FEATURED STORIES
2021 Bay Mini-Grant Recipients Announced
Save The Date! BASIS7-ANEP Set for Fall 2021
Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund (TBERF) Now Open
TBEP Seeks Part-Time Program Support Specialist
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20 Community-led Bay Improvement Projects Receive $75,000 In 2021 From the Tampa Bay Estuary Program |
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Since the year 2000, more than $1.8 million dollars in grant funding has gone to community-based restoration and improvement projects in Tampa Bay, often carried out by tenacious community members and dedicated local environmental organizations. This year’s 20 projects, led by groups from throughout the watershed, take diverse shapes, from outdoor educational programming and emerging containment removals to litter prevention to conservation filmmaking.
2020 recipients and projects include:
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Canterbury School of Florida: Canterbury Estuary Explorers: Assessing Sediments for Benthic Invertebrates and Microplastics
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Gulfport Sustainability Committee: Gulfport Recreation Center Rain Garden
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Friends of Crescent Lake: North Marsh Rehabilitation
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Audubon Florida: Improved Trash Collection at Gandy Causeway Beach
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St. Petersburg Audubon: Conservation Signage for the Gandy Causeway Beach
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Keep Pinellas Beautiful: Taking Action Against Microplastics
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Cloud Nine Outdoors: Kayak Eco-Tours and Clean-Ups for At-Risk Youth
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Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful: Sand Dune Restoration at Picnic Island Park
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The Center on Anna Maria Island: Citizen Science Guardian Corps
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Friends of Salt Creek: Recovering Salt Creek
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The Center for Environmental Filmmaking: Black Skimmer Conservation Film
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The Florida Aquarium: Tampa Bay Invasives— Let’s Take Back the Bay
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Breach the Surface: Debris of the Bay
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Tampa Riverwalk Cleanup: Emerging Contaminant Removal from USF
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University of South Florida: Development of Activity Packages
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UF/IFAS: Pinellas County Adopt-A-Drain
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Keep Pasco Beautiful: Land O’ Lakes Litter Prevention
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Manatee School for the Arts: Marine Science Education
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Coffeepot Bayou Watershed Alliance: Invasive Vegetation Removal and Mangrove Restoration
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Tampa Bay Watch: Traveling Estuary Education
These grants - receiving up to $5,000 each - are funded directly by sales of TBEP’s Tarpon Tag Speciality License Plate. To learn more about the Tampa Bay Estuary Program Specialty License Plate and Bay Mini-Grants in general, visit tbep.org.
Potential applicants interested in applying for grant funds next year are encouraged to reach out to TBEP Public Outreach Specialist Sheila Scolaro at sscolaro@tbep.org.
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BASIS7-ANEP Set for Oct. 2021 |
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Until additional event information is released, organizations and individuals interested in promoting the exchange of ongoing research and restoration Tampa Bay are invited to consider sponsoring the event, helping TBEP to continue the tradition of hosting an affordable conference for all attendees, provide students scholarships, and support publication of the proceedings to document the current state of estuarine science and management in Tampa Bay.
For information on the sponsor tiers, please view the BASIS7-ANEP section of the TBEP website. If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Gary Raulerson, TBEP Ecologist, at 727-893-2765 or graulerson@tbep.org.
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Now Accepting Project Proposals for 2021 TBERF! |
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TBEP and Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) are excited to announce the launch of this year’s Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund proposal season. From now until March 19th, 2021 interested applicants are invited to submit project proposals for cost-effective projects that will protect, restore or enhance the natural resources of Tampa Bay and its contributing watershed. This includes projects that address on-the-ground habitat restoration; water quality improvement; applied research and monitoring; and community-based social marketing campaigns. Preference will be given to proposals that apply open science principles and are aligned with conservation objectives and priorities.
For more information, please visit the 2021 TBERF webpage to download the RFP, access application materials, and review FAQs.
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TBEP Seeks Part-Time Program Support Specialist |
That's right, we're hiring!
Our team is looking for a motivated individual who can assist in the administration and reporting of our multifaceted work. Interested? Follow the link below to view the full job description below for details on applying.
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Get Virtual. Get Outside. Get Involved!
Educational and Outreach opportunities we think you might be interested in.
Click the picture to learn more.
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Give-A-Day For The Bay with Keep Pasco Beautiful at Land O' Lakes Heritage Park | Feb. 6th
Get outside with us for a socially-distant clean up a high-need area. This location is the last point of contact with the trash before it blows and washes into the stormwater system which drains directly into Tampa Bay Estuary and becomes a hazard to wildlife!
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VIRTUAL: Community Climate Education Series | Community Resiliency Information System (CRIS) | Jan. 27th
Join us for this year's kickoff presentation on the Community Resiliency Information System by Professor of GIS and Executive Director of iCAR, Dr. Barnali Dixon.
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FREE: Refine your science communication skills online with the RiverAcademy
RiverAcademy is an interactive learning platform designed for those who want to become leaders in their field.
RiverAcademy will expand your knowledge and enable you to be recognised for having that knowledge in the form of a verifiable digital credential, also known as a digital badge.
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Boyd Hill's Raptor Fest @ Home: Adopt A Raptor by January 31st
Each February, thousands of nature lovers, birders, photographers, and Boyd Hill neighbors celebrate Raptor Fest in support of BHNP’s Birds of Prey program.
This year, we invite you all to continue the tradition, but in a little different way. Adopt a raptor and you or your business will get publicity and other benefits (see below) as a thank you for supporting this time honored program that means so much to the St. Petersburg community.
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VIRTUAL: Clam Restoration Workshop, Feb. 9, 10 & 11.
This workshop will summarize the latest information on the ecological services provided by marine clams (e.g., Mercenaria spp.) and the quantification of those services. We will also identify where additional research is needed so that the benefits of future clam restoration efforts throughout Florida can be maximized.
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VIRTUAL: Friends of Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves Virtual Meeting TODAY! (Jan. 22nd)
Want to be more involved in your community? Join the FTBAP via Zoom this evening at 6PM to discuss membership applications and ways to get involved.
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Pathfinder Outdoor Education Community Tree Climb, Saturday, Feb. 6th |
St. Pete's Pathfinder team is excited to get the community climbing again! This event is an excellent family activity, friend group outing, or even a unique date. Masks are required and interested participants are encouraged to visit the link below to familiarize themselves with the event's new rules and complete the required preregistration form.
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About the Tampa Bay Estuary Program
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program is an intergovernmental partnership dedicated to restoring and protecting Tampa Bay, Florida's largest open-water estuary. The TBEP is one of 28 "Estuaries of National Significance" designated by Congress.
Our Policy Board is comprised of representatives from Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties; the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater; the Southwest Florida Water Management District; the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Balm Boyette Restoration Project
Check out this video of the recently completed Balm Boyette restoration project, showcasing hydro-restoration in our watershed.
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