[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E81]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TAMPA BAY WATCH CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF RESTORING THE BAY EVERY 
                                  DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. C. W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 14, 2009

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, Tampa Bay Watch is a community 
based habitat restoration and education program that has helped us 
bring back to life the waters of Tampa Bay and its surrounding 
tributaries. This year marks the 15th anniversary of its great 
environmental work and I want to commend the staff, the members of the 
board, and most importantly the thousands of volunteers of all ages who 
give their time for this cause.
  Peter Clark, Tampa Bay Watch's Executive Director, helped bring a 
vision to life and has mobilized more than 65,000 volunteers in what is 
the first environmental organization of its kind in the Southeastern 
United States. Together, these dedicated individuals helped a dying bay 
recover from decades on neglect.
  Tampa Bay Watch's staff and volunteers coordinate a variety of 
coastal restoration events throughout the year such as salt marsh 
plantings, oyster dome and reef construction, coastal cleanups and 
storm drain markings.
  The largest one-day salt marsh planting in Tampa Bay's history took 
place on September 29, 2007, bringing together 425 volunteers who 
planted 34,000 salt marsh grasses over 32 acres of newly constructed 
wetland habitat. Another milestone event took place on August 16, 2008 
when more than 150 volunteers found 624 scallops at the Great Bay 
Scallop Search, the most scallops ever found in a single Tampa Bay 
Watch event.
  Next to its enthusiastic volunteer base, one of Tampa Bay Watch's 
greatest assets is its Marine and Education Center constructed next to 
its Tierra Verde offices at the entrance to Fort De Soto Park. The 
education center, built in 2005 with funds provided by the House 
Appropriations Committee through an Economic Development Initiative, 
includes classrooms, outdoor wet labs, and two 5,000 gallon touch tanks 
that are used year-round during school field trips, summer camp 
programs, and community groups. It is home to the Estuary EDventures 
program, which builds environmental literacy and encourages 
environmental stewardship while educating students about estuarine and 
habitat restoration. More than 180 field trips have been held there 
during which 3,000 students contributed 14,600 hours to learn about and 
help restore Tampa Bay.
  Madam Speaker, Tampa Bay Watch brings together families and neighbors 
to take care of our environment and to take pride in our environment. 
Nowhere is this more important than Florida where we are surrounded by 
water and Tampa Bay remains the linchpin linking the waterways of our 
entire region.
  As Tampa Bay Watch celebrates its 15th anniversary, I want to salute 
three current and former board members who first brought this program 
to my attention. Ed Alber, whose passing was a great loss to Tampa Bay 
Watch and our entire community, Angelo Catani, and Bob Hite have all 
invested considerable time and energy into restoring Tampa Bay and 
educating youth of all ages about the need for environmental 
stewardship. Other board members who have contributed so much of their 
time to the cause include Chairman Lawrence Weiner, Secretary/Treasurer 
Steve Stanley, Past Chairs Doug Williamson and Steve McCreary, board 
members Paul Avery, Matt Bisset, Rick Bourkard Jr., Leiza Fitzgerald, 
Mike Flynn, Richard Happle, Richard Hatcher, Debbie Kraujalis, G. Lowe 
Morrison, Robert L. Paver, Dr. Honey Rand, Stephen Reynolds, Joseph 
Saunders, John Semago, Nadine Smith, Ray Smith, and Dr. Richard Wilkes.
  Madam Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues in the House join in 
congratulating Tampa Bay Watch for remaining true to their simple 
mission statement to Restore Tampa Bay Every Day.

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