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Future of the Region Award Winners Announced

By Victoria Parsons

3 people attempt to chain-hug an enormous cypress tree trunk in the Upper Cotee River Preserve

Photo courtesy Pasco County

Upper Cotee River Preserve in Pasco County features an enormous cypress tree estimated to be more than 200 years old.

The environment was the big winner at the 18th annual Future of the Region awards ceremony sponsored by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to highlight projects and programs that recognize outstanding achievements.

Along with the three winners in the environmental category, Tampa Bay Estuary Program garnered awards in the community service and public education categories, and Jan Platt, founding chair of the Agency on Bay Management and former chair of the TBRPC, was recognized with the Herman W. Goldner Award for Regional Leadership.

Environmental award winners include:

First Place — Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium

A landmark agreement between 40-plus government and private industry representatives to limit nitrogen pollution in Tampa Bay was finalized in September 2009. The Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium’s collaborative process allocates nitrogen limits to all sources within the watershed, and supports regulatory water quality targets and seagrass recovery goals. (See related stories here and here)

Second Place — Terra Ceia Ecosystem Restoration Project

The Terra Ceia Ecosystem Restoration Project is the largest ecosystem restoration project ever performed for Tampa Bay. The project was spearheaded by the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program of the Southwest Florida Water Management District in collaboration with the Terra Ceia State Park and Aquatic Preserve Programs of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The project has restored a mosaic of 618 acres of various estuarine and freshwater wetland habitats as well as coastal upland communities.

Third Place — Upper Pithlachascotee River Preserve, Pasco County

The 122-acre Upper Pithlachascotee River Preserve, the first property acquired in the Pasco County Environmental Lands Program, features a diverse array of native habitats, wildlife, an ancient old-growth cypress tree, a nature trail, education center, and provides the community with intergenerational environmental educational programs.

TBEP earned first-place honors in the community service category for its Bay Mini-Grant program, which has provided more than $1.1 million in grants for grassroots bay restoration and education projects through sales of the Tampa Bay Estuary specialty license tag (which features a tarpon). It took home second in the public education category for its creative "Pooches for the Planet" regional education campaign to promote proper disposal of dog waste to protect water quality and human health.

Platt, a Hillsborough County commissioner and active TBRPC member for more than 20 years, was instrumental in establishing the Hillsborough County Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program. She also served on the National Estuary Program and Keep Hillsborough Beautiful.