Lake Joanne Restoration Project Bayshore Christian School Tampa	$7,500.00
The goal for this restoration project is to remove non-native plants from a residential lake through environmentally appropriate means; re-introduce native plant materials and fish, install educational signs and incorporate the lake restoration in classroom lessons for the 400 students of the school.

Cypress Creek’s Outdoor Learning Lab Cypress Creek Elementary School Ruskin	$5,327.39
Students will use an outdoor learning lab to study animal-plant biological interactions. The greenhouse will function both as a wetland plant nursery and butterfly garden. Plants grown in the greenhouse will be used in the wetland watershed model project already in place at the school.

Eradication of Invasive Plants Dolly Bay Condominium Association, Inc. Palm Harbor	$7,214.75
The community at Dolly Bay will remove invasive air potato vines that are currently strangling their native Cypress Trees. Additionally they will remove punk and pepper trees lining the shores of Dolly Bay, which is located along Lake Tarpon.

In Harmony with Nature Florida Native Plant Society-Pinellas Chapter St. Petersburg	$1,907.00
The Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society is requesting funds to allow continued production of educational materials for their popular “Landscaping and Gardening with Native Plants” program that targets homeowner associations.

Touch Tank Exhibit Great Explorations, The Children’s Museum St. Petersburg	$7,500.00
Grant funds will be used to purchase a 200-gallon aquarium from the Pier Aquarium to create a touch tank. This tank will become part of the Museum’s water education exhibit and focus on Tampa Bay Estuary species and habitats.

Small Steps to Improve Tampa Bay Hillsborough Community College Tampa

$4,217.05

As parents enrolled in college level service learning-based courses work to decrease storm water runoff through public education gardens, ditch plantings and erosion prevention, the childcare center at Hillsborough Community College will work on teaching their children about ponds, weather and beneficial insects such as ladybugs. Insects will be cultivated by the children and released into the gardens on campus.

Windows into the Wetlands Pathfinder, Inc. St. Petersburg
This project involves having middle school science teachers and youth service volunteers experience elements of an estuary ecosystem. Using disposable digital cameras, participants will photograph their experience during their Pathfinder program, creating a photo exhibit that will be displayed and rotated around several locations.

Paw Playground Pet Waste Reduction Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Department Clearwater	$9,948.09
This project was submitted in response to the special criteria RFP request this year. It will educate pet owners using the County’s five dog parks on the negative water quality and public health impacts of improper disposal of pet waste. This project includes purchasing pet waste disposal bags, educational signs and utilizing community volunteers to promote the program and monitor effectiveness.

Placido Bayou Community Association St. Petersburg	$4,900.00
This project will involve residents of the Placido Bayou community in ridding their 6,000-square-foot connservation easement of invasive Brazilian pepper trees. The community will also plant native plants to help prevent the reestablishment of the pepper plants and enhance native habitats.

Environmental Learning Zone-Wetlands Ecosystem Exhibit Enhancement, Phase II Science Center of Pinellas County St. Petersburg	$6,800.00
This grant will assist the Center in developing a comprehensive master plan to enhance the Wetlands Ecosystem Exhibit, focusing on removing invasive plants and replanting appropriate native plants, establishing walking trails with interpretive signs, and introducing a water quality monitoring program.

Environmental Education Resource Guide of Tampa Bay Suncoast Earth Force St. Petersburg

$4,800.00

The Environmental Education Resource Guide of Tampa Bay will be a searchable Internet-enabled database that will be accessible not only to Earth Force educators, but educators throughout Tampa Bay as well as other environmental organizations serving educators. The resource guide will include contact information about the organization, programs offered, availability of guest speakers, education curricula, materials and more.

Cabbage Key Coastal Habitat Restoration Project Tampa Bay Watch, Inc. Tierra Verde	$7,500.00
This proposed restoration site encompasses approximately 44 acres of sensitive coastal habitat on Cabbage Key in southwest Pinellas County. This area has a unique assemblage of habitats, including mangroves, lower-salinity tidal wetlands, and upland areas of mature live oaks and pines. Grant funds will be used to purchase native plants as part of a comprehensive restoration effort.

Manatees and the Estuary: Making the Connection TECO Manatee Viewing Center and School District of Hillsborough County

$5,846.00

This grant will provide an opportunity for Hillsborough County art students to learn about estuaries through presentations, research, materials, videos and guided field trips to the TECO Manatee Viewing Center and the newly restored Schultz nature preserve adjacent to the Viewing Center. Each student will contribute on-site journal entries, and each class will submit a documentary CD. Accepted projects will be displayed at the Manatee Viewing Center, TECO Plaza Atrium art gallery and the main lobby at the County Center office building in Tampa.

Clam Bayou Marine Education Center Coastal Restoration Project University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science St. Petersburg

$7,500.00

The Clam Bayou Marine Education Center, located in south St. Petersburg, will be the site of a demonstration project focusing on the environmental and economic value of creating and maintaining a native Florida landscape. Components of the restoration include planting native, drought-resistant plants, creating footpaths of porous materials, producing plant identifications guides and developing educational curriculum.

Updated Frog Listening Network Exhibit at Lowry Park Zoo Hillsborough River Greenways Task Force, Inc. Tampa	$5,100.00
Grant funds for this project will be used to update and reprint thes Frog Listening Network Field Identification Cards in the Lowry Park Zoo exhibit. Updating will include correcting scientific names, deleting and adding species information and updating photographs.