Unintended Consequences Are We Loving Mother Nature to Death? Story and Art by Sigrid Tidmore Grow Less Abundantly

SUMMER 2011 baysoundings.com

Beach- Nesting Birds BaySoundingsCovering the Tampa Bay Watershed Pages 8-9 Unintended Consequences Are we loving Mother Nature to death? Story and art by Sigrid Tidmore grow less abundantly. Less grass means less count the food waste, bottle tops, cigarette If you’re reading Bay Soundings, chances shelter for juvenile grouper, and the next sea- butts, rubber bands and assorted personal are you’re already trying to be a good steward son the fish are fewer. items left scattered around. of our environment. But listen up – because Longer-term implications are even more Now try imagining “the night after” from many of the small things we all do uncon- severe for fish and the sportsmen seeking a raccoon’s point of view. sciously can cause unintentional, long-term them. Richard Sullivan, preserve manager at Even though the clean-up crews hit the damage to animal populations, particularly Cockroach Bay in Hillsborough County, has beach at dawn the those that are already endangered. Just a mo- observed thousands of prop scars that have next morning, the mentary lapse can disrupt the delicate balance destroyed whole sections of seagrass beds that nights following in our favorite preservation areas. likely will never grow back. The tidal action Remember learning about food chains? sweeps the prop scars clean, creating a rut Consequences Continued on Today environmental scientists talk in terms that will impact fish populations for years to page 10 of the “food web” – a complex interaction of come. And it all started with just a little care- sunlight, microbes, plants, prey and predators less boating fun. exchanging energy at many different levels si- multaneously. We now know that seemingly PARTY ANIMALS small changes in one habitat can have dramat- Tampa Bay has a well-earned reputation ic effects on species far upstream on the web. for having beautiful beaches, but it comes For instance, we’ve all seen fishermen at a price. According to Ft. DeSoto’s Park navigating their boats through shallow bay Supervisor Jim Wilson, a three-day holi- waters where their props dredge up the mud- day weekend can attract as many as 120,000 dy bottom. Short-term, that raises turbidity visitors. They will leave some 600 trash cans so less light reaches the sea grasses and they brimming with 40 tons of trash. That doesn’t

Adopt-A-Pond: Bay Soundings Is Opportunity Knocking at Your Front Door? Looks to the By Ernie Franke Future: Most of us, at some point in our lives, have wondered just how much Confirming Current difference we can make in the world. That’s what happened with the pond just outside my front door at The Shores of Long Bayou in St. Petersburg. Subscribers, Reaching Although I call it “my pond,” it really is a stormwater retention facility designed to capture contaminants from lawns, roads and parking lots before out to New Readers they enter Long Bayou or sink into the underground aquifer. The pond had Bay Soundings is asking readers to been neglected for many years, and required chemical controls to contain confirm that their address is correct invasive bulrush and cattail plants. Condo owners didn't want "raw" nature, and that they would like to continue preferring something closer to a golf-course setting, but the pond had gravi- receiving a mailed copy. If you're tated more to an "Everglades" look. Yes, we even had an alligator in it! Most folks think I have a background in ecology (I'm actually an reading a copy of Bay Soundings that electrical engineer). After pouring through nature books to identify Adopt-A-Pond came in the mail, we need to know weeds and waterfowl, you get to know them quite well. Continued on page 12 it! See page 15 for details.

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 1 Profile Dive Yvette Little: Fighting Poo-llution In! Yvette Little spends a lot of time explaining the facts of life to pet owners in the Tampa Bay region: Explore Tampa Bay’s magnificent waterworld and watershed with Bay Soundings, a quarterly news journal covering • Doggie doo isn’t fertilizer and it Florida’s largest open-water estuary. Bay Soundings doesn’t just go away. chronicles the news and issues affecting the bay, while • Every little pile counts. Dogs in profiling the people, places and creatures that make it so the Tampa Bay region create about compelling. Thanks to generous community support, Bay 125 tons of poop every day but Soundings is distributed free of charge to local and national only about 60% of it is scooped. subscribers. Interested readers may subscribe online at • Even healthy pets have germs in www.baysoundings.com or send an email to circulation@ their poop – an average of about baysoundings.com. Bulk copies also are available for three billion fecal coliform bacte- distribution through area attractions, schools, businesses and civic organizations. ria per pile. • There are no sewage treatment fa- Talk Back cilities at the end of a stormwater We welcome letters to the editor on topics covered in drain so tossing pet waste in the Bay Soundings as well as articles or story ideas on issues storm drain just means it gets to impacting Tampa Bay and the region’s natural resources. the nearest lake, river or bay even Send letters to [email protected]. faster. Send Us Your News • Nutrients in dog waste may con- We’re always interested in news about community organizations involved in Tampa Bay, and our calendar page tribute up to 20% of the nitrogen Photo courtesy Tampa Bay Estuary Program highlights upcoming bay-related events and activities. Send that is the single most damaging Yvette Little coordinates the AmbassaDogs program for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. contaminant in Tampa Bay. news to [email protected]. Her work is paying off in Robinson Preserve where she Help Yourself helped develop an innovative program for the Tampa Bay If you see an article in Bay Soundings that you would like to Estuary Program that resulted in 50% fewer piles over a include in another publication, help yourself. All we ask is six-month period. The “AmbassaDogs” program enlisted that the story appears with the following credit: “Reprinted dog owners who regularly use the preserve, along with with permission from Bay Soundings.” Photos, however, may their canine companions, to not be reprinted without express written permission. talk with other dog walkers “Most people don’t about the need to pick up after their pets in the preserve know how much as well as their own yards and baysoundings.com neighborhoods. damage pet waste The volunteers patrol the preserve with educational causes, but it’s BaySoundingsCovering the Tampa Bay Watershed messages and free pet waste bag dispensers wearing back- become a huge water packs that match their four- editor Robin Lewis Victoria Parsons legged companions’ vests. quality issue.” Lewis Environmental Services design & graphics Amy Harroun “Most people don’t know McShane Communications Southwest Florida Water how much damage pet waste –Yvette Little Management District website design George Isiminger, PE causes, but it’s become a huge McShane Communications water quality issue,” Little said. “People walking their pets Port Manatee Wearing bright-blue vests that match their owner's backpacks, print representative Wren Krahl have the perfect opportunity to talk to other pet owners – AmbassaDogs patrol Robinson Preserve sharing the "poo- Shell Jaroy Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council it’s the power of positive peer pressure.” llution" message. local distribution Administrative offices: Part of the funding for AmbassaDogs came through a David Kieffer Bay Soundings $10,000 fellowship from National Audubon Society and contributing writers c/o Tampa Bay Regional Toyota. One of 40 fellows selected nationwide for the 2009 Aaron Dalley Planning Council TogetherGreen program, Little is participating in a five- says. “We also work with corporations to improve their Sigrid Tidmore 4000 Gateway Centre Blvd. Suite 100 year initiative designed to build leadership in the environ- triple bottom line, particularly with environmental issues editorial advisory board Pinellas Park, FL 33782 Suzanne Cooper mental community. “It’s been a totally awesome experi- and corporate social responsibility.” PH 727-570-5151, ext.32 Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council ence,” Little said. She takes a long-term view with a focus on short-term FAX 727-570-5118 Nanette O’ Hara A native Floridian who grew up in Pinellas County actions. “What we try to do is to get people and corpora- Tampa Bay Estuary Program Electronic communications: and earned a degree in business administration from the tions to ‘lean toward green.’ They may not go as far as we Frank Hearne [email protected] University of South Florida, Little is co-owner of Simply like as fast as we like but every step toward green is a good Mechanik, Nuccio, Hearne & Wester, P.A. [email protected] Green Solutions, LLC. “We help not-for-profits use busi- step. Over time, we hope they realize that even the little Allan Horton ness concepts to meet their goals more effectively,” she things they do can make a big difference.” Freelance Writer

