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Tarpon tag sales raise money for grants

Funding has been awarded for projects that promote waterways protection around Tampa Bay.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published August 6, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Last year the Placido Bayou Community Association got $4,900 to eradicate invasive Brazilian pepper trees, while Great Explorations, the children's museum, received $7,500 for a touch tank.

The two are among dozens of community organizations that have received grants over the past 12 years for restoration and education projects that focus on Tampa Bay's estuary, an expanse of 398 square miles at high tide and where more than 200 species of fish live.

Since 2000, money for the grants has come from sales of the Tampa Bay Estuary specialty license plate, also known as the "tarpon tag." With $120,000 to give away again this year, the program is looking for applications from schools, religious groups, civic associations and other community groups. The grant limit is $7,500, but requests can be as low as $500. Misty Cladas, project manager for Tampa Bay Estuary Program, said about 20 to 40 groups apply each year.

This year the agency also will fund six additional projects of up to $10,000 each. These hands-on restoration projects must be on public property and involve the community, Cladas said.

The estuary program is a partnership of county and city governments in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It works to restore Tampa Bay and uses the grants to educate residents and encourage the community to participate in cleaning and protecting the waterways.

St. Petersburg City Council member Jamie Bennett, a member of the agency's policy board, said his Pinellas Point neighborhood used a grant to clear Brazilian pepper trees from a waterfront park off 14th Street S.

Opportunities exist for all types of groups to get involved, including youth organizations such as scouting troops, he said.

"I know there's been projects where they plant sea grasses, where they'll go in and dig a little water in the sand and stick the sea grasses in and they've done that with the kids," Bennett said.

Besides invasive species removal, the estuary program looks for grant proposals that address such areas as habitat restoration, pollution prevention and boater, angler, school, community and public health education.

Bennett noted that the specialty license plate that finances the grants is popular. "When I drive and look around for it, they're everywhere. It's not just fishermen or Sierra Club members, it's boat owners, it's people who live on the water, that have businesses tied to the water. They know that a healthy estuary is going to help them in the long run."

But the council member admits he doesn't have the specialty plate himself. "I am a Devil Rays fan, too. If I ever get angry with the Devil Rays, I'll get one, so they'd better do good," he said jokingly.

He might have to find a better excuse to get rid of the license plate. The Devil Rays plate was a birthday present from his wife and daughter.

[Last modified August 5, 2006, 19:32:09]