting had been duly held after regular call and notice, provided (a) a quorum is present, and (b) either before or after the meeting, each of the Directors not present signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any Director who attends the meeting without protest about the lack of adequate notice before or at its commencement.

9. Adjournment:
A majority of the Directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given, unless the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case personal notice of the time and place shall be given before the time of the adjourned meeting to the Directors who were not present at the time of adjournment.

10. Standard of Care:
A. General: A Director shall perform the duties of a Director, including duties as a member of any Committee of the Board on which the Director may serve, in good faith, in a manner such the Director believes to be in the best interests of this corporation, and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in like situation would use under similar circumstances. In performing the duties of a Director, a Director shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by:
i Legal counsel, independent accountants, property assessors, environmental consultants, scientific advisors or other persons as to matters which the Director believes to be within such person’s professional or expert competence; or
ii One or more Officers or employees of the corporation whom the Director believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;
iii A Committee of the Board upon which the Director does not serve, as to matters within its designated authority, which Committee the Director believes to merit confidence, so long as in any such case, the Director acts in good faith, after reasonable inquiry when the need therefore is indicated by the circumstances, and without knowledge that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted.

A person who performs the duties of a Director in accordance with the forgoing shall have no liability based of any failure or alleged failure to discharge that person’s obligations as a Director, including, without limiting the generality of the forgoing, any actions or omissions which exceed or defeat the public and charitable purposes to which the corporation, and assets held by it, are dedicated.

B. Non-liability of Directors:
The Directors shall not be liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the corporation.

C. Indemnification by Corporation of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents
To the extent that a person who is, or was, a Director, Officer, employee or other agent of this corporation has been successful on the merits in defense of any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceeding brought to procure a judgment against such person by reason of fact that he or she is, or was, an agent of the corporation, or has been successful in defense of any claim, issue or matter, therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such proceeding.

If such person either settles any such claim or sustains a judgment against him or her, then indemnification against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts reasonably incurred in connection with such proceedings shall be provided by this corporation but only to the extent allowed by, and in accordance with the requirements of, the Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act

D. Insurance for Corporate Agents
The Board of Directors may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any agent of the corporation (including Director, officer, employee, or other agent of the corporation) against any liability, other than for violating provisions of law relating to self-dealing, asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the agent against such liability.

E. Investments
Except with respect to assets held for use or used directly in carrying out this corporation’s charitable activities, in investing, reinvesting, purchasing, acquiring, exchanging, selling and managing this corporation’s investments, the Board shall avoid speculation, looking instead to the permanent disposition of the funds, considering the probable income, as well as the probable safety of this corporation’s capital. The provisions of Subsection A, above, shall apply to this Subsection E.


11. Prohibited Transactions:
A. Loans:
This corporation shall not make any loan of money or property to or guarantee the obligation of any Director or Officer; provided, however, that this corporation may advance money to a Director or Officer of this corporation or any subsidiary for expenses reasonably anticipated to be incurred in performance of the duties of such Officer or Director so long as such individual would be entitled to be reimbursed for such expenses absent that advance.

B. Self-Dealing Transactions:
Except as provided in Subsection C below, the Executive Board shall not approve a self-dealing transaction. A self-dealing transaction is one to which the corporation is a party and in which one or more of the Directors has a material financial interest.

C. Approval of Transactions:
The Executive Board of Directors may approve a self-dealing transaction if the Executive Board determines that the transaction is undertaken for the corporation’s own benefit, and is fair and reasonable to this corporation; and the Executive Board, after reasonable investigation, determines that this corporation could not have obtained a more advantageous arrangement with reasonable effort under the circumstances. Such determination must be made by the Executive Board, in good faith, with knowledge of the material facts concerning the transaction and the Director’s interest in the transaction, and by a vote of a majority of the Directors in office, without counting the vote of the interested Director(s).

12. Compensation:
At all times fifty-one percent (51%) or more of the Directors shall be persons who have not been compensated, within the previous twelve (12) months, by this corporation for services performed for this corporation.

