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YEAR 2010 - CRP Project #9006 (Gulf of Mexico)
Project #9006
Bay Grasses in Classes Wetland Nursery Program
Tierra Verde, Florida
Pinellas NWR, Tarpon Key and Whale Island being planted
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Project name: |
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Bay Grasses in Classes Wetland Nursery Program |
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Project
number: |
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9006 |
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Project
status: |
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In Progress |
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Grant
Administrator: |
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Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA) |
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Grantee: |
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Tampa Bay Watch |
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Project location: |
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Tierra Verde, Florida |
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Grant period: |
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Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2010 |
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Grant amount: |
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$32,000 |
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Land
Ownership: |
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Tarpon Key – US Fish & Wildlife
Terra Ceia – Florida DEP |
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Lat/Long: |
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Tarpon Key - 27˚, 40.0 N; 82˚, 41.7 W
Terra Ceia - 27˚, 35.6 N; 82˚, 33.5 W |
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Types of
Habitat: |
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Dunes (Fore and Back Dunal Systems) |
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Project
leader: |
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Martha Gruber, Environmental
Scientist
Tampa Bay Watch
3000 Pinellas Bayway South
Tierra Verde, FL 33715
www.tampabaywatch.org/ |
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Species Benefiting From Restoration:
• Mullet (Mugil cephalus)
• Spotted sea trout (Cynoscion nebulosus)
• Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus)
• Fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax)
• Marsh crab (Sesarma reticulatum)
• Diamond-backed terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin)
• Shrimp (Palaemon floridanus)
• Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
• Greenbacked heron (Butorides striatus)
• Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
• Snowy egret (Egretta thula)
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
A total of 3 acres will be restored between both sites.
Project Summary:
Tampa Bay Watch’s Bay Grasses In Classes Program (BGIC)
provides middle and high school students with an educational
resource to learn about ecological and agricultural
practices, while enhancing the science-based curriculums at
their schools. Students actively participate in restoration
activities, and work side by side with scientists to perform
wetland restoration in Tampa Bay. The program consists of two
phases. Phase I of the program, students maintain and grow
Spartina alterniflora in their nurseries. The students are
involved with checking salinity and pH, removing algae, and
monitoring overall health of the plants. Phase II of the BGIC
program is to transplant the nursery-raised grasses at
priority coastal restoration sites in Tampa Bay. These sites
will include Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve and Pinellas
National Wildlife Refuge.
Project Objectives:
The goal of Tampa Bay Watch’s Bay Grasses in Classes Program
(BGIC) is to provide middle and high school students with an
educational resource to learn about ecological and
agricultural practices enhancing the science-based
curriculums at their schools. These nurseries provide
hands-on opportunities for students to appreciate and learn
about the importance of salt marsh vegetation to the
estuarine ecosystem. Another goal of the BGIC Program is to
involve youth participating in the program with restoration
efforts in the Bay. Tampa Bay Watch strives to inspire
students and community members to become stewards of their
environments. This task is achieved by engaging them in the
restoration of Tampa Bay through hands-on restoration efforts.
On-the-Ground Activities:
Tampa Bay Watch will utilize student volunteers from the Bay
Grasses in Classes program and community volunteers to
accomplish plantings at Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve and Tarpon
Key in the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge. Tampa Bay Watch
will obtain permission from US Fish and Wildlife to access the
island by boat and on land.
Community Involvement:
Tampa Bay Watch’s salt marsh restorations require a
significant number of salt marsh grasses and dedicated
volunteers to support the regional restoration efforts. Many
of the plants and volunteers will come from the BGIC Program
that includes 18 active middle and high school nurseries
growing salt marsh grasses for coastal restoration programs.
Tampa Bay Watch and participating community groups will
solicit community volunteers through each respective
organization to accomplish the different program requirements.
Volunteer solicitation will include membership newsletters,
meeting notices, Web sites and media releases |
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PROJECT MAPS
Click on map to enlarge
Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve
Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve small portions to be planted
Maps by Tampa Bay Watch
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PROJECT PARTNERS
NOAA Restoration Center
Gulf of
Mexico Foundation
Southwest Florida Water Management District
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Pinellas County Schools
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