Business leaders in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are banding together to address water quality efforts as part of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper’s (TBWK) Clean Water Endorsement Program that recognizes businesses that initiate projects to mitigate the impacts of stormwater pollution.
“Clean water is essential to our economy in Tampa Bay,” said Tampa Bay Waterkeeper Board Chair Megan Eakins. “Our water quality deserves attention from our business community. It’s simple. Poor water quality hurts the bottom line for many. If we get that message out there, we’ll create clean water advocates out of our business community.”
The new initiative, which began in 2022, is supported by a grant from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s stormwater education initiative, which is funded through the Florida Department of Transportation. At TBWK, the Clean Water Endorsement Program is being administered by an ad hoc Local Business Advisory Committee made up of local leaders, including Scott Glaser, executive director of ESPN Events and Gasparilla Bowl; Micki Bell, director of marketing and communication at Green Bench Brewing; Bryan Burge, Edge Marine Construction; Liz Calver, Betty Shop; and Mario and Tatiana Cruz, Tampa Bay Kayak Anglers.
Committee members have volunteered their time over the last few months, meeting every other week for an hour to discuss best practices regarding stormwater management and how to communicate these BMPs to their peers effectively.
The committee has examined educational resources provided by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the University of South Florida. At a meeting in May, the committee was joined by several University of Florida professors to take a deeper dive into the mechanics of stormwater. The group has taken this information and created an easily digestible #STORMWATERSMART infographic that will be disseminated to the Tampa Bay business community over the next few months. The infographic will be printed in both English and Spanish.
“The Latino/Hispanic population of Tampa Bay is huge and it continues to grow,” said Tatiana Cruz, community outreach director with Tampa Bay Kayak Anglers. “It is crucial that we use our resources to educate our Hispanic communities about the importance of keeping our waterways clean.”
Not only does the stormwater education grant fund the printing of these materials, but there will also be a video made highlighting a #stormwatersmart project implemented at Green Bench Brewing, which will hopefully inspire other businesses to make small changes as well. Businesses that do make changes to address stormwater pollution will be recognized by Tampa Bay Waterkeeper on social media and will also receive a plaque highlighting their #stormwatersmart project.
“At Green Bench Brewing, sustainability sprouts from the ground up. Introducing Florida’s native plants and patio pavers from the beginning and through our expansions has proved that small changes make big impacts in our community,” said Micki Bell. “Carefully selected plant species capture and filter stormwater, nurturing both nature and our social space. Allowing water to gently seep through gaps and replenish the earth beneath, patio pavers serve as silent heroes in the quest for a #stormwatersmart future. Our dedication to a more sustainable community and a greener tomorrow started with making these small, conscious choices when we could, and we hope it inspires other businesses to do the same.”
With this program, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper hopes to create a culture of awareness of stormwater pollution and ways to mitigate it. This effort will not only educate local businesses, but it will incentivize corrected actions and create an opportunity to reward local businesses that take action.
Justin Tramble is the Executive Director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, improving & preserving the Tampa Bay watershed.