The Tampa Bay Sierra Club is making great progress on fighting to protect our environment and getting folks Outdoors.
We are getting Outdoors, making Friends, and having Fun. Our number of Outings has increased as well as several new Outings Leaders. More Outings to come.
Our Inspiring Connection Outdoors) ICO program has over 125 students engaged in monthly outdoor activities.
Our Conservation Team is working with the City of Tampa on the Pure project to make sure our drinking water is safe, The Tree team is closely monitoring tree removals from Live Oaks to Mangroves to insure codes are followed.
Our Recycling program at Raymond James is second to none and we have several cleanups being planned soon.
We are in the process of developing a Green Schools program for Hillsborough County Schools. Stay tuned as we work out the details.
We are continuing to partner and support many events around the county with our tabling Team.
With this being an election year, we are looking for the best candidates we can get behind and support.
All of this is done by volunteers, not paid staff. We need your help to continue these issues and expand to other areas.
Grant Gelhardt, Chair, Florida Conservation Committee
Florida is projected to lose about 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070, including 2.2 million acres of agricultural land. Find out how corridor-compatible communities can lessen the impact on our natural and agricultural land. 1000 Friends of Florida, the University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, Florida Climate Smart Ag, Florida Conservation Group, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Live Wildly Foundation, and Solutions from the Land are proud to be partnering on the free online seminar, Planning to Protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Save these dates and register for these free seminars (all are noon to 1 pm EDT). All presentations will be led by experts. See the full list of presenters on the 1000 Friends of Florida website.
What is landscape-scale conservation and why is it important? How has the Florida Wildlife Corridor evolved from decades of GIS-based analysis and why should we be concerned about protecting it? What role does agricultural land play in the corridor, and what are some of the threats and opportunities? What impact will climate change and associated population migration have on the corridor?
“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood …” noted urban designer Daniel Burnham once famously stated. Learn about two Florida communities that have or are establishing “big plans” to protect critical natural resources while promoting vibrant communities. The discussions will include interlinking community centers with regional conservations lands, and comprehensive plant and development rights issues. Challenges, including significant growth pressure, will also be covered.
Florida’s communities have numerous land conservation options at their disposal. Presenters will provide frank evaluations of the strengths and weaknesses of some of these options. The importance of “following the land” in planning, sector planning, urban development boundaries, transfer of development rights programs, appropriate siting and design of conservation subdivisions, and a primer on county ballot measures to fund conservation land acquisition in Florida will be covered.
For decades, Florida has led the nation in land conservation initiatives. This includes science-based regional landscape conservation including wildlife corridors, comprehensive GIS conservation priority analyses and databases, and significant state funding to protect conservation and agricultural land. But there is always room for more in the “tent” of conservation and need for additional tools and strategies to achieve conservation goals while fostering sustainable communities.
This final seminar will focus on reaching out to new constituents. The discussion will include the effect of land use choices on the bottom line for local governments and taxpayers alike. The discussion will include economic considerations for land conservation. and how to engage landowners, elected officials, the development community and others in the movement to conserve the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Katrina Shadix is the founder and executive director of Bear Warriors United, a non-profit organization that she founded in 2016. This organization focuses on protecting and educating the public about the Florida black bear, wildlife and wildlife habitats and corridors; as well as natural lands and waterways.
Katrina will be talking to us about bears, what the current issues are, and how we can manage our homes and actions to minimize conflicts with bears.
Sea Level Rise in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge
Program: 7:00 pm
Socialize: 6:45 pm
Location: Online
Benjamin Dimmit is a native Floridian and nature photographer whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. He will be talking about the effects of sea level rise on the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge 70 miles northwest of Tampa. He hopes that his research will help prevent future habitat loss in other coastal areas.
This is an amazingly rural site very close to Tampa. While technically an equestrian area, we rarely see horses and the trails are easy to walk. We may see wildlife along the Tampa Bypass canal. Most of the hike is through oak-dominated forest. Learn about the canal, area history, enjoy nature and make friends. Adults only. No dogs.
Distance less than 6 miles along mostly trails. Be sure you can go that far at a walk. There will be hog ruts and possibly mud holes. I have seen deer along these trails when silent.
Wear closed toe shoes. Bring water.
OPTIONAL: Hat, sunglasses, mosquito repellent, hiking poles, lunch, camera, sunscreen.
PRIMITIVE AREA:
No parking fee.
No restroom.
No drinking water.
Get Outdoors with a Bird Hike at MOSI. Come walk with us and look for birds. Migration in full swing. We will look for migrants, warblers, tanagers and others. So come join us. Bring your binoculars.
Registration will provide you with more detail on where and when to meet us.
Come enjoy the birds of Ft DeSoto. We are going to spend the day at Ft DeSoto Park area looking for spring migrants, Warblers, Vireos, Thrushes, Hummingbirds, and who knows what else? Ft. DeSoto is one of the prime migratory locations on the Gulf of Mexico and almost always has a surprise or two.
Registration will provide you with more detail on where and when to meet us.
Registration is required for all outings. Unless otherwise noted, outings are free though there may be site entry fees. Liability waivers are required, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. No pets.
Registration is required for all outings. Unless otherwise noted, outings are free though there may be site entry fees. Liability waivers are required, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. No pets.
ICO
Volunteer
This year we are working with the 5th. grade students at Academy Prep of Tampa, St Pete, and Lakeland and high school students at Leto, and Riverview High Schools, in addition to the Young Men's Leadership Corp from Plant and Berkley High Schools.
If you are interested in becoming a leader or volunteering, please contact one of the leaders.