2 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com • At the same time, if the percentage of food flooding this spring. EPA “Encouraging” on Dual Approach lost through insufficient infrastructure in sub- The winning entry is online at YouTube, “Bug Factory” to Help to Nitrogen Levels in Tampa Bay Saharan Africa was the same as that wasted in www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjcV5Rke40. Fight Plant Invaders other parts of the world, 53 million acres could The Tampa Bay Estuary Program is “quite be saved from conversion to agriculture. encouraged” by initial response from the U.S. • The amount of food lost or wasted ev- Putting a Price Tag on Nature Environmental Protection Agency following a ery year is equivalent to more than half of the Working from the premise that putting a val- request for dual options as part of the numeric world's annual cereals crop. ue on natural ecosystems will promote conser- nitrogen criteria under development for Tampa • Fruits and vegetables, plus roots and tu- vation, a team of scientists is building a website Bay. “We’ve asked them to consider the work bers have the highest wastage rates of any food. that puts a price tag on the services provided we’ve already done and they’ve agreed to con- The full report is available online at by resources ranging from mangroves and sea- sider a dual approach,” said Holly Greening, ex- www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/ grasses to urban tree canopies. ecutive director of the TBEP. publications/GFL_web.pdf The criteria, due in November, are expected Tampa Bay is one of four regions in the U.S. to use models developed in other parts of the selected to participate in a pilot study devel- country to identify appropriate nitrogen levels A Retro Look at Red Tide oped by the Environmental Protection Agency in Tampa Bay. Those models may not be the in a partnership with the Tampa Bay Estuary best alternative in an estuary which already is Takes Top Award at Mote Program and the Tampa Bay Regional Plan- responding positively to nitrogen input levels ning Council. “The goal is developed on a voluntary basis by the members to elevate ecological deci- of the Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Con- sions to the same level as summer 2002 sortium. economic decisions,” said Photo courtesy USDA “The DEP (Florida Department of Environ- research ecologist Jim Melaleuca weevils have cut seed production on mental Protection) is a staunch supporter of Harvey when the project South Florida trees by more than 90%. what we’ve already done and the EPA has indi- started in 2008. cated that the approach we’ve taken in Tampa A new website at www. Bay will be one of the options they consider,” epa.gov/ged/tbes/ details Greening added. Guidance from a committee of the work completed so far Bugs including moths, mites and weevils are EPA’s Science Advisory Board created to review including maps of current proving to be the most effective tool in fight- the estuarine criteria also supports the TBEP land use, and values for ing invasive plants in Florida. A new research approach to nutrients in estuaries where the sci- flood protection, climate laboratory funded through U.S. Department of ence is available. stabilization and biodiver- Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Army Corp of Engi- In a separate action, EPA opened a door sity support as well as po- neers and the South Florida Water Management that may allow DEP to develop more appropri- table water and clean air. District is expected to begin producing hun- ate nutrient criteria for Florida’s lakes, rivers and The second phase of dreds of thousands of insects beginning next the project will look at al- streams. In April, DEP petitioned the EPA to re- Photo courtesy Mote Marine Laboratory year in Miami. scind its rules, saying the federal government ternative future scenarios The emphasis on bio-controls follows the From left, Rebecca Parham, Autumn Fritsch, Brittany Godwin and specifically relating to the had not taken the strength of the locally devel- Christine Kim created the winning video. success of a tiny weevil that has cut seed pro- oped criteria into account. DEP is currently writ- value of ecosystems. duction on melaleuca by more than 90% in ing its own numeric nutrient criteria and hopes “We should have some South Florida. The new "bug factory" facility is to have them complete before the EPA rules be- kind of valuation of the scheduled to open in September 2012. Interna- A retro look at red tide – complete with ‘50s- come effective in March 2012. majority of ecosystems when we’re finished but tional research is underway to identify bugs that style bathing suits, well-coiffed hair and double there will still be gaps in the data,” notes Marc eat invasive plants but aren’t likely to become a entendres — took the top award at the Art of Russell in a report back to the TBEP’s manage- problem for native plants or other crops. With Red Tide Science exhibit at Mote Marine Labo- ment and policy boards. melaleuca nearly under control, Brazilian pep- Clean Your Plate, ratory. Fourteen art and outreach projects cre- The final phase will be a website with rela- per is a top priority. After several trips to Brazil, ated by students from Ringling College of Art Protect Critical Habitat? tionship browsers that tie together the human scientists have identified 12 species that can be and Design were judged by a panel of experts benefits of an ecosystem and the specific man- used to build lab colonies for testing. A new report from the United Nation’s Food on scientific accuracy, creativity, originality, ar- agement actions required to create or maintain For more information about invasive species and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicates tistic approach and effort. that benefit. “We’re piecing together trusted in the Tampa Bay region, see the Summer 2010 that about one-third of all food produced for hu- Funded with a grant from the National Sci- models to connect them back to human well- issue of Bay Soundings. man consumption is wasted. With about 36% ence Foundation, the exhibit brings communi- being,” Russell said. of the Earth’s surface already committed to ag- cators and scientists together to help explain Read more about the EPA ecosystems servic- riculture, and global food demand expected to the complex biology, chemistry and physics that es study in the Fall 2008 issue of Bay Soundings. double by the year 2050, eliminating food waste result in the noxious outbreaks. could minimize habitat loss. Red tide, caused by high concentrations of The FAO recommends a two-pronged strate- harmful algae, has not been a problem in Tampa gy to minimize conversion of land to agriculture. Bay since the last major event in 2006 which re- Tampa Bay is Getting Better. In the US, where the average American wastes sulted in millions of dead fish and birds. Along over 200 pounds of food each year, each house- with its impact on wildlife, red tide has an esti- hold that eliminates food waste could save an You can help. mated economic impact of $75 million per year, Buy a Tampa Bay Estuary tag and help keep Tampa Bay on acre of habitat. In developing countries, most including lost tourism. the road to recovery. They’re available year-round in your local waste occurs during processing, storage and Although no one knows for sure how they tax collector’s office or request a Tampa Bay Estuary tag with your annual renewal. transport. Improved infrastructure could reduce start, some scientists have linked red tide to those losses. Other findings from the report: high levels of nutrients in offshore waters at the The cost is $27 for the first year and $17 after that – with $15 going directly to projects that benefit the • Every year, consumers in rich countries mouth of the Mississippi River. A recent U.S. estuary, including the publication of Bay Soundings. waste almost as much food as the entire net Geological Survey report indicates nitrogen A message from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s Agency on Bay Management. food production of sub-Saharan Africa. loads are 35% higher than average because of Original artwork by Russ Sirmons.

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 3

summer 2002 Summer Reading Recommendations

Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators: More Stories about Real Florida, by Jeff Klinkenberg Reviewed by Suzanne Cooper, principal planner, Agency on Bay Management

I don’t read the forewords and prefaces of books as a rule, but I think I’m going to start. I found myself really enjoying those in this book and they left me anxious to get into the “meat” of this latest Klinkenberg gift to readers. As in his last book, Seasons of Real Florida (2004), which I also reviewed for Bay Soundings, this one is filled with great stories drawn, in part, from his award- winning columns in the St. Petersburg Times. Thirty-nine stories are in this collection, separated into sections called My Florida, Florida Icons, Working Florida, Dangerous Florida, and Living and Dying. But don’t let the section headings get in the way. Once you start reading you won’t want to put down this book! Yes, the stories are short, which should enable you to stop and get your chores done, but each is so entertaining and thoughtful that you won’t - you’ll keep turning the pages and find yourself thoroughly engaged. summer 2002 We’ve all heard about nearby landmarks like Giant’s Camp, the sponge docks of Tarpon Springs, Ybor City, and Bok Tower, and about famous visitors or residents such as Babe Ruth, Ann Paul and Danilo Fernandez, Sr. But we have seldom heard about these places or people in quite the way Jeff Klinkenberg tells their story. He really loves his work, if you can call it that. I think it’s really an obsession to recapture and memorialize the Florida he (and I) experienced growing up - simple, salty people who loved life and made every day interesting; places that make fond memories. I encourage you to read Klinkenberg’s books, and then to take a day trip to the Loop Road, Weeki Wachee Springs, Pass A Grille, Corkscrew Swamp, or the other special places he has written about. Seek out the locals’ eateries, dusty souvenir shops and cheesy tourist attractions in small towns where you’ll experience Florida like it was decades ago, and Swamplandia! by Karen Russell where it continues to be insulated from the 21st century. Reviewed by Nanette O’Hara, public outreach coordinator, Tampa Bay Estuary Program The death of Hilola Bigtree, the matriarch of the Bigtree clan and the star of the family’s “Swamp- landia!” alligator theme park deep in the Everglades, sets her entire family on personal voyages of self- The Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald discovery in an attempt to cope with their grief. Reviewed by Victoria Parsons, editor, Bay Soundings Thus, an enchanting novel by talented young writer Karen Russell turns gracefully from a Hias- If you’re looking for a great beach read, go back to the future and pick up one sen-esque farce to a poignant coming-of-age tale, of John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee novels. told primarily by the youngest of the Bigtrees, A “knight in tarnished armor” who dominated the bestseller lists between 1964 13-year-old Ava. and 1985, McGee is a timeless hero who never fails to entertain. His fans are le- Beset by debt, Ava’s father, Chief Bigtree, departs gion, from Steven King, Dean Koontz and Robert B. Parker to Florida’s current on an extended trip to the mainland in search of fi- favorites Randy Wayne White and Carl Hiaasen. nancial redemption. The need was magnified by the First and foremost, MacDonald is an entertainer. As a salvage consultant who opening of a competing attraction, World of Dark- recovers lost items for half their value, McGee travels back roads and high roads ness, which transports visitors, figuratively and in no across Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean, most often in the company of a lonely small measure, literally, to Hell. Ava’s older brother, lady who has been cheated out of something valuable. Kiwi, takes a job there to send money back home But MacDonald also has a deeper side that strikes close to the heart of anyone and complete his education at night school, while who loves Florida and his commentary is particularly poignant because it shows Ava’s older sister Osceola disappears with her “boy- how little we’ve learned over the past 25 years: friend,” the long-dead ghost of a “dredgeman” who "Now, of course, having failed in every attempt to subdue the Glades by frontal once worked aboard one of the giant earth-chewing attack, we are slowly killing it off by tapping the River of Grass. In the question- machines that drained the Glades. able name of progress, the state in its vast wisdom lets every two-bit developer Ava’s mystical search for her sister and her de- divert the flow into drag-lined canals that give him 'waterfront' lots to sell. As far north as Corkscrew Swamp, virgin termination to salvage the future of Swamplandia! stands of ancient bald cypress are dying. All the area north of Copeland had been logged out, and will never come back. make for an unforgettable story of love, loss and sal- As the glades dry, the big fires come with increasing frequency. The ecology is changing with egret colonies dwindling, vation. But just as moving is Russell’s deft portrait mullet getting scarce, mangrove dying of new diseases born of dryness." of the Everglades itself. Swamplandia! is as much an Any of the Travis McGee tales are perfect beach reading, but wait until after hurricane season to read Condominium, Mac- ode to this rapidly disappearing ecosystem as it is to Donald’s story set in a retirement community on the fictional Fiddler Key (with a noted resemblance to Siesta Key.) Graphic a disappearing way of life. descriptions of what happens when a hurricane hits an unprepared barrier island are likely to result in your spending the rest of the summer collecting batteries and canned food so you’ll be more likely to survive if a storm comes ashore in Tampa Bay.

