ANEP: Publications- ANEP Update

Publications:
ANEP Update

November 2003

NEP NEWS

Contents:

Maryland Coastal Bays | Click Here
Tampa Bay | Click Here
San Juan Bay | Click Here
Barataria-Terrebonne | Click Here
Puget Sound | Click Here
Indian River Lagoon | Click Here
Massachusetts Bay | Click Here

Special Events: Estuary Live! | Click Here

Maryland Coastal Bays

Bicyclists around the shore will soon have access to a network of trails- ranging from 8-1,000 miles- through every county on the Delmarva Peninsula. To help promote low-impact nature tourism, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is working to create a Delmarva Biking Trails map, originally envisioned by the Delmarva Advisory Council some five years ago. Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences- DLITE (headed by MCBP outreach coordinator Dave Wilson) took over the project this year. To expedite the process, the program has formed the "Delmarva Alliance for Bicycling" to help seek members to fund the ambitious $30,000 project. Connecting over 70 wildlife havens, the stops along the way include the Bombay Hook, Prime Hook, Blackwater and Chincoteague wildlife refuges, Assateague Island, Pocomoke River State Forest, Deal Island, 15 state parks, and 25 wildlife management areas. Each county in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia will have its own set of trails called mini-routes. On the backside of the map is information on points of cultural interest, birding sites, cycling safety, crabbing, clamming, and fishing spots, and kayaking trails. A coalition of the Maryland, Delaware and Virginia Tourism departments, the Nature Conservancy, Salisbury Zoo, the National Park Service, Rural Development Center and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, DLITE was formed to promote sustainable tourism through the creation of biking, hiking, kayaking and birding trails throughout the peninsula. A kayaking trail from northern Assateague Island to Chincoteague, Virginia will soon follow. The unspoiled route will include an offshoot around the E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area in southern Worcester County. Last year, Maryland Senators Barbara Mikulski (D) and Paul Sarbanes (D) helped secure $150,000 in federal funds to kick-start the trails projects. The biking map is due out in April '04. See updates on the DLITE cycling project on www.delmarvalite.org.

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Tampa Bay

Nearly 100 people participated in the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's first-ever "Estuary Academy" in October at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. Estuary Academy was designed to introduce citizens to the wealth of scientific research being conducted on (and in) Tampa Bay, and to explain how this research provides information about the bay's overall health. Among the hands-on activities offered were:

Building Your Own ROV, in which participants teamed up to design, construct and "fly" a small underwater Remote Operated Vehicle in a wading pool

In-Seine Fishing Adventure, where participants worked alongside fisheries biologists to haul a 60-foot seine net, and then identify, weigh and measure the catch, and;

Getting To Know Marine Plants, utilizing microscopes to identify and examine differences in marine algae, seagrasses and other important estuarine plants

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Review forms submitted by the participants were overwhelmingly positive, with 96% reporting that their knowledge of Tampa Bay increased because of Estuary Academy, and 100% percent saying they would return to Estuary Academy next year. Members of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Community Advisory Committee were actively involved in organizing and presenting Estuary Academy. Support also was provided by Eckerd College, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Pinellas County's Environmental Management Department. For more information, contact Nanette Holland nanette@tbep.org.

San Juan Bay

It is no surprise that many invasive species are thriving in our estuarine systems. The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) is taking steps to manage two invasive and aggressive species: Iguana iguana (Green Iguana) and Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cayeput). In the case of the Green Iguana the problem is the lack of local predators and the fact that the iguanas are eating the red mangrove trees. As for Melaleuca quinquenervia, the Program is working with government agencies to manage a two-acre site that is severely impacted by this invasive tree. The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources also held a series of workshops in November with experts in this matter from the South Florida Water Management District and Florida's Project TAME. Workshops consisted of site visits, in house education and interactive discussions. For information contact jpabon@estuariosanjuan.org.

