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We've made it to Florida's dry season after having the wettest rainy season ever recorded! Saving water is important year-round, but it's especially critical during the winter when we don’t get much rain. By using water wisely as a community, we can also help reduce water pollution.
Everyday activities like doing laundry, washing dishes, and flushing toilets create wastewater. This water contains nitrogen and phosphorus, some of which remains after treatment. Watering your lawn also allows nutrients to run off as stormwater. This wastewater and stormwater eventually flows into rivers, lakes, and bays. When too many nutrients enter these waterways, it can cause harmful algal blooms and disturb ecosystems.
Our Nitrogen Management Consortium works hard to manage nitrogen levels in the bay from both wastewater and stormwater sources. Partners carry out projects to reduce pollution and improve water quality. They also do regular monitoring and reporting on how well we are meeting nitrogen reduction goals.
Do your part by helping to conserve water with these tips:
- During cooler months, water your lawn every other week. Yards do not need watering as much during this time.
- Maintain your irrigation system. Be sure to fix broken heads or lines & readjust misdirected sprinkler heads.
- Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
- Wait until the dishwasher and washing machine are full before turning them on.
- Check for leaks regularly. A leaky toilet or faucet can waste thousands of gallons of water each month.
- Install low-flow toilets and showerheads.
- Take shorter showers. Try shortening your time in the shower by two minutes.
- When purchasing appliances that use water, consider high-efficiency machines.
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Hack the Bay!
Join us for our first ever hackathon, Hack the Bay! We’re looking for environmental enthusiasts, data scientists, and change makers to participate.
You don’t even need coding experience to compete!
Teams will create a workflow to track a topic in natural resource health and management that TBEP is currently missing. The goal of the event is to select a vendor with which TBEP can enter into a contract to develop a tool that fills a gap in our current efforts.
During the 9-hour event, teams will work with a dataset from a list of priorities provided by TBEP. They’ll conceptualize, develop, and present an open science-based workflow that supports routine reporting of that team’s chosen indicator. The winning team will be eligible for consideration of a contract with TBEP for $20,000 to carry out indicator development and implementation.
Learn more
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Tampa Bay Debris Derby
Thanks to everyone that made it out to Green Bench Brewing to celebrate the 2nd annual Tampa Bay Debris Derby. Volunteers did a great job helping with the ongoing marine debris cleanup efforts taking place throughout the entire Tampa Bay watershed in the wake of Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. This year’s event endured several changes due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, but we kept the energy going! We held our raffle and awards event to acknowledge the great work being done by all of our passionate volunteers to keep the bay debris free. It takes a community to protect, improve & preserve this awesome watershed. Special shout out to all of our partners that donated items for the raffle.
We can’t wait to do it again next year!
If you registered, but were unable to attend the awards and raffle event, you can stop by our office to pick up your shirt. Please email sscolaro@tbep.org.
Learn more
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Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund
Mark your calendar! The 2025 Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund (TBERF) Request for Proposals (RFP) will open on January 8, 2025. Complete proposals are due March 12, 2025.
Approximately $700,000 will be made available to support projects that protect, restore, or enhance the natural resources of Tampa Bay and its contributing watershed. Projects must address priorities from the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay. A funding match is required. Awards typically range between $25,000 and $250,000.
Instructions, templates, and registration for an information webinar will be available online once the RFP opens. If you’d like to be added to the TBERF email announcement list, reach out to Jessica Lewis.
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Hillsborough County Hiking Spree
The Hillsborough County Hiking Spree is back for its 9th year! Due to Hurricane Milton, the kick-off was postponed and the event will now run from December 1, 2024 - April 30, 2025. Registration is free! All you have to do is hike eight of the participating trails, complete the online forms, and request your prize. Choose from a patch or a medallion, and even pick up a bandana for your dog!
Learn more
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Christmas Bird Count | Dec 14
The nation's longest-running community science bird project! TBEP will be supporting the effort at Weedon Island Nature Preserve. Registration required.
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Marine Debris Cleanup | Dec 14
Join Suncoast Waterkeeper, Suncoast Aqua Ventures, SBEP, TBEP, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Organized Fishermen of Florida, and Sarasota Bay Watch in a crucial clean-up of marine debris.
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VOGs and Eggnog | Dec 14
Create and paint your own vertical oyster garden (VOG), drink some eggnog, and learn how you can help restore our bay!
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Pumpout Needs Assessment Webinar | Dec 18
This webinar will discuss where in the state more pumpouts are needed and the boating community's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sewage waste management.
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Hack the Bay! | Jan 27
TBEP’s first ever hackathon! Apply your data science skills to solve environmental management challenges.
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Florida State Fish Art Contest | Feb 28
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete in this free contest to win state and national prizes. The contest is open until February 28, 2025.
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Senior Project Manager - Pasco County - New Port Richey
Scientific Liaison - USF Flood Hub - Multiple Locations
NOAA is looking for individuals between the ages of 13 and 18 for their new Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program! The program provides a new level of engagement for youth committed to ocean conservation and stewardship of our blue planet. Learn more
The Steven Berkeley Marine Conservation Fellowship awards $15,000 to a graduate student actively engaged in thesis research relevant to marine conservation. Learn more
The Gulf Research Program’s Science Policy Fellowship program helps scientists hone their skills by putting them to practice for the benefit of Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems. Learn more
Manatee County residents who want to help protect land and water resources, preserve fish and wildlife habitat, and provide for passive recreation are invited to apply for five positions now available on the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee. Learn more
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The mission of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program is to build partnerships to restore and protect Tampa Bay through implementation of a scientifically sound, community-based management plan.
TBEP is a partnership of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties; the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater; the Southwest Florida Water Management District; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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