4 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com

summer 2002 Lucky Fifth-Graders get Hands-On Sailing Lessons By Aaron Dalley On a warm, calm Saturday morning 11 fifth-graders set sail from Palma Sola Cause- way near Bradenton to learn the basics of sailing and explore the aquatic environment. The student sailors from G.D. Rogers Garden Elementary School were the first participants in the Turner Maritime Challenge Program. Developed by Challenge Director Jamie Can- field, the program offers a chance for children to learn about sailing, navigation, and watercraft maintenance. This was their opportunity to test those skills out on the water. “The whole thing is really trying to indoc- trinate kids in a harmonious relationship with the water,” Canfield said. “I’m hoping to develop a core of students and members of the museum who can collectively enjoy the water on beautiful, traditional boats.” summer 2002 The program begins with a brief overview of maritime history and traditional boating methods. Classroom instruction continues with lessons about ecology and the environment to give students a better appreciation of the coasts and waterways. Then hands-on learning teaches “hard skills” like sailing and caring for the boats. Finally, Canfield hopes Photos: Aaron Dalley to teach “soft skills” such as self-reliance, trust There was just enough of a breeze to get the boats sailing on Palma Sola Bay. and teamwork. These less tangible lessons are a challenging part of Canfield’s vision. from Jay Turner, a naturalist/folksinger free- “I thought it was going to be scary at first,” “One of the things I want to do is quan- spirited eccentric, whose family made their Dasani said. “But then it turned out pretty fun. tify those soft skills,” he said. “I’m trying to fortune in real estate in New York. “Jay played I learned that there are more plants in the wa- get specific guidelines on how you can actually with many of the great folk singers in the ter than I thought there were.” teach accountability and responsibility instead country including Joan Baez, Woodie Guth- As the sailing wound down, Canfield and of just talking about them.” rie and Pete Seeger,” Canfield said. “He had a the teachers were already planning how to get Saturday’s sail was the final event of the tremendous love for all types of wildlife.” more involvement. Camacho is already work- challenge and a test of the skills the students Turner visualized a youth maritime pro- ing on getting sponsors for the summer camp learned and developed during the program. gram which would provide personal growth Canfield offers and is hoping to expand enroll- Canfield traveled to the school for three sep- and self awareness to its participants by expos- ment next year. She sees the experience as a arate sessions – one classroom and two “dry ing them to conditions that call upon and de- great celebration for the kids’ last year before runs” in the parking lot. In the first dry run, Program Director Jamie Canfield gives last-min- velop their inner strengths, self-reliance, and middle school. ute instructions before the kids set sail. Canfield demonstrated the rigging of a sail- interdependence with those other participants “Maybe we can put in a grant request for boat, hoisting the sail and tying off all of the west Florida Water Management District, is in the program. fourth- and fifth-graders next year, to get ev- ropes. On the second run he guided students an annual offering meant to encourage student Working in conjunction with the Florida erybody out and included,” Camacho said. who did the rigging themselves. Kindergar- awareness about the importance of the state’s Maritime Museum was a natural partnership. “Maybe even have the fifth-graders teach the ten teacher Jenny Camacho didn’t have any water resources. Camacho said applying for the The museum is located just across Palma Sola little kids. They can have a reflection time and Bay from the launch site in the village of Cor- say ‘this is what you’re going to do when you students present but was on-site because she Splash! grant was an obvious choice because wrote the Splash! grant that allowed students tez and offers a variety of hands-on programs get to fifth grade.’ ” Rogers Elementary is the first “green school” to participate. She described the program as that build and restore historic watercraft as Canfield hopes that through programs like in Manatee County. Along with environmen- a successful example of the gradual release well as classes on Florida’s marine ecosystems. this and by being more involved in the com- tally friendly building materials and an energy- model of learning. For fifth-grade teacher Luke Grady, seeing munity, he will be able to spread his message efficient design, environmental stewardship and “The teacher gives classroom instructions his students enjoying the outdoor experience about living more harmoniously with the en- and models, then he works together with the “green” habits are emphasized to the students. is as important as the knowledge and skills vironment. kids and eventually he lets them do indepen- “I really want to encourage the kids to be they developed. “When you think about the health of the dent work, actually sailing and using the ter- green, recycle, and use what God provides us,” “Some of the kids don’t have many expe- environment,” Canfield said, “we are part of minology,” Camacho said. “They’ve built that Camacho said. riences outside their neighborhoods or out- the environment too.” background knowledge with the vocabulary Canfield’s impetus for developing the doors,” Grady said. “For me it’s just a sense of Aaron Dalley is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in and working at school with Jamie as well as program is his commitment to teaching and getting out and doing something different, to journalism from the University of South Florida the outside training. This is the culmination preserving traditional boating methods like broaden their horizons a little bit.” St. Petersburg. He is a science communication in- of all that work.” sailing and rowing. Funding for the Turner Fifth grader Dasani Wade said her favorite tern working with the U.S. Geological Survey in The Splash! grant, awarded by the South- Challenge was provided through a bequest part was the big waves out in the ocean. St. Petersburg, Florida.

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 5

summer 2002 2011 Legislative Update Grants Boost Bay Restoration Initiatives If life was a baseball game and the Agency on Bay Man- agement was the hometown team, the score from the 2011 Got a great idea that could help make Tampa Bay better? Grants are specifically targeted at adults. The program is in- Florida Legislature might look like five wins and three losses. Now is the time to start working on grant applications for tended to motivate people to get involved in protecting their In the loss column: funds available through Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the water resources through various educational activities. Proj- AGRICULTURE EXEMPTIONS TO WATER MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS Southwest Florida Water Management District. ects should involve water issues including water quality, con- This legislation essentially allows uncontrolled impacts to The TBEP Bay Mini-Grants are financed by sales of the servation, flood protection, natural systems and watersheds. wetlands within lands that are or have been used for agri- Tampa Bay Estuary specialty license plate, also known as the Examples of past projects include pond restorations (see story culture over the past seven years, retroactive to 1984. It will “Tarpon Tag.” Grants up to $5,000 are available for bay im- page one), cleanups, watershed education events, workshops result in wetland destruction in preparation for conversion of provement projects proposed by citizen groups and organi- and exhibits. agricultural operations to more intense development. It also zations in Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties. Last Grants of up to $5000 are available. Applications are due creates conflict between the Department of Agriculture and year, TBEP awarded $93,000 to 22 community groups for Aug. 19 and projects must take place between March 1 and Consumer Services and the water management districts that projects that directly involve citizens in restoring and im- July 31, 2012. To discuss project ideas, please call Robin now oversee wetland management. proving Tampa Bay. Grantham at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4779. Past projects have included invasive plant removal and GROWTH MANAGEMENT Separate Splash! grants are available to teachers for hands- planting of Florida native plants at local parks, workshops to ABM opposed this legislation because it preempts many on water resources projects including funding for classroom educate teachers and involve local school communities, and planning and management activities of local governments, signs to alert boaters and beachgoers about nesting birds. projects on water quality, conservation, water supply, flood including those which the community implements to meet Additional information and examples of past grant winners protection or watersheds. The $3000 grants are available to the needs and desires of its citizens. The legislation reorga- are available at www.tbep.org/bayminigrants.html. educators in public, private, charter and home school groups. nized several government agencies and changed the state’s This year, TBEP will host a free grant-writing workshop Teachers may apply individually or as a group. role in growth managementsummer and local plan reviews.2002 on Wed., Aug. 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Tampa Bay Re- Last year the district funded 204 projects reaching an es- FUNDING FOR FLORIDA FOREVER timated 200,000 students. Past school grant projects include gional Planning Council in Pinellas Park. Grant submission Gov. Scott vetoed funding for what is generally consid- student monitoring of local water quality, field trips and out- deadline is 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3. For more information, ered to be the nation’s premier environmental lands purchas- reach campaigns designed to promote awareness of water- contact Misty Cladas at [email protected] or 727-893-2765. ing program. The legislature had allowed expenditures of up conserving practices. See page 5 or visit www.swfwmd.state. SWFWMD has two separate grant programs, one for to $308.6 million to be funded through the sale of surplus citizens and community groups, another for teachers and fl.us/education/schoolgrants/projects.php to learn more state-owned lands. Although the state had identified lands schools. Programs funded through Community Education about how Splash! grants can be used. with a potential value of about $50 million, officials predicted that only about $6 million worth could actually be sold in the current economic climate. The five wins include: SEPTIC TANKS ABM opposed this measure because it would have removed the requirement that septic tanks be inspected every five years to ensure that they are properly maintained to protect the environment and public health. NUMERIC NUTRIENT QUALITY CRITERIA ABM appreciated the intent of the legislation but opposed it for a number of technical reasons, specifically the concern that not implementing federal law might make it difficult for local governments to obtain necessary stormwater permits. ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING ABM opposed this legislation because it would reduce the time for agency processing of permit applications and increase the use of general permits for wetland projects as well as other technical problems that would make it easier for development to impact water quality and natural resources. SURFACE WATER IMPROVEMENT & MANAGEMENT ABM opposed this measure that would have prevented local governments from requiring that developers retrofit ar- chaic drainage structures in redevelopment areas. LOCAL FERTILIZER REGULATIONS Although the legislature did pass a fertilizer bill that restricts Photo courtesy Audubon of Florida local governments from preventing summer bans on fertilizer Giant reef balls – each weighing about 1300 pounds – have been placed along the shores of the Richard T. Paul Alafia Bank Bird Sanctuary to help stop erosion of Bird Island. Created during the 1920s with dredged materials from the shipping channel, the sales, it does include amendments that partially reflect ABM’s islands are now among the most important bird habitats in the state and host up to 10,000 pairs of birds during the winter nest- position. Local ordinances passed before July 1, 2011 are grand- ing season. The reef ball installation will create a protected lagoon between the island and open water of the bay to minimize the fathered in, so both Manatee County and the City of Tampa impact of waves. It’s the first of several erosion control projects planned for the islands, according to Ann Paul, regional coordi- passed new ordinances in advance of that deadline. It also allows nator for Audubon of Florida. for local governments to pass ordinances that may be stronger than the state’s model ordinance in the future.

