Accomplishments

SBEP and its partners have accomplished the following key results:

1. Significant water quality improvements in the Bay and tributaries due to an estimated 64 percent reduction in nitrogen pollution since 1988.
2. Seagrass coverage has increased 46 percent to levels 28 percent above 1950.
3. Restoration and enhancement of approximately 1,200 acres of wetland habitat with creation of 30 new ecological parks around the Bay.
4. Deployment of 3,000 habitat modules on nine new artificial reef sites.
5. Establishment of the first oyster re-colonization project in 2005; completed two projects in Sarasota County and one project in Manatee County. Also, helped to establish research protocols for restoring local bay scallop populations.
6. Creation of the Gulf Coast Heritage Trail to promote managed public access to points of historical, cultural and environmental interest around the Bay.
7. Establishment of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program as a special district within the State of Florida.
8. Implementation of a comprehensive public education program. Since 2001, more than 37,000 local school children have received outdoor education about Sarasota Bay.
9. Dispursement of $150,000 in grant funding to support 90 diverse organizations completing Bay-friendly projects throughout the watershed. 
10. All Sarasota Bay waters now meet state water quality standards for nutrient pollution.

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Partners Win First Place Gulf Guardian Award

Click here to download the State of The Bay 2010 Report

Click here to see a list of the local, state and federal organizations that have partnered with the SBEP to enhance the habitat and water quality of Sarasota Bay.

Click here to view the video

SBEP and its partners have been awarded a first place Gulf Guardian Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of the program’s efforts to recover vital seagrasses in Sarasota Bay. Read more