The "Les Petit Allemandes" - Cajun dancers from the Des Allmends Elementary School - demonstrate Cajun dancing at the festival. Select above image to view in larger scale

Barataria-Terrebonne

The autumn months have been extremely busy ones for the staff of the Barataria-Terrebonne NEP (BTNEP). September events included the Estuary Live Broadcast hosted by Deborah Schultz, along with BTNEP staff and Management Conference members on September 26th. Saturday, September 27th, marked the 7th annual "La Fete d'Écologie" in celebration of National Estuary Day. Highlights of the festival included a performance by Amanda Shaw, a thirteen year old Cajun Fiddler from Mandeville, Louisiana, a commemorative poster celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana purchase by local artist Susan Talbot Hoffman, as well as a book signing event by Mike Tidwell. Tidwell's recent book, "Bayou Farewell, the Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast" illustrates the gravity of Louisiana's coastal Land loss, and features an entire chapter on the BTNEP, including interviews with Program Director, Kerry St. Pé. During October, the Mekong River

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Commission paid a visit to New Orleans as part of an exchange program sponsored by the Mississippi River Basin Alliance. BTNEP Program Director Kerry ST. Pé gave a presentation to the 12 Commission Members and staff from Viet Nam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The first weekend in November found approximately 80 people in canoes and kayaks paddling down Bayou Lafourche as part of a four day, 47-mile adventure. The third annual "Back to the Bayou" paddling trip also featured a variety of evening activities and events including local blues musician Tab Benoit, presentations by area wetlands artists and noted nature photographer C.C. Lockwood, and author Mike Tidwell, and an evening of dance and ceremony with the United Houma Nation. For more images from National Estuaries Day, Click Here

Puget Sound

Communicate with your communities using three recent communications tools from the Puget Sound Action Team. The "Stormwater Communications Materials" is a series of brochures and a CD-ROM that describe stormwater runoff and associated pollution problems, as well as actions people can take to reduce stormwater runoff. Your NEP may use and customize these education and communication tools by using the final artwork and text as is or customize them to prepare materials such as brochures, fliers and other tools to directly educate citizens in your communities about stormwater runoff. The "Shellfish Fact Sheets Series," is a suite of five fact sheets that describe shellfish heritage, ecology, economy, stewardship, and further information sources. The Action Team is also managing the distribution of "Water Quality Education Materials: Nonpoint Source Pollution Tools" that include fliers, posters, CD-ROMs and videos that describe nonpoint source pollution and solutions. Visit the Action Team's web site at www.psp.wa.gov/Publications/Pub_Master.htm to view the materials or order copies.

Indian River Lagoon

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Four centuries ago, Ais Indians patrolled this ragged escarpment to watch for approaching Spanish ships in the Indian River Lagoon. It is a fitting site for the Lagoon House, a new landmark off of U.S. 1 in Palm Bay designed to serve a multitude of roles in the Indian River Lagoon region. Exhibits showcased within the 6,400-square-foot building will highlight the historical, archeological, cultural, natural, scenic and recreational resources available throughout the lagoon area. The $1.1 million building will also function as a welcome center to the Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway. The development of the Lagoon House exhibits will be partially funded through a donation from the Tomlinson family, former owners of the property where the Lagoon House is located. In its role as a Scenic Highway Welcome Center, the facility will offer information on dozens of destinations dotting the lagoon corridor, and how to best experience them. City officials are anxious for the grand opening, slated for late 2003.

Massachusetts Bay

On October 8th, 2003 the Massachusetts Bays NEP hosted a Message and Tagline Workshop. The purpose of the workshop, which was funded by EPA and attended by many past and present partners of the Program, was to craft a tagline that effectively communicates the purpose and value of the Program to a wide audience. The tagline is extremely important because it will serve as the foundation for the Program's outreach and communications activities such as conferences, volunteer events, websites, brochures, and reports for years to come. The workshop resulted in seven potential taglines which were then included in an online survey to help determine which one was most effective. Over 140 responses were received and, yes, we do have a preliminary winner. However, the Program's Management Committee will make the final decision in December.

Special Events: Estuary Live!

The following pictures were submitted by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program. They were taken on Saturday, September 27th, which marked the 7th annual "La Fete d'Écologie" in celebration of National Estuary Day.
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Allyssa experiences what it's like to hold an albino alligator

Allyssa experiences what it's like to hold an albino alligator