6 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com

summer 2002 Natural Oasis Recreated at Edge of Urban Neighborhoods

At the edge of Florida’s most densely pop- than leaving them in place, Henningsen said. ulated county, wedged along the borders of “They’ll disperse over time, as we are able to Gulfport and St. Petersburg, ecologists and treat stormwater before it enters the bayou.” engineers are recreating a natural oasis. New research from the U.S. Geological Once an open-water estuary leading to Survey indicates that coal tar-based pavement Boca Ciega Bay, Clam Bayou had become the sealant is the largest source of PAHs in urban stormwater dump for 2,400 acres of highly ur- lakes, he adds. “Clam Bayou has a large water- banized neighborhoods. Sediment and trash shed with a number of parking lots that appear clogged the narrow tidal channel that flowed to be resealed on a regular basis,” he said. past Osgood Point and pollutants from yards The recreational elements in the final phase and parking lots were degrading water quality. will include opportunities for walkers and cy- “The neighborhoods were built before clists as well as kayakers and fishers. An exten- state regulations required any kind of treat- sion of the Pinellas Trail will wind through ment for stormwater, so it was flowing into the restored wetlands, including a “string of Clam Bayou basically untreated,” said Brandt pearls” recreated in a mangrove forest that had Henningsen, chief environmental scientist for been bisected by mosquito ditches. the Southwest Florida Water Management “The goal is to create as much shoreline as District. possible because it’s the most productive habi- Restoring Clam Bayou with a series of in- tat,” Henningsen said. Capturing stormwater terconnected water features and upland habi- for treatment also helps create low-salinity tat has been a labor of love for the scientist habitats that are necessary for the juvenile who usually works on wide-open spaces like stage of nearly all commercially important Cockroach Bay in southeastern Hillsborough fish, including snook and tarpon. Once con- County. “It’s been challenging, but it’s won- struction on the lagoons is complete, sedi- derful to see this kind of natural oasis in the ments will be removed from a narrow channel midst of an urban area,” he said. Photos by Victoria Parsons to facilitate tidal flows into the bayou. It’s also been a long-term project for Hen- Mature mangroves line the shore in the first phase of the Clam Bayou restoration, completed nearly 15 Construction at Clam Bayou will continue ningsen and the district’s SWIM (Surface Wa- years ago. Inset: Protected waters sheltered by restored uplands are a popular spot for kayakers. through this summer with a grand opening ter Improvement and Management) program. scheduled for the fall, Henningsen said. “It’s “We started in 1995 with the restoration of 10 the culmination of many years of work and a acres in a partnership with the City of Gulf- coastal uplands that offer habitat for a wide va- nels to capture trash and contaminants before shining example of how urban estuaries can be port and the Florida Department of Environ- riety of birds, fish and crabs. Marshes that line it overflows into the bayou. restored.” mental Protection,” he said. the shore were among the first ever planted by The third and final phase, scheduled for That first section became the Clam Bayou volunteers from Tampa Bay Watch. Tiny oak completion later this year, is the largest and Nature Park, which features an open-water la- trees planted nearly 15 years ago now offer a most challenging. Seven distinct sites include Final Phase Underway at Cockroach Bay goon rimmed by marshes and coves as well as shady refuge for visitors and gazebos overlook 20 acres of water treatment areas and 24 acres The Leisey Shell Pits near Ruskin — most the lagoon that’s become a favorite spot for of upland habitat. “The lagoons are all linked well-known as a treasure trove of Ice Age kayakers paddling its protected waters. by overflow weirs with skimmers that catch fossils — will be restored as the final phase “When we finished it, a local resident ap- trash,” said Janie Hagberg, the stormwater of construction at the Cockroach Bay proached us and asked why we couldn’t do engineer who has been working on the Clam Aquatic Preserve. more,” Henningsen said. Looking for suit- Bayou project since 2003. “The goal is to catch Once mined for shell used to build roads able land and the funding to purchase it took a 90% of the trash before it enters the bayou.” across the region and then slated for development, the land was purchased by few years, but construction began on a second The retrofit also will capture about 80% of the Hillsborough County’s Environmental 10-acre parcel in 1999 in a partnership with suspended solids and about 60% of the nitro- Lands Acquisition and Protection Program the City of St. Petersburg. gen currently entering Clam Bayou, she adds. in 1991. But like Clam Bayou, restoration of Once planned for development as a second “It doesn’t quite meet the 80% goal (for nutri- Cockroach Bay has been a “pay as you go project,” Henningsen quips. phase of the West Shore Village condomini- ents) but given the available land and the size um at the end of 34th Avenue South, the land of the basin area, it’s the best we can do.” The last phase of Cockroach Bay restoration had been cleared and utilities installed. As it Like the earlier phases, water will be cap- will be performed by the Tampa Port Authority as mitigation for two new projects sat empty, invasive plants including Brazilian tured from current drainage systems that in- at the Port of Tampa. “They’re mitigating for peppers, Australian pines and lead trees quick- clude lined canals designed to move water into about 12 acres and we’re getting 75 acres ly became an impenetrable forest destroying the bayou as quickly as possible. Moving water restored,” he said. whatever wildlife habitat might have been left. more slowly, from a series of deep sumps and Construction began in May and is expected Drainage from nearby neighborhoods was shallow ponds, then over weirs and through to take about 10 months to complete. washing through the property before it was meandering streams allows sediments to settle Cockroach Bay is the centerpiece of a dumped into Clam Bayou. and native plants to absorb excess nutrients. 20-mile corridor of nature and aquatic Rather than focusing on recreational op- While some residents question levels of preserves bordering the eastern edge portunities, the second phase emphasizes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of Tampa Bay. The lands were largely purchased with ELAPP funding and Trash from a 2400-acre watershed collects in stormwater treatment with innovative chan- found in Clam Bayou sediments, removing restored through the water management Clam Bayou but the new stormwater treatment nels and weirs that capture stormwater and them would be prohibitively expensive and district’s SWIM program. system will pre-treat about 90% of it. force it through a series of lagoons and chan- probably have more environmental impact

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 7 Stewards Protect Beach-Nesting Birds By Victoria Parsons protection from predators. That worked It’s not much more than a line in the sand. well before people discovered Florida’s On one side, thousands of beachgo- beaches but their nearly invisible nests ers romp on beautiful white sand beaches. are easy to destroy unintentionally. Inside a roped-off sanctuary, hundreds of And even if the nests are not disturbed, endangered birds are laying eggs, raising intrusions by people or pets may cause chicks or resting from their long migrations, the birds to fly off, leaving eggs or chicks just as they have for centuries. in the blazing hot sun with no protection In the middle, park rangers and volun- from predators. Too much turmoil and teer stewards patrol the rope to protect the the birds will abandon their nests. vulnerable habitat. Volunteer stewards on beaches from “The birds are running out of beach,” Naples north to Honeymoon Island patrol says Saskia Janes, volunteer coordinator for the edges of roped-off sanctuaries every the Suncoast Shorebird Partnership. “Even weekend and holidays during the summer. birds that are not officially listed as endan- “A lot of what we do is education,” adds gered have an uncertain future if their habi- Marianne Korosy, important bird area tat has gone away.” coordinator for Audubon of Florida. “We Beach-nesting birds – including terns, tell them about nesting birds and explain

willets, plovers, black skimmers and oyster- Photo by Lorraine Margeson why that part of the beach is closed – most catchers – don’t build nests in the traditional A Wilson’s plover sits on two eggs at Fort DeSoto Park. It’s easy to see how well the people think it’s really neat once they un- sense. Instead, they dig shallow scrapes in eggs are camouflaged. derstand that the birds need this little bit the sand and depend upon camouflage for of beach to survive.”

Photo by Saskia Janes Native vegetation is rebounding at Fort DeSoto where the sanctuary is roped off Photo by Lorraine Margeson year-round. Even on a beach, some birds, like Black skimmers (above) and red knots share the shoreline at Fort DeSoto. About 75 pairs of skimmers are nesting at the park this the willet and chick shown above, prefer low- year, but even small disturbances may cause their nests to fail. The red knots stopped to rest on their annual trip from the southern growing cover. tip of South America north to breeding sites in the Arctic.

8 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com Terns Turn to Rooftops Least terns are taking the high road – nesting on flat white rooftops across Pinel- las County instead of on its crowded beaches. Small but feisty birds usually found in colonies of 100 or more, the least terns have been nesting in an office park off Ul- merton Road for several years. This year, they’re also nesting at a condominium in Shore Acres as well as the Lockheed-Martin and FedEx buildings in the Gateway Business Center. While humans aren’t usually a problem on rooftops, they’re still not safe places for birds that typically nest on the ground. Five shifts of volunteers from St. Petersburg Audu- bon monitor the sites off Ulmerton Road daily looking for birds that fall off the roof or down drain pipes. If they’re large enough, they’re banded to indicate when and where they were A bird banded near Ulmerton Road in 2009 hatched. They’re placed back on the was spotted on a rooftop at Photos by Victoria Parsons roof with a “chick-a-boom” that de- Gateway Business Park earlier Thousands of beachgoers frolic at Fort DeSoto Park. Bird stewards are needed to help protect the posits baby birds without upsetting this summer. adjacent sanctuary shown in inset. the colony. The Gateway buildings are too high for the chick-a- boom, so engineers from Lockheed-Martin helped to design drain guards that prevent the birds from falling. Property Manager Kim Circello worked with Audubon to organize access so guards could be installed on all 81 You can help! drain pipes. Volunteers spotted a very special bird among the Volunteer stewards are needed on beaches • Honeymoon Island: Karen Malo at estimated 100 nests at the Gateway site – a tern to work weekends and holidays from May [email protected] banded in 2009 just two miles away. “The banding through October, depending upon the birds’ • North Pinellas County Beaches, Pasco project is giving us astounding least tern nesting nesting schedules. No special training is nec- and Manatee counties: Marianne Korosy data,” said Audubon volunteer Lorraine Margeson. essary, but pre-registration is required. at [email protected] or 727-742- It’s also thrilling for volunteers to see the long-term Please contact the following coordinators: 1683. impact of their action. “The birds we banded had no • Egmont Key: Joyce Galiardo at galibird@ To sign up as a chick-checker for least chance of survival if we hadn’t tampabay.rr.com or 727-397-5305 terns nesting on rooftops through mid- been there to save them,” • Shell Key, Indian Shores and Fort July, contact Dave Kandz at conservation@ adds Margeson. DeSoto: Saskia Janes at icegull@netzero. stpeteaudubon.org or Beth Forys at forysea@ com or 727- 481-7839 eckerd.edu.

Photo by Victoria Parsons A spotting scope at the edge of Photo by Marianne Korosy Two royal tern chicks, just days old, are barely visible under the adults at the sanctuary allows beachgo- the left. About 350 pairs of royal terns are nesting at Three Rooker Bar, near ers a glimpse of the nesting birds Honeymoon Island. without disturbing them.

