Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Newsletter July 2011
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Osprey Landing by Marina Scarr
See more than 250 images at the SBEP Creative Expression Gallery. www.sarasotabay.org
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What is Bay Reflections?
Bay Reflections provides information about projects, programs and events associated with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP).
Bay Reflections is emailed in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Editors: Randy & Bryan Moore
Triple 3 Marketing, LLC
randy@triple3marketing.com
 
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SBEP Awards 13 Bay Partner Grants to Diverse Local Groups
The SBEP recently awarded 13 Bay Partner Grants representing $30,000 in funding support for projects that benefit the Sarasota Bay Estuary. All of the projects have an education component designed to encourage environmental stewardship.
Fully funded projects were awarded to the following organizations: City of Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification for landscape improvement at Grassy Point Preserve; Cortez Village Historical Society to support the development of an educational film; G.WIZ The Science Museum for a workshop focused on water quality; Nature's Academy for a hands-on marine science field trip program; New College of Florida for a summer youth educational program; Rogers Garden Elementary for a school eco-festival; and Sunbow Bay Condo Association for the retrofitting of existing turf in a Bay-friendly garden.
Partially funded projects were awarded to the following groups: Beachplace Association, Inc. for upgrading a stormwater detention pond; ELM West Coast, Inc. for an expo focused on Low Impact Development (LID); Mote Marine Laboratory for support of marine research by the Mote High School Internship Education Program; Palma Sola Botanical Park Foundation for enhancement of foot/wheel chair pathways with native plants; South Gate Community Association, Inc. for invasive plant removal along the shores of Philippi Creek; and Windward Bay Condominium Association for a major expansion of an existing saltwater bioswale.
Click here to learn more about SBEP Bay Partner Grants Program. |
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Local Partners Complete Living Shore Restoration Project at Herb Dolan Park on Anna Maria Island
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Workers planting natives at Herb Dolan Park. |
The SBEP recently completed a unique restoration project at Herb Dolan Park located in the City of Bradenton Beach. The "living shoreline" project, the first of its kind in Sarasota Bay, involved removing existing concrete rubble and replacing it with a fortified, yet naturally sloping shoreline. The project was completed by planting native vegetation. A kayak and canoe launch was also built to support access to the Bay.
"Over the years, the shoreline around Sarasota Bay has been hardened by seawalls, rock revetments and other ecologically unfriendly structures," said Dr. Jay Leverone, SBEP staff scientist. "Replacing these man-made structures with natural shoreline features enhances the Bay. We hope the project inspires area residents to consider smaller scale reverting projects on their own property."
The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were major supporters of the project. Scheda Ecological Associates prepared the plans and coordinated construction with support from Lynn Townsend Associates in Bradenton. Wooddruff & Sons did the construction. Click here to see the SBEP habitat restoration map showing completed, current and planned projects.
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Palma Sola Causeway Project Demonstrates Creativity and Community Collaboration
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Possibly the most inviting restrooms on the Gulf Coast of Florida. |
The stretch of State Road 64 from 75th Street West to East Bay Drive on Anna Maria Island, which contains the Palma Sola Causeway, was designated as a Florida Scenic Highway. The SBEP provided funding support for removal of invasive plants along the causeway. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) also awarded a grant to Keep Manatee Beautiful for eight pet waste stations with signage. The stations are maintained by the City of Bradenton Department of Public Works, which also routinely measures water quality.
Improvements to the Palma Sola Causeway included adding 10,162 tons of sand to the beach, extensive landscaping, the placement of bollards, creation of historical environmental murals, relocating a boat ramp, creation of a new small watercraft launching area, and installing two bus shelters. More than 25 organizations contributed to the project with major coordination provided by Keep Manatee Beautiful and key support from Manatee County, City of Bradenton, City of Holmes Beach, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Division of Forestry, TBEP, and the SBEP.
Native plantings added 671 trees and nearly 9,000 shrubs. Additional native trees and shrubs were recently planted, which were funded by the SBEP, Florida Division of Forestry and Keep Manatee Beautiful. A total of 64 native trees, 664 wildflowers and 243 grasses were planted near the Kingfish Boat Ramp and adjacent city property.
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Bay Guardians Plant 250 Florida Bay-Friendly
Plants at Emerson Point Preserve In Palmetto
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Scott Lupinkski and his son Wyatt were part of the Bay Guardian planting project at Emerson
Point Preserve on June 4. Scott is the leader of Boy Scout Troop 111. Photo by Sara Kane. |
A group of 55 adult and youth volunteers with the Bay Guardians planted more than 250 native plants on Saturday, June 4 at Emerson Point Preserve. The Bay Guardian program is managed by Around the Bend Nature Tours in support of the SBEP. Other participating groups included Manatee Natural Resources, Boy Scout Troop 111 and the Marine Scene 4H Club.
The volunteer planting is part of an ongoing effort to restore natural habitat at the popular preserve in Palmetto. Collaborative projects since 2005 have restored mangroves, coastal uplands, and freshwater wetlands throughout the 365-acre preserve. The unique history of the preserve includes the Portavant Temple Mound, southwest Florida's largest Native American Temple Mound and the site of early Florida pioneers.
The next Bay Guardian event will be held Saturday, July 9 at North Lido Beach Park. The registration for this outing is already full.
