Summary Report on the LBC Annual Meeting
February 24, 2022
from Hilary Dahms
“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” (Samuel Taylor Coleridge). Is this Florida’s future? We at Lemon Bay Conservancy certainly hope not! We know that the health of our rivers, creeks and estuaries determines the quality of our lives. We are all drawn to the Lemon Bay area by the beautiful beaches, waters and abundant green space and are working hard to keep it that way.
Lemon Bay Conservancy’s clean water initiatives were the focus of our annual meeting held on February 24, 2022.
Eva Furner reported on the restoration of the Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve. The Preserve’s 80+ acres of uplands and wetlands serve as a natural filter for all the water passing through its watershed to Lemon Bay. The increase in the numbers of native plants, animals, fish and birds on the property has been significant. Jim Cooper, head of the Tarpon Project, reported excellent numbers of baby tarpon and snook in the latest net pull.
Jane Collingwood presented the Bay Watch Committee’s latest project: Oyster Gardening: Improving Water Quality One Dock at a Time. Oyster gardens are strands of clean oyster shells that can be suspended from docks and seawalls to hang below the tide line. They attract live oyster “spat” (juvenile oysters) which when mature, are capable of filtering 50 gallons of water per oyster per day. Oyster garden workshops are being planned for neighboring communities.
Lemon Bay High School science teacher Mia Conlon and students from the Marine Conservation Club were on hand to accept a $1000 grant from Lemon Bay Conservancy, presented by Vice President Irene Slattery, for the purchase of two water bottle filling stations for the high school. The high school has started a campaign to eliminate single-use plastics that end up in landfills and waterways eventually breaking down and releasing toxic chemicals. The water stations already in use at the high school have provided over 100,000 refills for students and faculty!
Our featured speakers for the evening, estuary scientists Judy Ott and Dr. Coty Keller, presented an informative program highlighting the biodiversity of Lemon Bay, the increasing stresses to it, and most importantly, what we as individuals can do to protect the health of Lemon Bay. We were encouraged to select one environmental practice that we can implement in our own home, backyard or water front and DO it. If we all are mindful, we can make a difference. Lemon Bay Conservancy has an excellent pamphlet, Take Action for Clean Water! available at our office that lists personal actions you can take to protect our most valuable resource. Call 941-830-8922 for your copy today!