Did you know tea bags can help us understand climate change?

Salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses are "blue carbon" habitats. They take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. This summer, volunteers are using the Tea Bag Index to help us understand how local wetlands store carbon. How does it work? Volunteers bury tea bags and dig them up three months later. They compare the weight of the tea bag before and after the burial to see how much has decomposed. The less decomposition, the greater the blue carbon storage in that habitat.

Be sure to follow along as we work with partners around the watershed to estimate carbon storage and decomposition in Tampa Bay. Want to get involved in the fun? Sign up for a participatory science event at tbep.org/volunteer.

Want to geek out even more? Check out this publication: https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13563.

Are you a bird enthusiast in Tampa Bay? The Shorebird Rooftop Nesting Program needs your help! As beachfront development continues to decrease nesting habitat for shorebirds, some birds have turned to gravel rooftops. Like beaches, they are flat, open, and provide loose gravel to build a nest cup. Least Terns, Black Skimmers, and American Oystercatchers nest on gravel rooftops across Tampa Bay. Audubon Florida is looking for volunteers to help track rooftop nesting. For more info, email the Rooftop Program Coordinator  Kara.Cook@audubon.org.

Helping the environment can be as easy as going out to eat! 

The Shells for Shorelines program recycles used oyster shells from local restaurants. These shells are used to create vertical oyster gardens and shell bags for living shorelines throughout Tampa Bay. So far, Tampa Bay Watch has recycled a grand total of 165,835 pounds of shell!  Be a part of this sustainability movement and choose one of these restaurants for dinner.

The Island Grille & Raw Bar

The Helm Provisions & Coastal Fare

Hookin' Ain't Easy

Coco's Crush Bar

Bar Fly

P.J.'s Oyster Bar

The Tides Seafood Market & Provisions

RumFish Grill

Tiki Docks

The Oyster Bar

The Original Crabby Bill's

Crabby Bill's St. Pete Beach

UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension Preserve Tours |

Dec 2 - May 11

Enjoy an educational stroll through some of Manatee County's nature preserves. Multiple dates offered at Perico Preserve, DeSoto/Riverview Pointe Preserve, Rye Preserve, and Emerson Point Preserve.

"Kids Can" Earth Day Cleanup | April 14

Join Keep Pinellas Beautiful for an Earth Day cleanup and arts & crafts project at Lake Seminole Park!

A Splash of Color Screening | April 18

Join us for a screening of A Splash of Color: Getting Black in the Water, a film about Black water advocates in Tampa Bay.

Sustainability 101 | April 18

Join Keep Pinellas Beautiful at Moccasin Lake Park for a presentation about sustainability.

Earth Fair | April 19

Join us as we celebrate Earth Month with the City of Oldsmar. This family-friendly event will feature local environmental organizations and a screening of Lorax in the park.

A Splash of Color Screening | April 26

A Splash of Color: Getting Black in the Water, a film about Black water advocates in Tampa Bay, will be screened as part of the Sunscreen Film Festival.

Great Port Clean Up | April 26

Join us for the Great Port Clean Up, one of the largest clean up events in Tampa Bay! Together we will remove marine debris from trash hotspots in St. Pete.

Tampa Bay Conservancy Conservation Celebration | May 2

Join the Conservancy at Tiki Docks on the Alafia River and support their efforts to  conserve wild places in the watershed. RSVP by April 30th.

Regional Resiliency Summit | May 9

The 4th Regional Resiliency Summit will feature local and national speakers, interactive breakout sessions, and a beachfront venue.

Great American Cleanup | March 1 - June 30

Join Keep Pinellas Beautiful at cleanup events to remove litter and beautify locations throughout Pinellas County.

Tampa Bay Sierra Club Grant- Open application

Empowering K-8 Youth Through Place-Based Education- Apply by April 10

Source Reduction Assistance Grant - Apply by April 15

Building the Next Generation of STEMM Leaders in the Field of Environmental Justice- Apply by May 8

Pollution Prevention Grant - Apply by May 17

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Pollution Prevention Grant - Apply by May 17

Community Change Grants- Apply by November 21

Project Assistant - Keep Pinellas Beautiful - Pinellas County

Inspections Supervisor, Public Works - Pasco County - New Port Richey

Extension Agent - Florida Sea Grant - St Petersburg

Assistant Professor, Invasive Species Aquatic Ecology and Evolution - University of Florida - Tampa

Manatee County’s Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC) is currently accepting applications for 1 At-Large seat

The City of Clearwater is looking to fill vacancies on these advisory boards:

Environmental Advisory Board

Building Flood Board of Adjustment and Appeals

Community Development Board

Neighborhood & Affordable Housing

Municipal Code Enforcement