Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve Re-opens Field Office

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection officially reopened the Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve's field office in December after an 18-month closure. The event included remarks by Gary Lytton, regional administrator for aquatic preserves in South Florida; Kevin Claridge, director of the FDEP Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas; Roger Wilson, former state representative from Pinellas County who sponsored legislation in 1969 to create the Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve, precursor to Florida's AP program; Randy Runnels, the previous and newly re-hired TBAP manager; and Suzanne Cooper, principal planner of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and staff of the Agency on Bay Management.

A ceremonial ribbon cutting marked the reopening, followed by a tour of island NCM1, just south of the Honeymoon Island Causeway. This is one of many spoil islands created when the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was dredged. Now it's part of the Pinellas County AP and a popular boating destination. Once covered by native and exotic species, it has received attention over the past few years with restoration and revegetation efforts. Over the week preceding the TBAP reopening ceremony, nine students from Ohio State University, along with their sponsor, worked tirelessly to rid the island of Brazilian pepper, small Australian pines and carrotwood, and to restore the trail system and educational markers that point out the native species and their values.

Four separate Aquatic Preserves actually make up the Tampa Bay AP: Boca Ciega Bay AP, Cockroach Bay AP, Pinellas County AP, and Terra Ceia AP. Runnels said that he is enthused by the FDEP's increased emphasis on its aquatic preserves and will be working to increase public awareness of the TBAPs and their significance to the community as well as to manage these important aquatic resources.

Runnels will continue building on TBAP's traditional focus on volunteers with a wide variety of opportunities across the preserves. For more information, email him at Randy.Runnels@dep.state.fl.us.

Legislature Expected to Revisit Fertilizer Rules

In preparation for another battle over fertilizer ordinances, the Florida Association of Counties has voted to make protecting fertilizer restrictions one of its top three issues going into the 2013 legislative session.

"We've been told it's imminent," Sarasota County commissioner Nora Patterson, said of the potential legislation to

limit local control of fertilizer use, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

The issue is whether local governments can pass tighter regulations than the state's minimum recommendations to help meet the more stringent criteria for nitrogen in surface waters recently approved by state and federal agencies.

Sarasota County passed the state's first fertilizer ordinance in 2007 with officials promising to push for repeal if they saw lawns dying for lack of nutrients. To date, only one complaint has been made but the sick grass was probably caused by overwatering, not under fertilizing.

Since then, the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa as well as Pinellas and Manatee counties have passed ordinances that limit the use or sale of nitrogen fertilizer during the summer rainy season.

District Properties Now Easier to Navigate

Visitors will find it easier to navigate some of their favorite trails at 16 of the most popular properties owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. New kiosks feature updated trail maps and detailed information including global positioning coordinates.

"The new maps will help guide visitors through the property," said Carmen Sanders, the district's land use and protection supervisor. "The GPS coordinates will correspond with numbered trail intersections and make it easier for visitors to pinpoint their exact location."

The maps are part of an ongoing effort to update information at district properties. With more than 850 miles of trails, including many located near populated areas. District lands are popular for hikers as well as bird watchers, joggers, bicyclers and backpackers.

Lands are purchased and managed to protect water resources and to preserve and restore Florida ecosystems. There are more than 343,000 acres of conservation lands in the region open to the public for recreation opportunities.

Visit WaterMatters.org/Recreation for a complete list of district properties and recreational opportunities. Recreational Guides also can be downloaded or ordered at WaterMatters.org/Publications/.

Future of the Region Awards Program Scheduled

Deadline for entries in the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council's Future of the Region awards program is Friday, January 11. The awards highlight projects and programs that exemplify regionalism, and recognize outstanding achievement and contribution that benefit the regional community.

The awards luncheon will be held March 15 at a location that is still to be determined. For more information, visit www.tbrpc.org.

Tampa Bay's Collaborative Approach to Nitrogen Approved by EPA

The collaborative approach that helped reduced nitrogen in Tampa Bay by more than 400 tons per year since 1995 has been formally approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The approval means that state and federal regulators agree that nutrient management strategies in place are sufficient to achieve water quality targets for the bay over the next few years.

The remaining challenge is accommodating new growth without increasing nutrient loadings. "We're 'holding the line' now but will need to implement new technologies and techniques as the region's population continues to grow," notes Suzanne Cooper, principal planner for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

Water-Wise Awards Recognize Florida-Friendly Landscaping

When Eagles Landing condominium was due for an overhaul of its 30-year-old landscape and irrigation system, the community recognized the opportunity to not only beautify the common areas, but also transform the current landscape into Florida-friendly landscaping that is sustainable and water-efficient.

The transformation was so successful that it was selected as the Pinellas County winner of Tampa Bay Water's 2012 Community Water-Wise Award. Other winners include Simon and Maryhelen Zopfi in Hillsborough County and community radio station WMNF-FM 88.5 in Tampa in the business category.

More information about the Water-Wise Awards can be found at www.tampabaywaterwise.org.

Estuary Program Honors Long-Time Volunteers

Five volunteers with more than 10 years of service to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Citizen's Advisory Committee were recognized with a special event in their honor.

Marjorie Karvonen has been on the CAC for 25 years – joining even before the TBEP officially existed. "When I was offered the opportunity to participate in a program affecting Tampa Bay, as an appointee of the City of St. Petersburg, I was delighted. I was anxious to see how the efforts of the nine different governmental agencies, each with a different set of problems needing to be addressed, could work together and make progress."

Sue Brandon is the owner of www.findyourselfoutdoors.com kayak and ecotour company and has been on the CAC for 12 years. She says that serving on the CAC helps her to learn more about what's happening on the bay so she can share that knowledge and passion for protecting it.

Mike Herdegen has served on the CAC for 10 years. "Being on the CAC has taught me a great deal about the science of the bay, and how everyday activities can have a dramatic effect on the bay, both positive and negative," he says.

Cathy Quindiagan also joined the CAC 10 years ago and says that Give A Day events are among her favorite activities. "It's personally satisfying because I get to work with people from all over the bay area that I would never meet otherwise and get to do activities that benefit the parks, preserves and shorelines that keep the bay healthy."

Dorothy Rainey marked a decade of service on the CAC but has spent more than two decades protecting Tampa Bay's wetland habitats as an environmental professional with Manatee County.