THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

TBEP and Toadfish recently collaborated on the Save The Seagrass Non-Tipping Can Cooler! It’s perfect for the beach, boat, pool, or paddling down your favorite river. Each product sold will help seagrass restoration projects in Tampa Bay.


NEWS
Rattlesnake Key Slated to Become a State Park
The 830-acre island just south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge has been a preservation success story in the making for decades. Home to critical coastal habitats like mangroves and seagrass flats, Rattlesnake Key’s designation as a State Park highlights the important role strategic land acquisition will play in the region’s ability to restore and protect Tampa Bay’s habitats while they are still undeveloped and available.


Learn about habitat restoration in Tampa Bay. Check out the Habitat Master Plan Update
Wanted!
Info on Diamondback Terrapin Sightings
Spend a lot of time exploring Tampa Bay? Got a knack for species identification? Help our partners out and contribute to diamondback terrapin protection efforts here in Tampa Bay by recording any sightings, making sure to capture the GPS coordinates, and a few photos. GPS coordinates can be captured by using your preferred navigation app and placing a pin at the location of the sighting. Be sure that the pin is saved so you can reference the coordinates in your email to the folks at Heinrich Ecological Services. Their contact info: (727) 599-1843, george@heinrichecologicalservices.com
Read a book. Explore State Parks | Real Florida
Reader Program
Through a partnership involving the state, FDEP, and public libraries, Floridians can now use their public library card to check out a Real Florida Reader day pass, which provides free admission to state parks for up to eight people in a vehicle. This promotion runs until September 12, 2022.

Is more algae mucking up Tampa Bay? Scientists need to track it first.
"Algae blooms can essentially choke seagrass beds, blocking sunlight the plants need to grow. Seagrasses are instrumental in helping clean the bay, and they also serve as a habitat and food source for fish and manatees."



Seagrasses Thrive in the Gulf of Mexico While Withering Elsewhere
"There's about 586,000 acres of seagrass in that part of Florida. Which is second only to Florida Bay. It's one of the largest seagrass beds in the world." "But it's not just seagrass. What's really unique about that area is it's a mix of seagrass, attached algae, corals, sponges, scalloping."



Where are Tampa Bay's hard bottom habitats and why do we need them? (Animated Video)
Tampa Bay is home to unique hard bottom habitats that are visited by an abundance of prized sport and reef fish. To protect these biodiverse habitats, researchers map the bay bottom to better understand the location of these rare and important ecosystems.



EVENTS
City of Largo Community Climate Sessions | Multiple Dates
Interested in how climate change might be impacting the community? Join the City of Largo for one of three Community Climate Sessions and help inform the City's Sustainability and Resilience Plan Update. Sessions will be held in person, in English and Spanish, and virtually. | Event Info

Philippe Park Living Shoreline Phase III | Volunteer Opportunity | July 23rd
Volunteers are needed to help create an oyster reef at Philippe Park. Oyster reefs improve water quality, enhance habitat for wildlife, and improve the bay’s resilience against storms. Make sure to review the event info below before registering. | Event Info

BeBot Beach Tour (Multiple Dates)
This is going to be an extra special month because KPB is showcasing a device called the BeBot that sifts the top inch or two of sand, extracting all small pieces of litter & debris (imagine a small version of a Zamboni machine). This device is one-of-its-kind and we expect to have very large turnouts at each of our 14 events showcasing this device. On July 15th, TBEP is partnering on the initiative to collect trash data using the EPA’s Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol. | Attend a tour

GRANTS
Click the title links for more information
Save the Date
Bay Mini-Grant Application Goes Live on July 14th

All application materials can be found by visiting TBEP's Bay Mini-Grant Webpage.
Priority will be given to projects that support the prevention, eradication, and management of invasive species in the watershed. Applications are due September 16th, 2022. Questions directed to TBEP Community Programs Scientist Sheila Scolaro, sscolaro@tbep.org
Stormwater Education Project Grants

A great opportunity for neighborhood associations or local nonprofits! This funding aims to support public involvement, education, and outreach efforts to improve the quality of stormwater runoff in the Tampa Bay Region. This funding opportunity provides financial support for supplies, activities, and educational materials related to a stormwater education project. Example materials and activities include brochures or fact sheets, recreational guides, websites, bumper stickers, posters for bus stops, billboards, videos, event participation, children’s educational programs, storm drain stenciling or placards, tributary or watershed signage, and more. Applications are due July 14th.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Marine Debris
Removal Grants

The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to a total of $56 million through funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for projects that remove marine debris to benefit the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. Apply by September 30th, 2022.
An applicant webinar will be offered on July 14, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund

This fund invests in programs and initiatives that align with the Bass Pro Shop mission, which includes conserving wildlife and habitat, connecting new audiences to the outdoors, and advocating for access and sportsmen’s rights. Grant info
OTHER STUFF
How Do Hurricanes Impact Estuaries?
Understanding the range of challenges estuaries face during natural events like hurricanes can help us to reduce our impact, allowing them to recover from these events naturally and in a shorter amount of time
Fertilizer Awareness Animation by Keep Pasco Beautiful
“Florida is famous for our random torrential rains, which lead to runoff water rushing into the stormwater system. This fertilizer then adds excess nutrients to the runoff, feeding algae blooms. We all remember the horrific images of fish kills and dead manatees from algae blooms and red tide last year. Let’s do our part to protect our water bodies and the creatures that live there by fertilizing them properly.” - A message from Keep Pasco Beautiful
Don't Let Seweage Make a House Call
Houses built before 1975 are more likely to have sewer lines made of outdated materials that are prone to leaks and cracks. That’s why many Tampa Bay area home inspectors recommend conducting a camera scope inspection before purchasing an older home.
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.