Local Committee to Develop Consensus on Tampa Bay Manatee Zones

A local committee charged with examining a state proposal for additional manatee protection zones in Tampa Bay will begin meeting in July.

Members of the committee represent a variety of manatee advocate and waterway user groups. The bulk of the committee's membership is drawn from members of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Manatee Awareness Coalition (MAC), which has been designated as the Local Rule Review Committee by all three counties surrounding Tampa Bay.

A proposal for additional manatee protection zones is expected from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in July, as a result of a lawsuit settlement with several environmental organizations. The new public involvement process mandated by the Florida Legislature requires that counties where manatee protection rules are being considered establish a local committee composed of diverse interests to provide input on the new rules.

Once it begins meeting, the committee has 60 days in which to provide feedback on the FWC proposal, reach a consensus and submit a final report to state and county officials.

Four meetings of the committee have already been scheduled.

Meeting dates are:

Tuesday, July 15

Tuesday, July 22

Tuesday, August 12

Tuesday, August 19

Tuesday, August 26 (if necessary)

All meetings will be held from 4 to 6 pm at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council in northeast St. Petersburg. Meetings are open to all and a public comment period will be included at each meeting. It is likely that all or most of one entire meeting will be devoted to public comment.

Members of the review committee include Save The Manatee Club, the Marine Industries Association of Greater Tampa Bay, The Ocean Conservancy, Tampa Electric Co., the Florida Guides Association, Tampa BayWatch and the Cockroach Bay Users Group.

Several manatee protection zones already have been established in Tampa Bay, most notably around the Progress Energy power plant at Weedon Island and TECO's Big Bend plant near Apollo Beach, along the southeast shore of Tampa Bay, and in Terra Ceia Bay.

Committee members will not know what additional zones are being proposed until their first meeting on July 15. For more information about the Local Rule Review Committee, contact Nanette Holland at 727-893-2765 or e-mail nanette@tbep.org

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Test Your Bay I.Q. at "Estuary Academy"

Most folks agree that Tampa Bay is getting better, a dramatic recovery reflected in clearer water, expanding seagrass beds and rebounding fisheries.

But just who says the bay is healthy, and how do we really know?

Come find out at "Estuary Academy," an exciting one-day workshop showcasing the science of the bay - through the eyes of the researchers who are studying it and the high-tech tools they employ.

Estuary Academy is the citizen's component of the Fourth Bay Area Scientific Information Symposium, a 4-day conference expected to bring scientists from throughout the region together to collectively "take the bay's pulse." BASIS IV will be held October 27 to 30 at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in St. Petersburg.

Estuary Academy will be held Saturday, October 25, from 9 am to 3 pm at Weedon Island Preserve. It will offer lectures by well-known experts on various aspects of the Tampa Bay environment, as well as workshops, field trips and interactive learning stations with the latest in state-of-the-art scientific equipment. The event's mission is to introduce citizens to the wealth of scientific research being conducted on (and in) Tampa Bay, and explain how this research provides information about the bay's overall health.

The morning session will feature brief, engaging lectures on bay ecology, fisheries and habitats. Afternoon sessions will include workshops where participants can learn how to conduct basic water quality sampling, identify edible native plants, or even construct their own underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Field trips will explore the varied habitats of Weedon Island by both land and water.

Sponsors include the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, U.S. Geological Survey and Eckerd College.

Pre-registration is required and the $10 registration fee includes lunch, a goodie bag loaded with great freebies, door prizes, and a handsome certificate identifying the participant as a graduate of Estuary Academy. To sign up, contact Nanette Holland at 727-893-2765 or via e-mail at nanette@tbep.org.

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Learn About Sea Turtles

The Pinellas County Park Department will present a program called Ancient Nomads of the Sea on Friday evenings in July and August at Sand Key Park, located at 1060 Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater.

Each session includes a presentation about sea turtles and their nesting habits, followed by an expert guide who leads participants to turtle nesting grounds. They'll explain the complex rules of nest watching, demonstrate tracking techniques and narrate beach combing discoveries along the way. The evening concludes with a question and answer session.

The programs are scheduled for July 11 and 25, and August 8 and 22, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call the Pinellas County Park Department at 727-464-3347.

Train Now to Help With MOSI's Titanic Exhibit

With record-breaking crowds expected for the upcoming "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit," MOSI will need approximately 400 volunteers to staff and support the exhibit.

Scheduled to run from Oct. 4, 2003 through spring 2004, the exhibit recreates the mammoth luxury liner's interior, displaying the famous grand staircase and first- and third-class cabins, and features actual artifacts from RMS Titanic.

Volunteers are needed to serve as docents, event managers, and speakers as well as work in guest relations, the science store and visitor services. To volunteer, you must be at least 16 years old and attend orientation and training sessions. To learn more, call 813-987-6000 or visit www.mosi.org.

Mars Gets Close to Home

At 5:51 a.m. on Aug. 27, Earth and the planet Mars will be closer than they have been in approximately 73,000 years. At that moment, Mars will be about 34,646,418 miles from Earth and one of the brightest objects in the sky - only the Moon and Venus will be brighter.

MOSI will host two MarsWatch events. The first will be held Friday, August 22, at Lowry Park Zoo's Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. The Green Swamp location will have an extremely dark sky because it is about 30 miles from the city with limited light pollution. MOSI telescopes and expert astronomers will help viewers watch the rare event in optimum environmental conditions. Tickets are $10 for Lowry Park Zoo or MOSI members and $12 for nonmembers.

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, MOSI will be hosting another MarsWatch on the top of the IMAX Dome Theatre. The location will provide a great view of Mars just hours before it makes its closest approach. The cost is $2 for MOSI members and $3 for nonmembers.