2009

Tampa Bay Estuary Program - Award of Mini-Grant


The Tampa Bay Estuary Program has awarded a mini-grant of $3,126.50 to the Watershed Improvement Partnership between Shorecrest Preparatory School and the Placido Bayou Community Association.

Congratulations to Jeanie Catanese, member of the Lake Committee, who formulated the project in collaboration with Pat Cannizzaro of Shorecrest.

Project summary:

Placido Bayou has 10 storm water retention ponds (referred to as lakes) that total 26 acres of water. Composed of four small watersheds, these lakes drain directly into the 45th and 54th N. Avenue canals and then to Tampa Bay. The lakes have invasive plants, periodic algae blooms, and fish kills.

  

Through a creative partnership with Shorecrest Preparatory School, our project goal is to improve water quality and restore diverse natural habitats for fish and wildlife.  The planting of Florida friendly plants along the littoral areas will significantly reduce the pollutant load, help prevent erosion, increase habitat for fish and wildlife, and enhance the water quality draining into Tampa Bay.  Invasive plants in the project area will be removed.

The project involves a small watershed comprising 3 lakes (Constance, Cypress, and Taranto, see attachment).  To achieve our goal, we will:


  1. Plant littoral areas in compliance with contemporary guidelines for healthy pond management, up to 40% on 2 of the 3 lakes. 
  2. Monitor water quality results by resident volunteers working with LAKEWATCH and student volunteers from the Shorecrest Preparatory School’s 8th Grade Oceanography Class.
  3. Work closely with our lawn cares services to reduce fertilization and sprinkler usage.
  4. Offer educational opportunities and encourage additional volunteerism:  
    1. Provide educational displays, seminars, and flyers.
    2. Hold our 2nd annual Lake Fair Day in Placido Bayou in April 2010.
    3. Schedule planting and clean up days.   
    4. Publish monthly water management articles in the PBCA newsletter and occasional features in Shorecrest new letters.  
    5. Install identification signs for Florida friendly plantings by lake walkways.


      The Shorecrest Preparatory School is an enthusiastic partner who will incorporate our project into a hands-on learning experience for their science class students/curriculum. The Lake Committee and other PBCA volunteer residents will continue to donate countless hours in research, lake clean up days, installing Florida friendly plants, pulling invasive species, writing monthly educational newsletter articles, and photographing the lakes. The Shorecrest student volunteers are an exciting addition to our growing volunteer base and will use the data to prepare a scientific paper as a final project in 8th grade Oceanography at Shorecrest.


Frank Hartvelt, Chair, Lake Committee                                                                   November 2009