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 9 Consequences ry’s most notorious human companions. They Continued from page 1 compete aggressively with the naturally occur- Community Guidelines for ring Sanibel rice rats – a gentle, little creature big holiday parties must feel like a Las Ve- that creates softball-sized nests among the gas buffet to the local wildlife opportunists. Discouraging Coyotes & Raccoons marsh reeds. Additionally, a booming popula- This junk food fest used to be easier to man- Avoid feeding pets outside. If outside feeding Keep all trash in high-quality containers tion of invasive rodents attracts red and grey 1 4 age when the park had 68 workers, but with is necessary, remove food and water bowls with tightly closing lids. Freeze particularly foxes and the common coyote. budget cuts, everything is now done by a crew as soon as your pet has finished eating. fragrant refuse until your trash pick-up day. The absence of natural apex predators such of 28, which makes clean-up a slower process. Keep bird feeders high and out of reach. Keep your dogs, particularly small ones, as panthers and red wolves has contributed to 2 5 At the same time, raccoons are being Remove the fruit falling from your trees on on a leash and do not allow them to free- the marked increase in coyotes throughout a daily basis. roam. They could end up as coyote fast forced into parks and preserves as their home Florida. As early as 1998, studies showed coy- food. ranges are being reduced. As anyone who You may need to dispose of ote populations were up to 13% more dense 3 meat and fish scraps in has ever lived near a raccoon will attest, they near beach areas. Coyotes are found in every closed bins. leave trails of destruction wherever they go. Florida county from the northern border to People are not tolerant of these food bandits the southern mangroves where fiddler crabs living in their neighborhoods, so they end up It’s important to note that hide among the mangrove roots. Coyotes eat congregating in our nature preserves. raccoons, coyotes, fiddler crabs, but they also love mice and rats, Raccoons are notoriously omnivorous skunks, foxes and other and will cheerfully attack a bag of ripe, aban- carnivorous mammals scavengers with an excellent sense of smell. doned garbage. are susceptible to rabies. Studies that compare the density of opportu- Be sure to report any Coyotes snuck into Pinellas County about nistic species show greatly increased popula- suspicious behavior to 20 years ago, but it wasn’t until recently that animal control authorities. tions in picnic areas versus pristine natural sightings were documented in Ft. DeSoto areas. What are they eating? You guessed it. Park. Unlike humans, coyotes seldom over- Raccoon autopsies reveal that human junk populate their home area. When food gets food accounts for a significant portion of scarce females produce smaller litters. How- their diet. Think about that next time you ever, judging by the increase in coyote see a fat raccoon. sightings, there’s been plenty of opportunity to grow their litters on the junk food habit. Scientists note that the primary reason for the growing number of scavengers is our own careless house- keeping. Simply tossing a half-eaten chicken bone into a bush is an open in- vitation to a rat, raccoon or hungry coyote. And that’s before taking into account what happens when we carelessly dispose of other trash. Innocuous small pieces of plastic like balloons, empty bags or hair bands can constrict the digestive systems of animals that acci- dentally consume them, or toxic refuse like chocolate Photo Courtesy Christina Evans, ChromaGraphics Studios and cigarette butts may be poi- A Ft. DeSoto raccoon drops into his favorite fast soning them. food restaurant. I DON’T CARE HOW CUTE THEY ARE– While the state’s total population of rac- DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS! coons has not increased, their density has Visit any boat ramp where the anglers grown significantly in these parkland “ghet- clean their catch, and you’ll see a congrega- tos,” where continued population growth is tion of begging birds. Pelicans, herons and limited only by the availability of food. In ad- gulls – it seems so harmless to toss them the dition to picnic refuse, these ravenous crea- miscellaneous fish parts. tures supplement their natural diet of crabs But Cameron Guenther, a research scien- and shellfish with the eggs of turtles and tist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research FAST FOOD WEB – ground-nesting seabirds. Institute, warns that an innocent fish skeleton what partiers leave Our wasteful food habits are changing the causes both long- and short-term problems. behind on the beach is changing the diets of food web in other ways as well. Common “While the impulse to feed these funny crea- Artwork: Sigrid Tidmore animals in our native house mice and the black rat are among histo- tures is strong, the result is that grown birds www.SigridTidmore.com food web.

10 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com become inefficient and lazy predators. Weak other nocturnal insects to navigate. Many birds aren’t eliminated from the gene pool and night-blooming flowers depend on these in- most troubling, the birds become overly so- Reasons to sects to pollinate them. In my own backyard, cialized towards humans. They’ll swallow any I have noticed that my night-blooming cactus catch anywhere -- hook, line and sinker.” NOT Feed the Wildlife no longer produce fruit after the flower falls It’s not uncommon to find a “pet” blue off. This type of species decline in plants can When young wild animals are taught problems, especially when they are heron roaming around local beaches or mo- 1 to depend on a human-provided food young and still developing. change an area’s fundamental long-term ecol- tel pools begging for hot dogs. Many people source, they may not fully develop ogy – and all because we wanted another light A constant, human-provided food source essential foraging skills. for our patio. enjoy feeding wildlife because it allows them 4 may attract many more wild animals to to have close contact with the animals, or they 2 Wild animals that are used to being fed the area than would normally be found feel they are helping them survive. But expe- by humans commonly lose their fear of there. Disease can spread much more TURN IT DOWN rience shows that it almost always leads to people – an important survival trait. They quickly among animals when they gather No article about our beach playtime would problems for both the animals and humans. may be harmed when their begging is artificially for food. misunderstood, harassed by dogs, or hit be complete without mentioning music – or Reproduction rates may also be affected Most conscientious fishermen know not to by cars. 5 some might say -- loud noise. Jet skis, motor feed the wild dolphins. However, in an odd when an unnatural food source is readily The food humans usually feed to wild available. Animals may produce too boats, boom boxes and motorcycles – the rack- twist of unintended consequences, there is 3 animals is not nutritionally complete, many young than what the area can et we create in the name of fun has left many now some anecdotal evidence that dolphins and it can cause serious health support. beach species disoriented and distressed. follow sport fishermen as they play deep sea Brandt Henningsen, chief environmental fish to the point of submission. When the scientist at Southwest Florida Water Manage- fishermen release their exhausted prey, the sure sodium vapor lights where turtles are ment District, tells a story that highlights the tired fish becomes an easy catch for the clever likely to nest. competing issues between our desire to play in dolphins. Unfortunately, it’s another example However, there are less publicized, but nature and give nature back its independence. of how our play may be penalizing an impor- equally disruptive effects of night lighting on Recently,summer 2500 acres of abandoned2002 mines tant animal species. beach communities. Many small species ex- became the largest coastal restoration area Camouflaged perience a disruption of foraging behavior to be planned in Tampa Bay. Known as the OUR PET PREDATORS eggs are barely due to their increased fear of predation. In the visible in this “Rock Ponds” it is being designed with both humble beach mouse, for instance, scientists Sometimes it is actually the animal lovers oystercatcher intertidal and coastal uplands – perfect for a that inadvertently cause wild animals distress. ground nest. have shown that lighting disrupts their circa- productive bird rookery. You can imagine the Our domesticated pets belong in our homes dian clock, changes hormone production and preserve managers’ surprise when a public and under our control. When they are allowed renders them less able to hunt for food. Many user group petitioned the county commission to roam in the wild, they quickly follow their Even if the dog avoids stepping on the small animals feed less during full moons to to use the property as an airfield for flying natural instincts and become destructive. nest, being disturbed is a traumatic event for a avoid being seen by predators. When we light model airplanes. The noisy engine sounds “House cats are the greatest threat to small shorebird. When parents are chased off their up our beaches, it’s likely that a wide variety of would have undone years of careful habitat mammals along our beaches,” says Melissa nests, eggs may bake in the summer’s heat and prey species will become chronically underfed. restoration. Fortunately, in this case, another, Tucker, a specialist in species conservation the chicks may die of exposure or become a Other animals may become disoriented by more appropriate site was found, but this is planning with the Florida Fish and Wildlife meal for other predatory birds. Many times, artificial light because their eyes have rudi- exemplary of the kind of choice we are be- Conservation Commission. “One feral cat the birds that a dog playfully chases down the mentary cone systems that do not adjust to ing asked to make more often: The right to can wipe out fauna in an entire dune system, beach are resting after very long flights – per- glare. This is why so many creatures freeze in use our green spaces versus leaving them in including ground-nesting birds, mice and haps thousands of miles. When boaters in- car headlights and become roadkill. Lighting natural isolation. even the plentiful Eastern cottontail rabbit.” nocently take their pets with them to isolated can affect the navigation systems of migra- Studies done in northwest Florida showed barrier islands or rookery areas, they create tory birds and even bats, causing them to fly WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY – COULD IT BE US? that beach mice populations were severely im- havoc among the flock that will last long after widely off course. As the old adage goes, too much of a good pacted in dune habitats located near residential they’ve gone home. Moving lower down the food web, studies thing can turn bad. In some notable places, areas. Tracks of house cats correlated with the Bird populations are under stress from so now suggest that light pollution around lakes the onslaught of nature-loving visitors is total elimination of the mice in seven of the 21 many directions: habitat destruction, preda- and shores prevent zooplankton from eating steadily eroding the very ecosystems that areas being monitored over a year’s time. tion and disease. To further stress these great- surface algae, potentially boosting the algal ecotourism intends to protect. Visitors are The American Bird Conservancy estimates ly diminished species with our pets’ play may blooms that kill off fish and lower water quality. trampling, polluting and gobbling up scarce that millions of shorebirds are killed annu- be all it takes to push them out of the food It has been documented that nighttime resources in fragile habitats. ally by cats and they are running a campaign web and into extinction. lights interfere with the ability of moths and In a time when we find predators eating to educate pet owners to make their kitties (To read more about beach bird conservation our junk food and native field mice unable to inside pets. Ironically, many of us who love efforts, see pages 8 and 9 in this issue.) eat at all, we need to take a closer look at our birds put out feeders to attract them, never activities. In the name of play and relaxation, realizing we are placing them in danger of our THE TRUTH ABOUT NIGHT LIGHTS we are over-using and under-appreciating free-roaming housecat. Light pollution is a hard concept to tackle what we have. The paradox is that only by The primary challenge for dog lovers is because most people believe that light is be- publicizing the precious nature of our natural keeping their pets under control in estuary nign. After all, what difference does one light resources can we raise a wider awareness that and beach areas. Nearly every preserve man- make outside by the pool? As it turns out – could prevent its destruction. ager has seen the inadvertent damage created LOTS! We have a difficult dilemma: Learning to by frolicking dogs who were allowed to run The introduction of artificial light into enjoy nature without interfering with it. off-leash in bird-nesting areas. wildlife habitats represents a profound en- Bay Sounding readers – you are the ones who “They just don’t see what they’re stepping croachment, particularly in coastal areas. must set the example, spread the word, and on,” says Richard Sullivan of Cockroach Bay. There has been a great deal of attention fo- herald in a more conscious play relationship “I know what oystercatcher nests look like, cused on the altered behavior of sea turtles Photo: Sigrid Tidmore with our precious natural environment. Share and even I have a problem stepping carefully during nesting and hatchling dispersal – and Light pollution can ward off the insects that pol- your thoughts and examples with us online by over them.” (See nest photo) most areas now require less invasive low pres- linate night-blooming plants. emailing [email protected].

