The action approves an award in the amount of $850,000 to tampa BAY estuary program to support implementation of the national estuary program (NEP) comprehensive conservation and management plan…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded a $850,000 project grant to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) to support implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for Tampa Bay. The 5-year grant, awarded on October 1, 2023, will fund activities to attain water quality standards, restore high-priority sites, assess wetland acreage, monitor plant and animal life, and promote public stewardship in the Tampa Bay estuary. Key deliverables include applying the Tampa Bay Benthic Index annually, updating tidal creek hydrologic data, conducting seagrass transect monitoring and mapping, and implementing long-term ecological monitoring programs. The grant allows TBEP to sub-award funds to local government partners such as Manatee County for collaborative implementation of the CCMP. Overall, the grant supports EPA's strategic plan to protect and restore waterbodies and watersheds to improve water quality, natural habitats, and sustainable human uses.

The action approves an award in the amount of $850,000 to tampa BAY estuary program to support implementation of the national estuary program (NEP) comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and EPA strategic plan goal 5: ensure clean and safe water for all communities and objective 5.2: - protect and restore waterbodies and watersheds to improve the water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses in the estuary. Section 320 of the clean water act (CWA) authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance that are threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The work to be accomplished will be to attain water quality standards, retore or acquire high priority sites, assess wetland acreage for potential future water quality improvement, assess and protect plant and animal life and implement public stewardship of tampa BAY. Activities:the projects included will support activities that address the key challenges facing the estuary including assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources and uses; coordinating implementation of the ccmp by the NEP, along with the state, federal, local agencies, stakeholders, ngos, citizens, partners, and others; and monitoring the effectiveness of activities conducted under the management conference approved ccmp and annual workplan. The activities to be performed will be to attain water quality targets and regulatory thresholds for the BAY. Support restoration and protection activities on identified high priority sites. Assess current and historic acreage of critical coastal habitats. Implement long-term on the ground monitoring programs to assess estuarine ecological and functional changes in critical coastal habitats. Assess benthic and sediment conditions on an annual basis. Investigate the possibility of shellfish restoration. Provide high quality outreach products and programs. Expand upon priority programs such as pet waste, residential fertilizer, private lateral and seagrass propeller scarring education. Support the US EPA's trash free waters campaign. Implement public stewardship and involvement programs. Subrecipient:sub-awards will be made through tbep for intergovernmental agreements and manatee county. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include annual application of the tampa BAY benthic index, updated tidal creek hydrologic data; annual seagrass transect monitoring summary; biennial seagrass mapping. The expected outcomes enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve hydrology and enhance water quality conditions of tampa BAY. The intended beneficiaries include citizens, local communities, this estuaryr, underserved and overburdened communities, limited english speaking communities, local media affiliates, community volunteer networks, nonprofit organizations and affiliated business focused on outdoor education in south florida.