Article IV.
Committees

1. Committees of Directors:
Both the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board may designate one (1) or more Committees, each consisting of two (2) or more Directors to serve at the pleasure of the Board; provided, however, that if an Executive Committee is authorized by the Executive Board, said Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) Directors of the Board, and the resolution establishing such Executive Committee shall be adopted by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The combined Board of Directors shall make all appointments to Committees, except that appointments to the Executive Committee shall be by majority vote of the Executive Board. Any Committee, to the extent provided in the resolution, shall have all the authority of the Board of Directors, except that no Committee, regardless of any Board of Director's resolution may:
A. Fill vacancies on the Executive Board, Supervisory Board or any Committee;
B. Expend any corporate funds for any purpose without the express authorization of the Executive Board;
C. Amend or repeal any resolution of either Executive Board or Supervisory Board which by its express terms is not so amendable or subject to repeal;
D. Amend or repeal Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws;

2. Meetings:
Meetings and actions of Committees shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with the provisions of Article III of these Bylaws concerning meetings of Directors, with such changes in the context of those Bylaws as are necessary to substitute the Committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members. Minutes shall be kept of each meeting of any Committee and shall be filed with the corporate records. The Board of Directors may adopt rules for the governance of any Committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.

Article V.
Officers

1. Types of Officers:
The Officers of this corporation shall be President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer. The corporation shall allow the same person to hold more than one Office, except that the Treasurer may not serve concurrently as the President or the Secretary.

The President and Treasurer must be members of the Board of Directors. Other Officers of the corporation need not be members of the Board.

A. President:
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall, subject to the control of the Board, generally supervise, direct and control the business and the Officers of the corporation. The President shall be a member of all Committees and shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of President of a corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be described by the Board or the Bylaws.

B. Vice-president:
In the absence of the President, the Vice-president shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall, subject to the control of the Board, have the powers and duties of the President.

C. Secretary:
The Secretary shall keep a full and complete record of the proceedings of the Directors, shall keep the seal of the corporation and affix the same to such papers and instruments as may be required in the regular course of business, shall make service or such notices as may be proper or necessary, shall supervise the keeping of the books of the corporation, and shall discharge such other duties as pertain to the office or as prescribed by the Directors.

D. Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of all funds of the corporation, shall deposit such funds in the manner required by the Board, shall keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the corporation’s properties and business transactions, shall render reports and accountings as required, and shall discharge such other duties as pertain to the office or as prescribed by the Directors.

2. Election of Officers:
The Officers of this corporation shall be chosen annually by the Directors, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

3. Removal of Officers:
Subject to the rights, if any, of an Officer under any contract of employment, any Officer may be removed, with or without cause, by the Executive Board of Directors.

4. Resignation of Officers:
Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to this corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified by that notice, and unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of this corporation under any contract to which the Officer is party.

5. Vacancy of an Office:
A vacancy in any Office for any reason shall be filled in the manner described in these Bylaws for regular appointments to that Office.

Article VI.
Reports to Directors

1. Officers:
The President shall furnish a written report annually to all Directors of this corporation containing the following information:
A. The assets and liabilities, including the trust funds, of this corporation as of the end of the fiscal year;
B. The principle changes in assets and liabilities, including trust funds, during the fiscal year;
C. The revenue or receipts of this corporation, both unrestricted and restricted for particular purposes, for the fiscal year;
D. The expenses or disbursements of this corporation, for both general and restricted purposes during the fiscal year;
E. Any transaction during the previous fiscal year involving FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000) or more between this corporation and in which any Director or Officer of the corporation was a party must be reported. The report must disclose the names of the interested persons involved in such transaction, stating such person’s relationship to the corporation, the nature of such person’s interest in the transaction, and, where practicable, the amount of such interest;
F. The amount and circumstances of any indemnification or advances aggregating more than TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000) paid during the fiscal year to any Director or Officer of the corporation;
G. A summary of the year's activities, all land acquisitions, all animal protection and medical cases and the results or present status of all scientific inquiries.

Article VII.
Amendments

1. Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation:
Proposed amendments to this corporation’s Articles of Incorporation must be submitted in writing to the Directors at least one (1) month in advance of the Board meeting at which they will be considered for adoption. The vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors present at any one meeting shall be required to adopt a new amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.

2. Amendments to the Bylaws:
Proposed amendments to this corporation’s Bylaws must be submitted in writing to the Directors at least one (1) month in advance of the Board meeting at which time they will be considered for adoption. The vote of two/thirds (2/3) of the Directors present at any meeting shall be required to adopt an amendment to the Bylaws of this corporation.

Article VIII.
Miscellaneous

1. Fiscal Year:
The fiscal year of this corporation shall end each year on the first (1st) of November.

2. Corporate Seal:
This corporation shall have the seal, as depicted in Appendix C of these Bylaws. The seal shall be affixed to all corporate instruments, but failure to affix it shall not affect the validity of the instrument.