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 11

summer 2002 Adopt-A-Pond using Florida native plants. Because the pond Continued from page 1 is part of the greater multi-county watershed and we live in an ecosystem where exotic Now that I'm retired, I had the time and plants and animals take over, we are only al- energy to devote to a project such as getting lowed to plant native, non-invasive plants. the pond back to its natural state. Make no Native plants are not always showy. They mistake, it was a lot of work, but like every- come with descriptive names though, such as thing else in life – “Isn't anything of value a mexicana (yellow) and fragrant (white) water result of passionate work?" lily, pickerelweed (the pretty purple-spiked Community Involvement Works Both Ways flower), spatterdock (the lily with yellow flowers), duck potato (with white flowers on The first step in restoring our pond was to stalks) and southern blue flag, a native species get the backing of our homeowners associa- of the well-known iris. tion, its wetlands advisory committee, and the At first we were a receptor of plants, but regional water management district. Because Have I shown you my baby moorhens? Imagine the joy of watching your baby ducklings hatch. You now we serve as a source for other ponds, guard and enjoy them as only a grandparent could. Just as you would enjoy a vegetable garden, a it was going to beautify the neighborhood supplying plants chosen for pollution-fil- pond can yield hours of delight as you see your pond come alive. And – the animals are a joy rather and increase property values, management tering characteristics and contributions to than a nuisance! was all for it – as long as we didn’t want much wildlife. We’ve supplied water lilies, picker- money. We did discover that condo folks are elweed and canna plants for four other ponds less on maintenance. It's an all-over work-out with food and protection from predators. more than happy to buy plants, because it in our complex and I’m working with another too -- bending, digging, weeding, walking. • Once you hit the “turning point,” you’ll contributes to the morale of the development building to develop a plan to rejuvenate their I would have to pay a monthly fee to receive see that everything builds onto something as well as increasing property values. pond. We also have plenty of yellow lilies and the same work-out that I get for free at my else. For example, large populations of People feel a part of a project when they horse-tail reed available to anyone who can "pond gymnasium." snails eat algae to help keep the pond wa- know what's going on and why. Because summer 2002 use them in their pond. It’s also exercise with a purpose, an out- ter clear and also serve as a food source for transforming a pond is a long-term affair, it's come that helps maintain my health, enhanc- water fowl and turtles. important to transfer your vision of how the The Delights of "Owning" Your Own Pond es my neighborhood and provides critical Hope Springs Eternal pond will look in the future. I publish a quar- Along with looking good for the people wildlife habitat. Working in the pond gives Those of you who have had gardens know terly report that’s posted on the board of each who live nearby, a top priority for our pond you a great chance to meet neighbors who how it feels as Spring approaches. You eye building. It lists the accomplishments of the is providing a haven for waterfowl. Across know you as the "pond guy." You also get to the seed catalogues, dreaming of what your last quarter, but more importantly, outlines Florida, there has been significant habitat lost watch the animals around you, especially dur- garden will look like. For the pond, you find planned activities for the future. to development. I have taken what's called an ing mating season. When baby black fluffballs yourself looking forward to spring blossoms, The report is in a bullet format so it’s easy "adaptive management strategy" to restoring follow their mama moorhen across the pond, seeking out new plants, weeding, dividing to read and it explains why I do certain things. the pond, a practice common in conservation you'll find yourself proudly sharing photos of plants and, of course, controlling algae. Just as For instance, we built some islands by scoop- projects. Small changes are introduced and your "pond grandkids.” ing up the muck from the bottom. Some folks then monitored for effect, allowing the plan it was with your garden, all your efforts won't thought this was a lot of work, but the islands to evolve based on the success or failure of The Mechanics of Pond Balance be successful. Some plants will fail, others will serve several purposes -- a place to raise plants different aspects. Adopting a pond causes you to "really" succeed. With summer comes algae growth. without the threat of invasive weeds as well as When I visit my doctor, he always asks look at other ponds more closely. What are But just when it seems unbearable, tempera- serving as a nesting place for waterfowl, un- "How much do you exercise each week?" the qualities you want in your pond? You tures drop and the algae growth subsides. It's reachable by humans and other predators. He's shocked when I say about 10 hours, but imagine what some ponds could look like if time to rest and plan for the next year. It should also address who has oversight it’s my hobby. Anything worthwhile comes they were adopted. It is a commitment. It's Ernie Franke is an electrical engineer who re- over the project and emphasize the impor- with challenges. Make no mistake, restoring also a two-edged sword. If it doesn't succeed, tired from Raytheon in St. Petersburg and began tance of rules, such as the requirement for a pond is hard work, more at the start, then it is evident to everyone. If it succeeds, it is a working on “his pond” in October 2009. He’s been treasure. so successful at The Shores that he has extra plants I've discovered several secrets that have available for residents of other communities. Con- helped: tact him via email at [email protected] • Forming islands helps to provide a bar- or call 727-393-8639. rier to weeds while allowing me to devote each island to specific plants. It's a matter of balance to achieve the right amount of plants and animals to sustain a mini-eco- sphere. Learn more! • Be patient as it simply takes time. It will Pinellas County Watershed Management: call 727-464-4425 or visit take several years to manually "undo" what www.pinellascounty.org/environment/ has been chemically "done" for so many watershed/adopt-pond.htm. years. You can't turn a neglected eyesore Hillsborough County: call 813-635-5400 or around in a few months. visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/ • It also takes scheduling. It's a waste to publicworks/engineering/stormwater/ stock fish until cover has been provided. adoptapond.cfm. Water lilies have proven to be great, offer- Pasco County: call 813-929-0114 or visit ing cover for fish hiding from herons and www.adoptapondpasco.org. egrets, as well as a nursery area for the fish. Funding for community ponds also is They also filter sunlight and lower water available through the Southwest Florida Water temperature to decrease algae growth. Management District’s Community Education Grants. See related story on page 6. • Similarly you can't expect birds to nest un- Native plants ring the pond, providing habitat for fish, birds and turtles. til you provide vegetated islands they need

12 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com

summer 2002 Backbay Adventures Other favorite places for snorkeling in Tam- Continued from page 16 pa Bay include: If you have a boat, or want to make a day • Fort De Soto Park, particularly the seagrass of snorkeling, visit Egmont Key, the historic beds off the less crowded south beach area. island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Healthy • The Pinellas Point area of St. Petersburg seagrass beds off the island’s eastern shore are where three waterfront parks allow easy home to an amazing variety of wildlife, from access almost any time. Onshore, history dolphins and manatees to small fish and crabs buffs will want to visit the Pinellas Point as well as more-exotic sea anemone and colorful Temple Mound built by prehistoric Indi- sponges and an occasional shark. ans about 600 A.D. Off the western shore, where erosion has • Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve features wiped out nearly a third of the island’s land- deep grass flats. mass, ruins of historic Fort Dade rise from • Weedon Island wraps around several pro- the bottom of the sea. The stone buildings, tected coves with healthy seagrass beds. originally built to defend the region during the • Bishop Harbor at Terra Ceia Preserve State Spanish-American War, resemble even more Park just south of the Manatee County line ancient structures from an underwater vantage. Photo by Victoria Parsons The vertical walls in deeper water attract dif- now includes a paved parking area with boat access for smaller boats and kayaks. The ruins of an historic fort are a popular site ferent kinds of wildlife, including mackerel and for divers in Tampa Bay. Although the western barracuda feeding on forage fish that dart past • Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs where you can just wade out to grass flats shoreline is eroding away, other structures on the in giant schools. island are in remarkably good shape considering The southern tip of Egmont is a year-round from the beach area. their age. Egmont Key Alliance hosts “Discover bird sanctuary. Beach-nesting birds line the • Caladesi Island, accessible only by boat the Island” on the second weekend of Novem- shoreline during summer months. Migratory but regular ferry service is available, has ber, with costumed volunteers sharing stories summer 2002 birds, including the distinctive roseate spoon- several designated swimming areas. of how buildings on the island were used. The bills and white pelicans, fly in for the winter. If your favorite location isn’t included, please lower levels of the lighthouse also will be open. They can be seen from a boat offshore but ac- email us at [email protected]. We’ll cess is strictly prohibited. (Learn more about include your comments on the Bay Soundings beach-nesting birds on pages 8 and 9.) webpage.

