Six Local Photographers Help Celebrate Estuary Program’Äôs 15th Anniversary

Images from six local photographers will be highlighted as part of the celebration of Tampa Bay Estuary Program’Äôs 15th Anniversary this year.

The photographs were among more than 100 submitted to the ’ÄúWild and Wonderful Tampa Bay’Äù photo contest open to amateur photographers from Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The winning photos are:

• ’ÄúMorning Dune Scape’Äù by Merle Allshouse

• ’ÄúPelican Profile’Äù by Don Baker of St. Petersburg

• ’ÄúMilkweed Afternoon’Äù by Kevin Bonello of Tampa

• ’ÄúStormy Horizon’Äù by William Carson of Tampa

• ’ÄúAfternoon Siesta’Äù by Donald Moyer

• ’ÄúSkyway Sunset,’Äù ’ÄúEgret with Nest Material’Äù and

• ’ÄúOsprey Landing’Äù by Nicholas Muskovac.

The photos were selected by members of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’Äôs Community Advisory Committee.¬Ý ’ÄúThe quality and diversity of the photos we received was just amazing,’Äù said Nanette Holland, TBEP’Äôs public outreach coordinator. ’ÄúOur area is obviously blessed with an abundance of very talented photographers who find great inspiration in the beautiful environment we share.’Äù

The estuary program was created by Congress in April 1991 to assist the community in developing a living blueprint for restoring Tampa Bay. Over the years, TBEP’Äôs mission has evolved from the development of a management plan for Tampa Bay to actually implementing that plan through sound science and community consensus. In partnership with local governments, as well as regional, state and federal agencies, TBEP continues to track collective progress in restoring the bay; sponsor cutting-edge research into key sources of pollution; develop innovative education programs to involve citizens in bay improvement; and facilitate community reviews of important issues affecting the bay.