3. Contracts:
The Executive Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or the President, must authorize all contracts entered into on behalf of this corporation.

4. Execution of Checks:
Except as otherwise provided by law, every check, draft, promissory note, money order, or other evidence of indebtedness of the corporation shall be signed by such individuals as are authorized by the Executive Board of Directors.

5. Review and Amendment of the Appendixes:
Appendix A, B and C shall be reviewed periodically and amended when deemed necessary by the full Board of Directors or a Committee to whom this responsibility has been delegated.

Appendix A.
Species of Special Concern to the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy*
a. Fish: Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi), Spotted Bullhead (Ameiurus serracanthus), Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula), River Goby (Awaous tajasica), Crystal Darter (Crystallaria asprella), Okaloosa Darter (Etheostoma okaloosae), Goldstripe Darter (Etheostoma parvipinne), Cypress Darter (Etheostoma proeliare), Saltmarsh Topminnow (Fundulus jenkinsi), Blacktip Shiner (Lythrurus atrapiculus), Florida Chub (Macrhybopsis spp.), Grayfin Redhorse (Moxostoma spp), Blackmouth Shiner (Notropis melanostomus), Southern Logperch (Percina austroperca), Bluenose Shiner (Pteronotropis welaka)
b. Amphibians: Flatwoods Salamander (Ambyostoma cingulatum), Tiger Salamander (Ambyostoma tigrinum), One-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter), Apalachicola Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus apalachicolae), Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola), Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum), Pine Barrens Tree Frog (Hyla andersonii), Gopher Frog (Rana capito), Florida Bog Frog (Rana okaloosae)
c. Reptiles: Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica calvata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), Coal Skink (Eumeces antracinus), Barbour's Map Turtle (Graptemys barbouri), Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), Florida pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Escambia Map Turtle (Graptemys ernsti), Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temminckii), Gulf Salt Marsh Snake (Nerodia clarkii clarkii), Florida Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus)
d. Birds: Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), Florida Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia floridana), Red Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis)
e. Mammals: Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys), Santa Rosa Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus), St. Andrews Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis), Perdido Key Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis), Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus), Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis), West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), Bottlenosed Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
f. Invertebrates: Clench's Goniobasis (Elimia clenchi), Narrow Pigtoe (Fusconaia escambia), Round Washboard (Megalonaias boykiniana), Say's Spiketail (Cordulegaster sayi), Apalachicola Shadowfly (Neurocordulia clara), Oval Pigtoe (Pleurobema pyriforme), Fuzzy Pigtoe (Pleurobema strodeanum), Purse-web Spider (Sphodros abboti), Choctaw Bean (Villosa choctawensis)
g. Plants: Southern Three-awned Grass (Aristida simpliciflora), Pine-woods Aster (Aster spinulosus), Hairy Wild Indigo (Baptisia calycosa var villosa), Curtiss' Sandgrass (Calamovilfa curtissii), Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus), Baltzell's Sedge (Carex baltzellii), Sandhill Sedge (Carex tenax), Godfrey's Golden Aster (Chrysopsis godfreyi), Dark-headed Hatpins (Eriocaulon nigrobracteatum), Telephus Spurge (Euphorbia telephioides), Panhandle Spiderlily (Hymenocallis henryae), Smooth-barked St. John's-wort (Hypericum lissophloeus), Bog-button (Lachnocaulon digynum), Panhandle Lily (Lilium iridollae), Bog Spicebush (Lindera subcoriacea), West's Flax (Linum westii), Pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), Gulf Coast Lupine (Lupinus westianus), Curtiss' Loosestrife (Lythrum curtissii), White Birds-in-a-nest (Macbridea alba), Hummingbird Flower (Macranthera flammea), Ashe's Magnolia (Magnolia ashei), Pyramid Magnolia (Magnolia pyramidata), Narrowleaf Naiad (Najas filifolia), West Florida Cowlily (Nuphar lutea ulvacea), Bog Tupelo (Nyssa ursina), Giant Water-dropwort (Oxypolis greenmanii), Naked-stemmed Panic Grass (Panicum nudicaule), crystal lake nailwort (Paronychia chartacea ssp minima), Apalachicola Dragon-head (Physostegia godfreyi), Violet-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula ionantha), Chapman's Butterwort (Pinguicula planifolia), Primrose-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula primuliflora), Little Club-spur Orchid (Platanthera clavellata), Yellow Fringeless Orchid (Platanthera integra), Large-leaved Jointweed (Polygonella macrophylla), Small-flowered Meadowbeauty (Rhexia parviflora), Panhandle Meadowbeauty (Rhexia salicifolia), Hairy-peduncled Beakrush (Rhynchospora crinipes), St. John's Susan (Rudbeckia nitida), White-top Pitcherplant (Sarracenia leucophylla), Sweet Pitcherplant (Sarracenia rubra), Florida Pondweed (Potamogeton floridanus), Pine-woods Bluestem (Andropogon arctatus), Pineland Hoary-pea (Tephrosia mohrii), Drummond's Yellow-eyed Grass (Xyris drummondii), Karst Pond Xyris (Xyris longisepala), Harper's yellow-eyed grass (Xyris scabrifolia)
h. Lichens: Perforate Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia perforata)

