Lemon Bay Conservancy began its history concentrating focus on Lemon Bay. In 2000, the Board of Directors expanded our area of concern to include South Sarasota, all of Charlotte, and North Lee County. These areas are critical to the health of Lemon Bay and the environment of all Southwest Florida. As important is the fact that the size and capability of the Conservancy allows us to reach to these areas directly or through partnerships with fellow environmental and land trust affiliates.
ABOUT LEMON BAY
•Lemon Bay lies in southwestern
Florida in Sarasota and Charlotte Counties.
• The bay is 7 miles long and varies in width from 1/2 mile to 1.2 mile.
• Its watershed encompasses 73
miles of diverse biology.
• The average depth is 6 feet
at mean high water.
• Seven creeks flow into the bay.
• It is an estuary, a special place
where salt water and fresh water mix to nurture many important species
of fish, crustaceans and shellfish.
• Tidal exchange with the Gulf
of Mexico occurs in two primary places, Stump Pass and Gasparilla Pass.
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“To forever protect and preserve
the natural wonders of
Lemon Bay, Charlotte Harbor and their surrounding waters and uplands...”
Lemon Bay Conservancy is headquartered in Englewood, Florida. The Conservancy is a not-for-profit land trust dedicated to the preservation, protection, and acquisition of natural areas important to maintaining the ecological balance of Lemon Bay, Charlotte Harbor, adjacent waters and uplands. Now in our fourth decade of service to the community, our stated purpose is
•Water quality is monitored in
the bay. There are also six seagrass monitoring sites. The Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve is also
monitored for manatees, propeller scars in seagrass beds, boat anchorages
and even for
shark nurseries.
ABOUT CHARLOTTE HARBOR
• The Charlotte Harbor Watershed flows through 7 counties: Polk, Hardee, DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee.
• This watershed encompasses 4,700 square miles.
• Our three major rivers—the Myakka, Peace, and Caloosahatchee—feed the harbor.
• The estuaries and mainland are protected by twelve (12) passes.
• The waters of Charlotte Harbor provide the gift of lifethrough healthy estuaries where fish and bird species breed and flourish, feeding tourism: the areas most critical economic engine.
LEMON BAY CONSERVANCY
2980 PLACIDA ROAD
SUITE 201
ENGLEWOOD, FLORIDA 34224
info@lemonbayconservancy.org
941.830.8922
Lemon Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and the surrounding waters and uplands through property acquisition and management.
Educating – Providing comprehensive environmental education to residents and visitors alike through lectures, programs, events, newsletters, and electronic media.
Advocating – Support of appropriate land and water conservation policies, programs, practices, laws,
and ordinances at the
Federal, State, and local level.