USF gets grant for coastal study

The school will use the $727,000 it received to establish a center in St. Petersburg.

ST. PETERSBURG - The University of South Florida St. Petersburg announced Monday that it has received a $727,000 grant that will help create a center dedicated to the study, protection and management of coastal environments, especially those in the Tampa Bay area.

The grant from the National Center for Environmental Research of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will help establish the Center for Science and Policy Applications for Coastal Environments, or C-SPACE. It will be released in two disbursements, for a total of $1.5-million.

At a waterfront ceremony, regional chancellor Karen White praised U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young for his efforts in securing the grant.

"This funding will enable researchers from USF St. Petersburg's environmental science, policy and geography program to explore issues concerning coastal science and policy," White said. "It also offers students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to the region's living laboratory, preparing them for leadership roles beyond graduation."

USF professors Christopher D'Elia and James Gore will direct the program. Initial projects will focus on the use, supply and quality of freshwater, the assessment and remediation of water-borne pollutants, and the management of coastal freshwater and marine ecosystems.

"Our coastal zone is a marvelous and special place, but it's challenged by a number of things - sporadic extreme events, accelerated growth and development, and the need to provide our citizens with sufficient potable water while maintaining the ecological integrity of our rivers, estuaries and groundwater," D'Elia said. "C-SPACE aims to address issues like this."

The new center will work closely with researchers at the USF College of Marine Science and other agencies, including the Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies of the U.S Geological Survey and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service. The center's plans for the next year include establishing relationships with local government, particularly Pinellas County. C-SPACE also plans to broaden its efforts to regional counties.

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