Academy Prep of St. Pete: Agency Lead, Rocky Milburn
Academy Prep of Lakeland: Agency Lead, Emilie Joyce
Below: Lakeland ICO leaders on impromptu site visit on March 9. We have fun. The students have fun!
Policy and Legislation
The Florida legislative session is over, but the governor has not yet signed (or vetoed) the various bills that passed at this time. We refer you to the 1000 Friends of Florida update and will have our own assessment after the governor has signed, or not signed, the various bills.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Nancy Stevens.
Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 pm via Google Meet. Contact Nancy to get the link.
There will be no meeting on April 8 -- the Eclipse is luring Conservation Committee leadership off to watch this eclipse of a lifetime spectical.
Update: Trees Vs. Development
The Tampa Bay Group continues to advocate for Tampa's trees which tend to most of the time when development or redevelopment wants a building, road, or utility more than it wants ancient oaks and shade.
With the support of City's attorney who explained the tree protection codes to the City council, a face-off between a building expansion and two large oaks was won by the oaks - and won in a way that the landowner was also able to accomplish the desired extension.
On the other extreme, large old oaks are losing a battle with storm sewers -- mature oaks are being cut only to replace them with small saplings.
The defense of trees and their importance to air quality and energy conservations, is and will remain a priority of the Conservation Committee.
Transportation
Citizen input for its 2050 long range transportation plan. This is a survey that asks for your preferences. This is your opportunity to participate. Find out more.
The Amtrack station in downtown Tampa is the second busiest in the state. However, current planning for future service from Chicago is proposed to bypass Tampa, instead servicing Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville (source: Tampa Bay Times, March 5, 2024).
Tampa's west coast is currently underserviced by rail compared with the east coast, and this plan would perpetuate that. It is our understanding (from WMNF) That the Federal Railroad Administration is saying that the route is only “conceptual”, and in its very early stages.
A deadline of March 8 for comments has passed, but since this was said to early conceptual planning, we suggest that you submit your comment anyway.
Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition: Renamed to reflect what we are for. We are pressing the county to promote energy efficiency and advocate for more solar to bring down citizens’ electric bills. Sierra Club TB Group has been asked to sign an agreement to become a member. Todd Randolph and Nancy Stevens are representing the Sierra Club.
Make a Difference for Affordable Energy
Send a letter to your County Commissioner asking them to support clean, affordable energy. The skeleton of the letter is built, but you should modify it so that it reflects your opinions.
Ready to lower your power bills, invest in your home, or small business and reduce pollution in your neighborhood?
Rooftop solar is a way to do all three, and more. The non-profit experts at Solar United Neighbors Hillsborough 2024 Solar Co-op explain how to go solar and access a group rate. It’s free to join! Education, events, and membership at: SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/Hillsborough.
The 2024 Hillsborough Solar Coop goes through the end of May. Between now and then, there will be two Solar 101 Zoom events. These are no-obligation info sessions.
4/17 @ 6:00pm EDT
5/2 @ 6:00pm EDT
Or meet us at the Clean Air Fair by Hillsborough County’s Environmental Protection Commission on May 2nd @ 11:30am.
The Sierra Club is helping millions of people get outdoors to connect with nature and one another — forming a diverse, powerful grassroots movement of people who are inspired and empowered to help protect 100 million acres of land, expand wildlife protections, and advocate for more monuments across the country, while prioritizing communities most impacted by climate change and a lack of access to nature and the outdoors.
Sierra Club is doubling down on parks and local green space to address the climate and biodiversity crises while bringing community health benefits and providing more people access to quality outdoor spaces. We’re addressing barriers so everyone can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of time spent in nature. Right now, the EXPLORE Act in Congress includes outdoor access and equity bills Sierra Club activists have been advocating for to fund programs that support underserved communities, veterans, and children.
Florida will soon have another local group, and its membership is coming largely from our Tampa Bay Group. The new group will cover Pasco County.
We want you to know that you have the choice of which Group you want to be in. Unless you let Membership Services know that you want to remain in the Tampa Bay Group, those of you in Pasco County will be reassigned to the Pasco County group based on your zip code.
To express your desire to remain in the Tampa Bay Group, please contact Member Support at 415-977-5653.
Be Unsubscribe Savvy
We have become aware that many people had some strange encounters with Sierra Club emails -- in the form of getting annoying numbers of emails from national Sierra. I know I got them. I did what any sensible person would do, I hit Unsubscribe.
I learned much more recently that I was not getting Florida and Tampa Bay Group emails. I want those. You should want those. Neither sends large numbers of emails, and I hope you want our local news.
This leads to the real challenge. If you are one of these people, you did not get this email to read this. So if you did get this and know someone who should have gotten it but did not (as in one of our Tampa Bay Group members), please pass this cure on to them.
Have them call member support and ask that they set their email preferences to allow local Tampa Bay Group and Florida Chapter emails.
Member Support: 415-977-5653
Another problem that can occur is having emails go to spam. Take a look at the sender's email address and add it to your safe senders list.
Needless to say, don't use "Unsubscribe" - call member support and tell them what you want -- Florida Chapter and Tampa Bay Group emails only.
Member Support: 415-977-5653
Needed Now
Graphic designer - will help create handouts for tabling events and posters. Contact Shirley Denton.
Social media - will assist our Social Media coordinator and may do things such as posting to Instagram, LinkedIn, MeetUp, Facebook. Contact Shirley Denton.
Outings leaders - will be trained to lead outings. This includes a 2-year certification (free) in basic first aid. Contact Ed Shindle. We would love to have someone lead a National Bike Month outing in May.
ICO leaders will be trained to lead ICO trips. This includes a 2-year certification (free) in basic first aid. Contact Rocky Milburn.
Tabling volunteers. No experience required. Contact Janet Stanko.
