Assist the Group Chair by running AV equipment for meetings. Some are in-person, some virtual, and some hybrid. The goal is to relieve the Chair from technical issues so the Chair can focus on meeting participants and announcements.
One meeting per month in the evening. Almost all are on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.
Probably another hour not at the meeting
Set up AV equipment if in-person
Need skills in managing Google Meet (or transfer your Zoom skills)
Assist speaker with knowing appropriate formats for presenting programs (Google slides, PowerPoint, etc.)
Manage Google Meet during the meeting
Greet remote attendees
Volunteer by contacting Shirley Denton (Communications Chair).
Speak Out on Bear Hunting!
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering a potential black bear hunt in Florida for the first time in nearly a decade, with a possible hunt date in December 2025.
The proposal includes
A 3-week season and a harvest quota of 187 bears. The hunt in 2015 overshot its target and had to be halted in 2 days.
The proposal is to allow the killing of 187 bears.
The hunt would allow hunting in 31 counties divided into 4 bear management areas.
Permits would be issued at random, with one bear allowed per permit.
Hunters would be allowed to use a variety of weapons, including archery equipment, muzzle loading guns, shotguns, and rifles.
Bears could be attracted with baits and tracked with dogs.
Why Sierra Club Florida opposes the bear hunt:
No scientific basis. Peer-reviewed research does NOT support claims that bear populations have exceeded their habitat’s capacity. In fact, FWC’s own data suggests some bear management areas remain under capacity.
Human-bear conflicts are preventable. These conflicts are primarily driven by human encroachment into bear habitats—not by an overpopulation of bears. Education, better waste management, and habitat protection are the real solutions.
Trophy hunting is not the answer. Killing bears for sport disrupts their social and reproductive structures and undermines public respect for wildlife.
Instead of hunting, FWC should focus on non-lethal conservation strategies, including habitat restoration, wildlife corridors, public education, and bear-proofing measures.
A discussion of Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges
Our speaker is Dave Howard. He will talk about the National Wildlife Refuges in the Tampa Bay area. He works for Friends of the Tampa Bay NWR. He is a Florida Master Naturalist and has been a Friends board member/volunteer for over 20 years. He will talk about the history and mission of The Friends of the Tampa Bay NWR. There will be a slide presentation and maybe a video.
Conservation topic - WATER We will hike wilderness trails to the Morris Bridge sinkholes one of which is used to augment the Hillsborough River when water levels are low. We will talk about water - both in the sink and in the river. The sinks are directly connected to the Floridan Aquifer and are important to both water quality and quantity in the Hillsborough River. The bigger of the 2 sinks is about 135 ft across and 200 ft deep, and is the one used for river augmentation.
We will also enjoy nature and search for wildlife. There is potential to see deer, tortoises, and multiple species of birds and snakes.
The Morris Bridge sinks are a bout a 5-mile round-trip walk.
Get the details and sign up on the Registration page.
Registration is required for all outings. Unless otherwise noted, outings are free though there may be site entry fees. Liability waivers are required, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. No pets.
We provide support for youth programs including ICO and Green Schools.
Florida Green Schools
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recognizes schools that make a commitment to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources through the Green School Designation Program. The program’s environmental guidelines help Florida primary and secondary schools evaluate operations, set goals and take specific actions to improve environmental performance.
Designated Green Schools create a healthier environment for students, employees and communities. Reducing water and energy use and reducing waste help lower operating costs.
(Text and images from the Florida Green Schools website)
Riverview High School is the first Florida Green School in our area. ExCom member Andy Harris is working with this school and its environmental club.
This year, the Tampa Bay Group is giving 2 scholarships to up-and-coming college students. These are not huge, but they are big enough to assist meaningfully with school expenses.
To be eligible, the students must be in one of the Green Schools programs in the state, and must be planning to attend college. Either their current high school school or their college must be in the Tampa Bay Group's area.
Mikana Salim-Uesi
Mikana is president of the Environmental Club at Riverview High School. She is planning to attend the University of Florida.
Yasser interviewing for scholarship
Yasser Louis
Yasser is currently attending high school in SE Florida. She is planning to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa.
She has been contributing with the Tampa Bay Sierra Club's social media.
