Vision

Sarasota Bay Watch is a grass-roots, non-profit, citizen-based organization dedicated to preserving and restoring Sarasota Bay's ecosystem through education and citizen participation. You can become an active participant by joining as a member and volunteering in Sarasota Bay Watch's on-going effort to protect and restore this valuable natural resource.

Some of our in-water activities for both adults and children include:

We also host land-based activities including educational outreach and informative lectures on current issues and topics.

FUNDING PRIORITIES: August 2011

Sarasota Bay Watch seeks funding for a number of conservation and restoration events, as well as funding for public education and outreach, and general operating funds for the organization. The following are funding priorities for 2011. If there is interest, full proposals can be developed for each of these projects, or new projects can be developed with the participation of donors to best suit their interest. Each of these projects can be funded, in part or whole. Some priorities are annual events that we would like to continue, others are pilot projects to provide proof of concept, others focus on public outreach and education, while others provide the spark for obtaining funding for significant restoration activities (e.g., grant writing).

1. Cord grasses in classes: $500 - $2,500

Much of the shoreline around Sarasota Bay is hardened with seawall and devoid of life- supporting habitat. This hardened shoreline replaces traditional marsh grass and mangrove habitat, functionally important for filtering runoff into the Bay, erosion control, and for providing habitat for shoreline species. SBW proposes to establish cord grass nurseries at our high schools, to be tended by science clubs. The cord grass will be used in SBW future restoration projects.

2. Scallop Search/Restoration: $2500 - $25,000

Bay scallops are an important component of Florida?’s coastal marine ecosystem, and due to their acute sensitivity to changes in water quality, are an important indicator of ecosystem health. In fact, the ultimate indicator of a healthy Sarasota Bay may be recovery of its bay scallop populations. Bay scallop populations have been in decline in Sarasota Bay, and Sarasota Bay Watch is focused on documenting the distribution and abundance of scallops through community-based annual scallop counts as well as future restoration projects.

Sarasota Bay Watch seeks funding for its 5th Annual Scallop Search in Sarasota Bay. This popular annual event brings about 70-80 people together to survey the distribution and abundance of scallops in Sarasota Bay. Food, equipment, training, and event t-shirts are provided to all participants. $2,500.

A restoration project would cost approximately $25,000 per year with the bulk of the cost being hatchery-reared juvenile scallops.

3. Prop Scar Restoration: $1,500 - $2,500 (and more)

Seagrass beds provide important ecosystem services to our nearshore environments. They are an important component of the marine food chain, and provide critical habitat for a number of coastal organisms, including scallops.

Powerboat propellers destroy seagrass, the scars from which can last a long time. Transplanting seagrass from dense surrounding areas into the scar can aid recovery and restore the habitat much more quickly. Sarasota Bay Watch seeks funding for prop-scar repair activities, where participants transplant seagrass from crowded healthy areas to areas inside the scars. Funding is requested for equipment, permits, and project management. $2,500.

Additional funding is sought for the production of outreach materials to educate the public about the importance/vulnerability of seagrass and safe navigation around shallow seagrass habitats. $1,500.

4. Shoreline Cleanups: $1,000 ?– 1,500 per event

Sarasota Bay Watch seeks funding for annual shoreline cleanups, including the Sister Keys and Quick Point Preserve. Funds are requested for hauling away collected trash, supplies, food/water, and event t-shirts for participants. Sarasota Bay Watch invites sponsors to identify areas that they would like us to target.

5. Organizational Overhead: $1,500/month

Sarasota Bay Watch seeks funding for basic overhead, including funds for a small office space, office assistant, tax prep, accounting, web consultants, web hosting, and supplies.

6. Conservation/Restoration Grant Writing: $2,500 - $5,000

Sarasota Bay Watch seeks funding for professional scientific grant-writing to obtain funding for conservation and restoration projects in Sarasota Bay. Proposed projects include scallop restoration, oyster habitat restoration, marsh restoration, and shoreline softening. The small investment in successful grant writing can be repaid ten times over with a successful grant.

6. Executive Director: $10,000

Sarasota Bay Watch seeks funding for an executive director to manage our educational/outreach activities, conservation/restoration events, beach cleanups, as well as the day to day management of the organization.

If you have interest in exploring any of these funding opportunities or others, please contact David Shafer at david@shafer-consulting.org or (941) 232-9952.