Protect Our Fun! It is officially rainy season in Florida. That means it’s time to truly Be Floridian and skip the fertilizer all summer. The bay and beaches will thank you.

There are many other ways to Florida-fy your yard. Check out the Homeowner Toolkit, the Art of Being Floridian, and “Get Your Mind in the Gutter” videos, all at the link above. Be sure to share this info with your neighbors! Nonprofits, businesses, and schools could also consider applying for a Bay Mini-Grant to install a rain garden, restore habitat by planting native plants or removing invasive plants, increase environmental stewardship, or educate peers on science and issues in our watershed. Check out the Grants section below for more information.

Summer Nesting Season

Shorebirds, sea turtles, and fish - oh my! Many species of wildlife in Tampa Bay reproduce in the spring and early summer. Open sandy beaches, seagrass, and mangrove habitat all function as nurseries for various species. This is an important time of year to give wildlife a wide berth and let them nest, rest, and forage.

Recent & relevant news: Seagrasses have been in decline in Tampa Bay for three years in a row. Here's why. Brown, discolored water spotted off Pinellas County beaches Florida Legislature moves to block fertilizer bans Saint Leo students help restore lake ecosystem on campus Tampa Bay lost thousands of acres of seagrass, study shows University of Tampa researcher says algae in Tampa Bay could guide seagrass restoration Coastal Armoring Impacts on Beaches and Sea Turtles Biden-Harris Administration recommends funding of $78.7 million for projects in Florida to strengthen Climate-Ready Coasts as part of Investing in America agenda New water quality standards, money for land preservation signed into law

Engage and Volunteer Great Goliath Grouper Count | June 2-16 St Pete Bike Co-op 10-Year Anniversary Benefit Show | June 9 Give-A-Day: World Oceans Day Paddle Cleanup | June 10 Florida Resilience Conference call for Abstracts | June 16 Manatee Awareness Coalition Meeting | June 28 TBEP Community Advisory Committee Meeting | July 26 Celebrate and Observe Oceans Week | June 4-10 International Surfing Day | June 17 Juneteenth | June 19 Learn and Grow Summer Garden Walk Series | June 3 Junior Ranger Camp | June 5-7 Open Science Possibilities for Career Advancement | June 6 Hillsborough 2023 Co-op Solar 101 | June 7 Night at the Museum | June 10 Singing Insects: Our Overlooked Outside Chorus | June 20 Managed Retreat Conference | June 20 TBEP Technical Advisory Committee Meeting | June 21 Florida Solar 101 | July 25 TBEP Open Science Subcommittee Meeting | August 2 Easy Plant Identification: The Big 4 | August 15 Habitat Restoration Consortium Meeting | August 23 Florida-Friendly Landscaping Essentials | September 15

The Bay Mini-Grant application period will open in July. This competitive funding program is aimed at improving water quality, increasing science literacy, and restoring habitat. Get those project ideas ready! Improving Public Health Data Systems to Address Health Equity Challenges for At-Risk Communities in the U.S. Gulf Coast | June 12 Empowering the Next Generation of Community Resilience Leaders | July 10 

Education and Outreach Specialist | Booker Creek Preserve Education and Outreach Specialist | Weedon Island Preserve Southeast Regional Marine Debris Coordinator | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Garden Facilitator Research Support Asst | University of South Florida Coastal Stewardship Intern | Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Environmental and Conservation Greenspace Director | University of South Florida Multiple | The Florida Aquarium Early-Career Water Resources Engineer or Scientist | Geosyntec Consultants Outdoor Program Manager | Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Administrative Assistant | Tampa Bay Watch 

The mission of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program is to build partnerships to restore and protect Tampa Bay through implementation of a scientifically sound, community-based management plan.  TBEP is a partnership of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties; the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater; the Southwest Florida Water Management District; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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