By Collin Breaux
Some employees with Florida Power & Light didn’t spend the workday on Wednesday, March 1, in an office or on the phone with customers.
Instead, they helped fix up Whitewater Lake Campground, a public recreation area in the Econfina Creek Water Management Area that was damaged by Hurricane Michael.
Volunteers fixed up garbage bag holders, set barbecue grills in place, and otherwise spruced up the outdoor spot as a way to give back to the community. Sod was also laid down pavilions to keep erosion from running the soil down to the lake and new portable restrooms were set up.
FPL Senior Environmental Specialist Jeff Cole said the service day was to help out the Water Management Area.
“They’ve got these hurricane projects that are still lingering that they’re trying to wrap up,” Cole said. “We thought it was a great day for us to come out and provide some labor for them and get our guys out in the community and participate in the area.”
Helping out felt great because it was different from the normal routine and gave FPL volunteers a chance to lay sod and shovel dirt, Cole said.
“Some of these guys didn’t even know this ground was here, so it helps them learn the area too,” Cole said.
Northwest Florida Water Management District Bureau Chief Benjamin Faure said he was very excited to have FPL helping out.
Michael left a “significant amount” of vegetative debris at Whitewater Lake Campground, Faure said. A lot of large oak trees were killed due to flooding.
Debris was removed and Whitewater was eventually rehabilitated, Faure said.
Hannah Collins 
KINSLEY COOK