Save the Date Continued from page 16 Stay Safe While Snorkeling and can be towed behind a snorkeler while Boaters in Tampa Bay generally are not in the water. Divers-down flags for boats the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to moni- used to seeing people submerged in the water and individuals can be purchased at any tor scallop populations. outside of designated swimming areas at bay- dive shop. Once plentiful in Tampa Bay, scallops front parks. And it’s often difficult for boaters • Don’t stray too far from the boat. Stick are extremely sensitive to water qual- to see snorkelers. Make sure you’re visible! your head up frequently to see where boats ity and practically disappeared for many • State law requires a dive flag (red, with are, and how far you are from shore or years. As water quality improved, the a white diagonal stripe) to be displayed your own boat. Stay out of marked naviga- Florida Fish and Wildlife Research In- stitute began restocking Tampa Bay. The aboard any boat used by snorkelers. The tion channels. Photo by istockphoto.com flag must be 20 x 24 inches and displayed • Weather can change quickly in Florida. Be number of scallops discovered during the Most people recognize scallops as a tasty on wire or other stiffener to hold it fully aware of approaching storms and get off search rebounded from 75 in 1996 to a treat, but their filter-feeding ability also makes unfurled and extended in the absence of a the water before they arrive. record-setting 674 in 2009. them important to underwater ecosystems. An adult scallop can filter about 15 quarts of wind or breeze. • If you’re in an area with a strong current, Last year only 32 scallops were found as part of the search, but scientists are water per hour, improving water quality in the • A personal dive flag is a great idea. These be sure to have a safety line from you to seagrass beds that shelter them. are smaller versions of the standard “div- your boat or snorkel up-current from the hopeful that weather conditions caused ers-down” flag that are attached to a float boat. the problem and the scallops will return to their 2009 levels. “We had a lot of rain short lives – about 12 to 18 months – liv- right before last year’s search and the run- ing, feeding and growing in seagrass beds. off really made the visibility drop,” notes While they’re only about three inches Kevin Misiewicz, TBW environmental across at maturity, a line of about 60 scientist. “We had some people saying bright-blue eyes lining their mantle makes they couldn’t see much more than a foot them easy to distinguish. Photo by Dylan Ammons in front of them.” Participation in the Great Bay Scallop Barnacle-encrusted ruins The rain may also have caused water off Egmont Key look far Search is limited to 35 boats and 150-200 older than they really are. temperature in the bay to drop temporar- swimmers with registration open on a first- Structures on the island ily which could have pushed the scallops come, first-served basis beginning about were built to defend into spawning early, Misiewicz said. Like the middle of July. Fifty meter transect the region during the salmon, scallops die after they spawn. lines are laid across seagrass beds and snor- Spanish-American War. It’s difficult to predict what searchers kelers count the scallops they sight within Erosion on the west side will discover this year, he adds. “We’ve one meter of each side of the line. A lim- of the island has left some seen some small scallops already – hope- ited number of kayaks may participate, and of the historic buildings fully there are a lot more out there just snorkelers without boats may be matched underwater. hiding until they’ve grown up some.” with open space on registered boats. To Scallops are bivalves in the same fam- register, or to be notified when registration ily as oysters and clams. They spend their opens, visit www.tampabaywatch.org.

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 13

summer 2002 QuarterlyCalendar The quarterly calendar lists some of our favorite events and top trips september but there are dozens more events Safe Boating classes Sept. 3, 10:30am-noon, Book Nook by listed online at www.baysoundings. are offered year-round by the Coast the Bay, The Pier Aquarium. Visit com where you will also find more www.pieraquarium.org. !complete information on each of these Guard Auxiliary at convenient events. The calendar is compiled far in locations across the Tampa Bay Sept. 9-11, Tampa Boat Show. For more information, visit advance so we strongly suggest that region. Several of the courses run TampaBoatShow.com or call you contact the sponsoring organization continuously so boaters can select a prior to the event. Some events may 954-441-3227. course and a location that fits their have fees for participation. Sept. 13, 7:30pm, Propagating plants, schedule. The courses meet state presentation at the monthly meeting of rules that require boaters born after Pasco chapter of the Florida Native Plant july Jan. 1, 1988 to complete an approved Society, St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church. July 15, 6:30-9:30pm, Evening Paddle safe boating program. For more Visit www.pasconativeplants.org. to Tarpon Key and Whale Island with information, visit www.baysoundings. Sept. 17, 8:30am–12:30pm; Paddle Sweetwater Kayaks. Register at com/Quarterly-Calendar.asp. Sport Seminar for kayakers and 727-403-7046 or http://BigDsKayaking. canoeists, both beginners and com/Register%20Online.html. experienced at the Coast Guard July 16, 7-9pm, Batty for Bats Ongoing Events Auxiliary building near the Gandy presentation at Little Manatee River State boat ramp. Program includes Park near Sun City Center. Reservations information on local “hot spots” as Through Nov. 30, Tampa Bay: 20/20. First Saturdays, 8-11am, Bird Walk 727-453-6500 for Weedon Island. well as safety techniques. Register suggested, call 813-671-5005. Traveling photo exhibit featuring 20 with St. Petersburg Audubon Society at summer 2002 2nd Thursdays, Agency on Bay [email protected] or July 16, 9am-noon, Combination images by local photographers celebrates Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Petersburg. Management meeting, Tampa Bay 813-835-4118. compost and rain barrel workshops at the 20th anniversary of Tampa Bay Contact 727-526-3725 or focus997@ Regional Planning Council, Pinellas Park. Manatee County Extension in Palmetto. Estuary Program. July 25-Aug. 26 at verizon.net. Or tour Moccasin Lake Sept. 18, North American Migration Call 727-570-5151 ext. 32 or email Registration required, call 941-722-4524. Mosaic Co. in Riverview, Sept. 1-30 at Nature Park with Clearwater Audubon Count. To volunteer in Pinellas County, Society. Visit www.clearwateraudubon.org [email protected]. contact 727-527-0227 x253. July 16, 9:30-11am, Backyard South Shore Regional Library in Ruskin or call 727-518-6241. 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, Composting Workshop, Pinellas and Oct. 10-Nov. 30 at Florida Aquarium Sept. 25, 8am, Count migrating birds Get your gardening questions answered Extension Service, Largo. in Tampa. Contact 727-893-2765 or Second Saturdays, program for with St. Petersburg Audubon at Fort Registration required, visit www. www.tbep.org. beginning birders at Lettuce Lake Park with Manatee Master Gardeners at the DeSoto Park. through Tampa Audubon Society. Visit Rocky Bluff Branch Library in Ellenton. pinellascountyextension.org or call Most Saturdays, 9-11am, Guided Hikes Sept. 28, 3-5pm, Tampa Bay Estuary www.tampaaudubon.org. 727-582-2100. at Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon July 17 – Aug. 31, guided kayak trips to Program Community Advisory July 16, 11:15am-12:15pm, Rain Springs and Weedon Island Preserve in Second and fourth Thursdays, Book some of the region’s most spectacular Committee, Tampa Bay Regional Harvesting, Pinellas County Extension. St. Petersburg. Registration required, Time at Brooker Creek Preserve, Wee- sites with naturalists from the American Planning Council. Contact Registration required, visit www. www.pinellascountyextension.org or call Time at Weedon Island Preserve. Visit Littoral Society. Visit www.sealitsoc.org for 727-893-2765 or www.tbep.org. pinellascountyextension.org or call 727-582-2100 for Brooker Creek, www.pinellascountyextension.org or call dates and locations or call John Sarkozy 727-582-2100. 727-453-6500 for Weedon Island. 727-582-2100 for Brooker Creek, at 941-966-7308 for reservations. october July 16, Noon-3pm, Discover Our Oct. 8, 8am, John Chesnut County Coastal Classroom – Nature and July 25 to 29, Wildlife Ecology Day Aug. 6, 10:30am-noon, Book Nook by at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Park Birdwatching Walk, Clearwater Culture with Your Child, Weedon Island Camp at Brooker Creek Preserve. the Bay, open to children of all ages, Council. Visit www.tbep.org. Audubon Society. Visit www. Preserve. For more information, call One-week field camp for children the Pier Aquarium, St. Petersburg. Visit clearwateraudubon.org. Aug. 13, 2-3pm, Florida’s Wildlife 727-453-6500. ages seven to 11. Contact George@ www.pieraquarium.org. Predators…and Their Prey, Weedon Oct. 8, 6-10pm, 18th Annual Fish Head July 17, 7am, Tour Coquina Beach heinrichecologicalservices.com or Aug. 9, 2-4pm, Tampa Bay Estuary Ball: FISH-A-Palooza RockStar at the near Bradenton with Tampa Audubon 727-865-6255. Island Preserve. Registration required, Program Manatee Awareness Coalition visit www.pinellascountyextension.org Don CeSar on St. Petersburg Beach Society. Registration required, call 813- July 27, 10am–noon, Fall Gardening, meeting, Weedon Island Preserve. or 727-582-2100. to benefit The Pier Aquarium. Email 935-6115 or email [email protected]. Manatee County Extension office. Contact 727-893-2765 or www.tbep.org. [email protected]. Registration required, 94-722-4524. Aug. 17, 10am-noon, Much About July 19, 6-8:30pm, Low Down on Lawn Aug. 9, 7:30pm, "Florida Springs - The Irrigation, Manatee County Extension. Mulch at Manatee County Extension. Oct. 11, 7:30pm, "Native Plant July 30, 2-3pm, The Owl Cast Café, Original Native Plant Community," Registration required, call 941-722-4524. Landscaping for Florida Wildlife," Weedon Island Preserve, Registration presentation by University of Florida Registration required, call 941-722-4524. presentation by Craig Huegel (see Bay July 19, 6-7:30pm, SciCafé, Japan required, www.pinellascountyextension. professor Robert L. Knight at the Florida Aug. 19, 7:00pm, Tampa Audubon org or 727-582-2100. Soundings, Spring 2011) at the Pasco Tsunami: The Science Behind Tsunamis Native Plant Society’s meeting at St. Society presents Frolicking with Chapter of the Florida Native Plant and its Aftermath, The Hangar Mark’s Presbyterian Church in Hudson. Frogs at Little Manatee River State Restaurant and Flight Lounge, St. Society, www.pasconativeplants.org. august Visit www.pasconativeplants.org. Park. Registration required, call Petersburg. RSVP: www.pieraquarium. Aug. 3, 6-7pm, Grant writing workshop Aug. 9, 10:30am-noon, Compost 813-205-1851 or email webmaster@ Oct. 12, 6pm, Evening Tide Talk, org/tsunamiscicafe or estehle@ for Tampa Bay Estuary Program Mini- pieraquarium.org. Happens – Home Composting tampaaudubon.org. Florida Aquarium, “Restoring Tampa Grant program, Tampa Bay Regional workshop at the Manatee County Bay,” with Holly Greening, executive Planning Council. Contact misty@tbep. Aug. 23, 1:30-4:30pm, Landscaping on July 20, 9-11:30am, Bucket Brigade: Extension. Registration required, call director of the Tampa Bay Estuary org or 727-893-2765. Reduced Water Use. Manatee County Container Gardening, Manatee County 941-722-4524. Program. Call 813-273-4015 or visit Extension. Registration required, Extension. Registration required, call Aug. 3, 10:00am-noon, Rain Barrel Aug. 10, 6-8:30pm, Shrubs that Will www.flaquarium.org. 941-722-4524. Workshop at Manatee County 941-722-4524. Rock Your Yard at Manatee County Oct. 15, 9am, Big Birds for Beginners July 23, 8-10am, Photography Hike, Extension. Registration required, Extension. Registration required, call Aug. 24, 9-11:30am, Bucket Brigade: at McGough Nature Park in Largo, Weedon Island Preserve. Registration 941-722-4524. 941-722-4524. Container Gardening. Manatee County Clearwater Audubon Society. Visit required, www.pinellascountyextension. Aug. 5 & 6, 8th Annual Heart’s Aug. 11, 1:30-4:30pm, Tampa Bay Extension. Registration required, call www.clearwateraudubon.com or call org or 727-453-6500. Breath Flute Extravaganza, Children’s Estuary Program management board 941-722-4524. 727-596-8822. July 23, 10am-noon, Going Coastal: Storytelling, Drumming and Flute meeting at the Tampa Bay Regional What’s in the Water?, Weedon Island Workshops with an indigenous sounds Aug. 27, 8-10am, Photography Hike, Oct. 15, 8am-noon, Give A Day for the Planning Council. Visit www.tbep.org. Preserve. Registration required, www. concert Friday evening. Weedon Island Weedon Island Preserve. Registration Bay, invasive plant removal at Perico Park pinellascountyextension.org or Preserve, call 727-453-6500 or visit Aug. 12, 10am-1pm, Tampa Bay required, www.pinellascountyextension. in Manatee County. Registration required, 727-582-2100. www.weedonislandpreserve.org. Estuary Program policy board meeting org or 727-453-6500. 727-893-2765 or [email protected].