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Venice Audubon Society Uses Bay Partners
Grant to Create Butterfly Garden with Cisterns
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Rosemary Williams, Phyllis Courter, Charlie Sample, and Bill Fairbank enjoying their handiwork. |
The Venice Area Audubon Society (VAAS) was awarded one of the SBEP's Bay Partner Grants last year. They partnered with several organizations and local businesses along with a group of volunteers to install four 220-gallon cisterns, native plants with labels and a low-pressure timer for watering the new garden. The final project has offered a self-sustainable butterfly garden that is available for the public to study and enjoy. The volunteer team gained knowledge about butterfly gardens, native plant species and sustainable irrigation systems. You can visit the garden at the VAAS Welcome Center located at 4002 South Tamiami Trail in Venice.
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Cris Costello of Nokomis Joins the Citizen Advisory Committee; Sierra Club Representative Since 2007
Cris Costello is the newest member of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) with the SBEP. The 21-member CAC provides input and helps the SBEP develop programs and projects in support of its mission to enhance, restore and protect Sarasota Bay.
Costello has worked with the Sierra Club as a regional representative since 2007. She is knowledgeable about local water issues and has served as the coordinator for the Sierra Club Red Tide Campaign. A former community organizer, Cris has also done work in the area of mediation and conflict resolution. Cris lives in Nokomis with her husband and daughter, a rower on the Sarasota Crew team in Osprey. The family enjoys kayaking and other recreation activities.
SBEP is seeking additional applicants for the CAC. Learn more from Sara Kane at sara@sarasotabay.org.
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CAC Member Profile:
Wayne Douchkoff is the Classic Citizen Scientist
 Wayne is a citizen scientist who enjoys learning new things related to the natural world and other topics. He graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a BBA Degree in Industrial Management. During his career, he continued his professional development by earning a Certification in Purchasing Management (CPM), as well as a Certification in Production and Inventory Management at the Fellow Level (CFPIM).
Changing his career path to management consulting led him to senior management roles with Deloitte, Oracle and Accenture. In these positions, he supported diverse clients in North America and Europe while also presenting at numerous conferences and authoring three books about business management.
His passion for travel and adventure has inspired him to visit 30 countries and all 50 states, often on the proverbial road less traveled. Wayne's love for nature and outdoor recreation includes photography and kayaking. As a lifelong learner, he became a Certified Florida Master Naturalist. He volunteers his time as a nature guide and kayak instructor. Recently, he tried skydiving and is currently pursuing a certification to become a skydiving coach.
Click here to learn more about all the members of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).
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Creative Expressions Gallery Adds Contributors
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Image by Ronnie Pacheco |
Eighteen wildlife photographers and artists are now featured on the Creative Expressions Gallery on the SBEP website. The unique gallery promotes the connection between creative expression and environmental awareness. New participants include wildlife photographers Kathleen and Ronnie Pacheco, Marina Scarr, Bobby Pastoreck Jr., Barbara Bowen, Paul Martinelli, Ron Wooldridge, landscape painter Mary Erickson, and Chinese brush stroke artist Renee Vickery.
The SBEP online art gallery launched in April. Click here to see the impressive collection of more than 250 photographs, paintings, essays, and cartoons. The gallery also features a dozen poems from the late Jack Taylor who passed away in 2010.
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Karen Fraley with Around the Bend Nature Tours Teaches LID Class at Sarasota Military Academy
Around the Bend Nature Tours developed a Low Impact Development (LID) Field Study for the SBEP PIER Program as part of the Science and Environment Council's Science Field Trips Program. LID is a method of treating stormwater to mimic nature. Karen Fraley made a power point presentation to the Sarasota Military Academy's environmental science class on May 15. After learning the basic principals used in LID design, students designed their own system for the Oscar Scherer State Park nature center area to include the use of rain barrels or cisterns, rain gardens, permeable pavers, tree box filters, soil amendments, and green roofs. The project included a follow up field trip to Oscar Scherer to test water quality at four locations and a guided walk to observe native habitat.
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SBEP News Briefs
All About Water Open House
Join the SBEP from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, July 16 for this fun learning event at the scenic Bay Preserve at Osprey located at 400 Palmetto Avenue. Hosted by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast with grant support from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the event will feature nature tours, and activities for families. Exhibits will promote Florida-friendly landscaping, composting, the use of rain barrels, and ways to reduce stormwater pollution. Karen Fraley with Around the Bend Nature Tours will be doing a dip net education program on behalf of the SBEP.
TAC Bios and Photos
The SBEP has launched a new page presenting the bios and photos of members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC provides a forum for technical peer review and input to projects and programs of the SBEP. The membership is made up of local and regional researchers and environmental managers with substantical professional backgrounds and credentials. Click here to learn more.
Kathy King Honored
Kathy King was selected as an honorary member of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) in May. Kathy is a long term supporter of the SBEP having served as the former chairperson of the group. Kathy joins Virginia Sanders and Charles Edwards as honorary members of the CAC. The SBEP is seeking additional members for the CAC. Inquires are welcome at sara@sarasotabay.org.
Good Luck Brittany
Brittany Gleitsman, a marketing intern with the SBEP, recently accepted a full time position at Argosy University in Sarasota. Everyone at the SBEP wishes Brittany the very best with her career. She was a great asset for the SBEP having helped plan 11 Bay Guardian events while representing the organization at 20 area festivals. She also completed numerous projects.
SBEP Press Coverage
Click here to see the links to press coverage about the SBEP in June.
Click here to see the 24 press releases about the SBEP that have been sent thus far in 2011.
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Final Reflection: Point of Rocks in Sarasota
This impressive photograph was taken by wildlife photographer Paul Martinelli. Click here to see more images. New creative content continues to be added to the Creative Expressions Gallery as a way to capture the passion many people feel about the beauty and importance of Sarasota Bay Estuary.
Editors: Randy & Bryan Moore
Triple 3 Marketing, LLC
randy@triple3marketing.com
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