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The Coastal Program at Tampa Bay Caring for Our Coastal Habitats

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The Coastal Program at Tampa Bay Caring for Our Coastal Habitats U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service The Coastal Program at Tampa Bay Caring for Our Coastal Habitats Overview Coastal Program at Tampa Bay Accomplishments The Coastal Program is one of the FROM 2001-2006 IN FY 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Restored ¾ 6 Partnership agreements most successful and effective ¾ 572.5 acres of coastal wetlands Restored cooperative conservation ¾ 311 acres of coastal uplands ¾ 239 acres of coastal wetlands programs. The mission of the ¾ 148.5 acres of coastal uplands Coastal Program is to protect and recover Federal Trust Species with many state and local groups west coast are at risk but certain (threatened and endangered and individuals to identify priority groups become habitats of special species, migratory birds, and inter- natural resource needs and concern because of their ecological jurisdictional fish) by supporting assisting in implementing actions importance, the difficulty of voluntary restoration and to address those issues. reestablishing them or their enhancement of high-priority vulnerability. Three habitat types coastal habitats. Priorities that rise to those of special concern Each of our coastal habitats is an are seagrasses, coastal wetlands The Coastal Program at Tampa and coastal uplands. Bay follows the mission of the integral part of creating an ecosystem that provides the range national Coastal Program to There are four species of conserve healthy coastal of environmental values and niches necessary for a fully functional seagrasses in Tampa Bay – ecosystems for the benefit of fish, shoalgrass, turtlegrass, manatee wildlife and people. We achieve estuarine system. All of the coastal habitats along Florida’s grass and star grass. Seagrasses this goal by working as partners are known for the multiple functions they serve in estuaries. They contribute to improved water quality in several ways. Some species of fish, manatees and sea turtles feed directly on living seagrass, while many other species feed on the decaying leaves or on the epiphytes that grow on the leaves. Seagrasses also provide critically important nursery and adult habitat for the great majority of the recreationally and commercially important fishery species in the Gulf of Mexico. The Coastal Program www.fws.gov/coastal/ January 2007 technical assistance and project funding, with the other natural resource agencies and groups that are persistently working to find the means to ensure that our estuarine habitats are functional and healthy. Partners A partial list of our Partners includes: • Tampa Bay Estuary Program • Sarasota Bay Estuary Program • Tampa Bay Watch • Southwest Florida Water Management District Coastal wetlands are important in Threats • Florida Department of estuarine systems because of their Environmental Protection hydrological, biological and The pervasive threat to all of our • National Audubon Society societal functions. Coastal coastal ecosystems is unrestrained • Pinellas County wetlands ameliorate the effects of development and all of the • Hillsborough County extreme hydrological events from activities associated with and • MacDill Air Force Base either the upland or water side. resulting from it. Seagrasses are Contaminants and excess nutrients at danger from dredging, increased • Friends of Rookery Bay can be retained either in plant boat prop scarring and increased • Florida Institute for materials or soils lessening their nutrient and contaminant inputs. Saltwater Heritage biological effects. Coastal marshes Wetlands have some protective • The Nature Conservancy are some of the most productive measures to lessen impacts, but habitats in the world and are vital acreage and function are still being pieces of the mosaic of habitats lost. Coastal uplands have almost that all contribute to healthy no protection and their location estuarine ecosystems. Coastal adjacent to the wetlands and water For More Information wetland systems can offer physical front sites makes them prime For more information about the protection to manmade structures development sites. All coastal Coastal Program, contact the by helping intercept extreme habitats are also at risk from exotic Coastal Program at Tampa Bay physical events. invasive species. Coastal Program Coordinator at 727-510-1021 or visit us on the Coastal uplands are extremely Conservation Strategies internet at vulnerable to loss from http://www.fws.gov/coastal/ development because there are no Conservation strategies for coastal substantive protections for them. habitats run the gamut from Uplands within the Coastal regulatory guidelines, to water Program’s area historically quality improvement, to included pine flatwoods, mixed acquisition and restoration. Each hardwood forests and maritime contributes to some extent. Our forests. Coastal Program conservation efforts are implemented by working as a partner, offering The Coastal Program www.fws.gov/coastal January 2007 .
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