14 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com

summer 2002 Bay Soundings Looks to the Future: Letters to the Editor Re: Marine Debris: Local Solutions to a Global Problem Confirming Current Subscribers, Reaching out to New Readers For an excellent view of the problem on a national and global scale I would call your attention to an excellent, new book - "Moby-Duck" This issue marks the ninth anniversary of Bay Soundings, posting PDFs that allow you to print stories on standard written by Donovan Hohn. He uses the loss of a ship's container a milestone that’s nearly matched by our growth in circula- office paper to share with friends who prefer paper. full of plastic toys in the Pacific Ocean (and the later recovery of individual items) as a guide to his understanding of the flotsam and tion over those years. • We’ll also make our website more interactive and provide jetsam problem. As we look toward the future in a challenging economic more hyperlinks for in-depth information. We’re already Art Eggers climate, we realized we need to back up and make sure that getting about 200,000 hits per month and several surveys everyone on our mailing lists still wants to be here. Bay show that many people prefer to receive publications on- Soundings is printed and mailed as inexpensively as possible line instead of in the mail. We’re still working out the Re: The Real Cost of Fertilizer so we use bulk rate mailing. The downside of bulk mail is details on exactly how those changes will occur – please I was disappointed in your recent article “The Real Cost of Fertilizer.” that we aren’t automatically notified when someone moves let us know what you think. While we all can agree on the need for clean water, the article lacked the objectivity and balance I have come to expect from Bay or changes their job address. Over the next six months, we’re asking that everyone who Soundings. Although my company is a fertilizer manufacturer (and We’re also finalizing plans for three new initiatives: receives a print edition of Bay Soundings by mail contact us to the turf grass market is not our normal market), there was minimal • First we’d like to expand print distribution beyond our confirm that their address is correct and that they would like discussion about the successful efforts to manage nutrients by the current locations. Check www.baysoundings.com for a to continue receiving a mailed copy. To sign up online, visit Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the successful implementation of list of current distribution sites, and then let us know www.tbrpc.org/baysoundings or complete the subscription public-private partnerships. There was no discussion of IFAS studies regarding the unintended consequences of fertilizer bans. There was if you have any ideas about where we should be deliv- form below. no discussion of increases in seagrass populations in the Tampa ering bulk copies. The possibilities are endless – auto Send the completed form to: and Sarasota estuaries, improvements which happened well before mechanics, dentists, restaurants, schools or civic organi- Suzanne Cooper, Bay Soundings Manager the implementation of fertilizer ordinances being touted. Nutrient zations. The goal is to find “champions” who make sure Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council levels in Tampa Bay have been going down, not up, when you look Bay Soundings is displayed and let us know when copies 4000 Gateway Centre Blvd., #100 at historical trends of more than one year. In the interest of fairness, I would hope you would consider giving equal coverage to these are running low. Pinellas Park, FL 33782 issues in some future issue. In the final analysis, clean water and • To make it easier to share our stories, we’re adding Fax - 727-570-5118 sound management of turf grass and fertilizer are both achievable Facebook and Twitter buttons to the website as well as Call 727-570-5151 x 32 with questions and we hope future coverage will reflect that. Richard Ghent Director of Community Affairs, CF Industries Let us know how you want to read Bay Soundings! We respond: First Name Last Name Thank you for commenting on our fertilizer story. As you I want to (check all that apply): correctly point out, Bay Soundings consistently focuses on q Keep my paper subscription q Change my subscription address q Keep my on-line notification the successful efforts to manage nutrients that have made q Change my paper subscription to on-line q Cancel my paper subscription q Get a paper subscription Tampa Bay one of few urban estuaries in the world where q Get an on-line notification water quality is improving – including the significant con- We’ll need your address and/or e-mail address, as appropriate, to make this happen. We won’t use this info for any other reason. tributions made by the phosphate industry. We also pointed out that water quality is improving in Tampa Bay in this story, Mailing address and included a list of nutrient sources that makes it clear that fertilizer is not the only issue. Some of those articles include a Spring 2008 story on the nitrogen management consortium, (http://baysound- City State Zip ings.com/Spring08/Stories/NitrogenConsortium.asp) and an article on the consortium’s landmark agreement with the E-mail address U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.bay- Comments soundings.com/winter2011/Stories/TampaBay-Consortium- Reaches-Landmark-Agreement.asp) in our last issue. The point of the story on fertilizer was to make people think through the impact of their actions. And despite all the reductions in nitrogen loadings in Tampa Bay, nitrogen re- mains the bay’s most harmful and pervasive pollutant. The agreement with state and federal regulators and the Tampa A BIG thanks Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium acknowledges that Tampa Bay is at capacity for nitrogen. Any new nitrogen to the following sponsors for making Bay Soundings possible with our deepest appreciation loads must be offset by reductions in existing loads. There is for your commitment to celebrating and preserving Florida’s largest open-water estuary. no room for growth without reducing current nitrogen loads. Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council That is a major reason local governments support residential Tampa Bay Estuary Program fertilizer ordinances. They can prevent nitrogen from enter- The Southwest Florida Water Management District and its Alafia River, ing waterways or they can clean it up on the back end at con- Hillsborough River, Pinellas-Anclote River and Manasota Basin Boards siderable expense to taxpayers. Florida Department of Transportation, District 7 We’ll look forward to covering more stories on the suc- If you or your company would like information on becoming a sponsor of cesses of Tampa Bay. I know we share the same commitment Bay Soundings, please contact Suzanne Cooper at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning to a beautiful bay surrounded by eco-friendly landscapes. Council, 727-570-5151, ext. 32, or email [email protected]

Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com 15 Summer 2011 baysoundings.com PRSRT STD this issue U.S. POSTAGE inside BaySoundingsCovering the Tampa Bay Watershed 1 Unintended Consequences: Paid Are we loving Mother Nature c/o Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council ST.PETERSBURG to death? 4000 Gateway Centre Blvd. PERMIT 5899 Adopt-A-Pond: Is Opportunity Suite 100 Knocking at Your Front Door? Pinellas Park, FL 33782 2 Profile: Yvette Little: Fighting Poo-llution 3 news Briefs & Follow-Through 4 summer Reading Recommendations 8 stewards Protect 5 Lucky Fifth-Graders get Hands- Beach-Nesting Birds On Sailing Lessons 14 Quarterly Calendar 6 Grants Boost Bay Restoration 15 Bay Soundings Looks to the Initiatives Future: Confirming Current 2011 Legislative Update Subscribers, Reaching out to New Readers 7 natural Oasis Recreated at Edge of Urban Neighborhoods 16 Dive In. The Water's Great!

Tampa Bay may not rank with the Florida Keys or the Cayman Islands as an international dive destination, but improvements in water quality over the last 20 years have made the bay in our backyard a great place to spend a day. Dive In With an average depth of just 12 feet, Tampa Bay is an easy dive for almost anyone. Even if you’re not an expert swimmer, you can see an abundance of marine The Water’s Great! life just hanging on to a noodle float and drifting over seagrass beds with a facemask and snorkel. But while the diving is easy, photography is far more challenging. For one thing, the really cool-looking fish seem to be the fastest-moving. For another, the water keeps moving too so even if you manage to frame the fish you want, it may not be in focus. For an in-depth – and in focus -- look at the fascinating animals that live in Tampa Bay, revisit Jimmy White’s amazing collection of undersea life in the Winter 2011 issue of Bay Soundings. If you’re looking for sealife, avoid the white sand beaches bordering the Gulf of Mexico and focus more on the calmer inshore waters of the bay. You can wade out to seagrass beds from almost any location along the bay – choose one close to your home so it’s convenient enough to visit often. Backbay Adventures Continued on page 13

Save the Date – Saturday, August 27 Tampa Bay’s premier snorkeling event is scheduled for Saturday, August 27, when a small flotilla of pleasure boats Photo by Victoria Parsons embarks upon the Great Bay Scallop Search. Held annually Like many long-time residents, Dylan (above) and Kane Ammons had since 1993, it’s a joint effort between Tampa Bay Watch and never been diving in Tampa Bay. The ruins off Egmont Key were a great place to introduce good swimmers to the wonders of the bay. Save the Date Continued on page 13

16 Bay Soundings | Summer 2011 | www.baysoundings.com