Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

SBEP is one of the country's 28 National Estuary Programs (NEPs) established under the 1987 Clean Water Act Amendments. We operate through partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other organizations in the public and private sector. Please spread the word and join us in signing a letter that reinforces the critical role of NEPs in ensuring clean water, sustaining fisheries, strengthening infrastructure, and leveraging federal investments that drive economic growth in coastal communities. Click here to sign: https://lnkd.in/eAjQd6Zr

Very proud of our Sarasota Bay Estuary Program accomplishments. We now have the best water quality at any time over the past 10 to 15 years, and are expecting a double-digit percent increase in seagrass coverage, when our 2024 maps come out later this month. But we’re only one of four National Estuary Programs (NEPs) along Florida’s Gulf coast. Combined, our EPA-supported (for the past 35 or so years) NEPs are doing what Congress told us to do back in 1987, as summarized here for our four Florida Gulf Coast NEPs for actions completed last year alone. Across the US, the 29 NEPs are non-regulatory, science-driven and locally-led programs overseen by EPA. Similar to other NEPs, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program gets about 70% of our base funding from EPA. Would we be able to continue to deliver cleaner water and healthier fisheries for our residents and visitors if EPA’s budget gets cut by 65%? Not sure, but don’t bet on it.

Our Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024 is here! This special edition marks SBEP’s 35th anniversary and highlights key programs and accomplishments from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. These achievements were made possible by the invaluable support and collaboration of our stakeholders. Explore the report and join us in celebrating a year of remarkable progress and impact!?View the report here: https://lnkd.in/e_mEgMxD

Do you have an idea for a bay-friendly project in your community? We would love to hear from you! Up to $10,000 is available to non-profits, for-profits, schools, and government organizations located within the Sarasota Bay watershed. Applications open January 1, 2025 and are due by March 1, 2025. Visit sarasotabay.org/grants to learn more.

Little Sarasota Bay is experiencing an increase in boat traffic due to the reopening of Midnight Pass. We encourage all boaters to strive for stewardship in light of these changing conditions. For more information on seagrass maps, visit Sarasota.WaterAtlas.org For more information on Manatee Protection Zones, visit my.fwc.com

Hurricane Helene has reopened Midnight Pass, 40 years after it was closed by two homeowners. The homeowners closed the pass with plans to relocate it, but a new tidal connection never came to fruition. Without intervention, passes naturally shift, open, and close with time. It appears this one is no exception. For the last several years, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program has participated in scientific-led discussions about Midnight Pass and Little Sarasota Bay. We will continue to do so and assess the health of the bay in light of these changing conditions.

This week, we say goodbye and happy retirement to Dr. Jay Leverone. Dr. Leverone served as SBEP's Staff Scientist for over 15 years. During his time with the program, he spearheaded numerous large-scale environmental restoration projects and led collaborative efforts to better understand and protect Sarasota Bay. Before he joined us, Dr. Leverone was a research scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory, studying the ecology of West Florida estuaries, and characterizing estuarine habitats and how they are impacted by physical disturbances and water quality degradation. Later, he turned his attention to restoring local shellfish populations, particularly scallops and oysters. Dr. Leverone developed improved techniques for enhancing populations of bay scallops along the Florida Gulf Coast and has led the way in restoring local oyster reefs. We thank Dr. Leverone for dedicating his career to the health of our local environments. Sarasota Bay is certainly better off because of it!

We are hosting three free events next month in celebration of National Estuaries Week! Join us for learning, socializing, or sightseeing. Visit https://lnkd.in/emxvSq4x to view more about each event.

Answering all of your questions about bacteria in the Bay. Learn more about our post-Debby monitoring efforts at www.sarasotabay.org/news and view FDOH water quality data for beaches at https://lnkd.in/eEuRskf5

We are advising that it is unsafe to recreate in Sarasota Bay until conditions improve. Here's why. (Sampling efforts completed by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and Sarasota County Government)