* Based on data from the Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

Appendix
Natural Communities of Special Concern to the Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy*

Various natural communities are listed followed by their respective county occurrences (Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, Bay and Gulf Counties), FNAI status ranking, total number of occurrences in Florida and Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy's assessed "Threat of Habitat Loss or Destruction". The FNAI rankings denote the status of each natural Community both globally (G) and within the State of Florida (S) with 1= critically imperiled or <6 occurrences, 2= imperiled or 6-20 occurrences, 3= very rare or 21-100 occurrences, 4= apparently secure or >100 occurrences, 5= demonstratably secure. * Based on data from the Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

Natural Community / Element	County Occurance	FNAI Rank	Florida Occurances	Threat for Loss
a. Alluvial Streams	O,W,S	G4 S2	6	Very High
b. Basin Swamps	O,W,S,B	G4 S3	64	High
c. Baygalls	O,W,B	G4 S4	92	High
d. Beach Dunes	O,W,S,B,G	G4 S2	212	Extremely High
e. Blackwater Streams	O,W,S,B	G4 S2	42	Very High
f. Bluffs	B	S2	19	Very High
g. Bogs	O,W,S,B	S3	12	High
h. Bottom Land Forests	O,W,S	G4 S4	32	Medium
i. Coastal Dune Lakes	O,W	G2 S1	11	Extremely High
j. Coastal Grasslands	O,B,G	G3 S2	73	Extremely High
k. Coastal Interdunal Swale	O,S,B,G	G3 S2	44	Extremely High
l. Coastal Strands	W	G3 S2	83	Extremely High
m. Depression Marshes	O,W,S	G4 S3	156	Very High
n. Dome Swamps	O,W,S,G	G4 S3	111	High
o. Estuarine/Marine Tidal Marshes	O,W,S,B	G4 S4	68	High
p. Floodplain Forests	O,W,S	S3	31	Medium
q. Floodplain Swamps	O,W,S,B,G	S4	75	Low
r. Hydric Hammocks	W,B	S4	60	Medium
s. Maritime Hammocks	O,W,S,B,G	G4 S2	251	Extremely High
t. Mesic Flatwoods	O,W,S,B,G	S4	212	Medium
u. River Floodplain Lakes	O,S	G4 S2	50	Very High
v. Sandhills	O,W,S,B	G2 S2	225	Very High
w. Sandhill Upland Lakes	O,W,B	G3 S2	47	Very High
x. Scrubby Flatwoods	O,W,B	G3 S3	153	High
y. Scrub	O,W,S,B,G	G2 S2	956	Very High
z. Seepage Slope	O,W,S,B,G	G3 S2	370	Very High
aa. Seepage Stream	O,W,S	G4 S2	35	Extremely High
bb. Slope Forests	O,W,S,B	G3 S2	84	Very High
cc. Sloughs	W	G4 S4	11	High
dd. Spring run Streams	O,B	G2 S2	78	Very High
ee. Swamp Lakes	O,W,S	G4 S3	?	Medium
ff. Upland Hardwood Forests	O,W,S	S3	89	High
gg. Upland Mixed Forests	W	S4	61	Medium
hh. Upland Pine Forests	W,S,G	S3	44	High
ii. Wet Flatwoods	O,W,S,B,G	S4	102	High
jj. Wet Prairies	O,W,S,B,G	S4	116	Medium
kk. Xeric Hammocks	O,W,S,B	S3	71	Very High

© 2009 Coastal Conservancy