Tampa Bay Sierra Club Helps Riverview High School Environmental Club Create a Butterfly Garden
On Monday afternoon, April 24, the Tampa Bay Sierra Club worked with the Riverview High School Environmental Club and Little Red Wagon Native Nursery to create a Butterfly Garden at the high school. About 15 club members planted native Lantana, Blanket Flower, Tickseed, Dune Sunflower, Silver Saw Palmetto and more. The plants were placed in four spaces located between the school buildings.
Last year the Tampa Bay Sierra Club helped the Environmental Club receive the Green Apple Award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The Tampa Bay Group organizes and leads outdoor events, ranging from wildlife walks to campouts to canoe adventures to get young people who do not normally have access to nature out into it and teach them to value it. We are currently working with 5th graders from three counties!
We depend on volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a leader or volunteering, please contact one of the leaders.
Academy Prep of St. Pete: Agency Lead, Emilie Joyce
Academy Prep of Lakeland: Agency Lead, Rocky Milburn
The State Parks Preservation Act passed in the Florida Legislature the governor has indicated that he will sign it!
This legislation closes the gaps in Florida’s law that allowed for development proposals which would have irreparably harmed our state parks that was proposed in August 2024.
We would like to that the legislature and Governor DeSantis for signing this important bill.
Last year’s massive outcry from Floridians across the political spectrum, and the deep love for their parks was exhibited this spring, are clear indications that citizens will passionately protect their wild places.
The Florida Chapter hosted rallies at the parks, including Honeymoon Island, and many of our members and supporters participated.
This is an incredibly important win for our parks!
Plastics Pre-emption Bill Defeated
The bill that would have removed all ordinances regulating single use plastics has been defeated. It was an evil bill that, in the end, was defeated in committee.
Rep Weinberg sent it back to the Senate without the preemption. Meg Weinberg sacrificed her bill and let it die to keep the language off.
We are very grateful to her and the House members for saving a decade of plastics policies. It’s pretty amazing!
Conservation Committee Meetings
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Nancy Stevens.
Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 pm via Google Meet. Contact Nancy to get the link.
Well Deserved Honor for Sid Flannery
On April 16, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners honored Michael S. "Sid" Flannery of Tampa with the 2025 Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award.
As an environmental scientist in water resources management, Sid was given this award for his role in evaluating and helping Hillsborough County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District protect Hillsborough's water resources. He supervised crucial ecological research on the region's rivers and was instrumental in developing the current method for establishing minimum flow regulations for streams and rivers. His work included assessing the effects of water withdrawals from the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bypass Canal.
Amid catastrophic threats to manatees in Florida, a federal district judge ruled the state (Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP))violated the Endangered Species Act in regulating wastewater discharges into the Indian River Lagoon. These discharges from septic tanks and sewage spills contain nutrients that kill sea grass causing manatees to starve to death.
Bear Warriors United executive director Katrina Shadix is best known for advocating for the Florida Black Bear, but the group is committed to “peaceful co-existence with wildlife” throughout Florida. This commitment led to the federal challenge with the help of environmental attorneys Lesley Blackner and Jessica Blome. Bear Warriors United alleged that Florida’s sewage regulatory scheme allows too much nitrogen from human waste into the lagoon. Eutrophication, harmful algae blooms and seagrass collapse has led to manatee starvation and manatee suffering.
Since 2021, there have been over 3300 manatee deaths in Florida according to Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission data. Testimony revealed that 2024 was a record-breaking year for baby manatee deaths, likely due to chronic malnutrition among mothers who survived earlier starvation events. The Tampa Bay Times did an excellent investigative report on the starvation of manatees in Florida.
Next steps are to list DEP corrective action steps to reduce the flow of nutrients into the Lagoon and promote return of sea grass. Stay tuned! Thank you Katrina, Lesley, and Jessica. You are true environmental heros.
Conservation Committee Members Report Back
Several Conservation Committee members attended this seminar to keep themselves and the Tampa Bay Group up to date on issues affecting water quality and quantity in Tampa Bay.
Todd Randolph provided several takeaways from the event which featured people who contribute to the relevant policies and management
On water quality:
The water experts panel relayed that 2016 was the peak year for seagrass, but since then it has been deteriorating, especially in Old Tampa Bay.
Fertilizer is the key pollutant, but warming waters from climate change do not help. During the last few years, periods of heavy rain could have also had a negative impact on the quality of our bay waters.
The introduction of green infrastructure, such as oyster towers/habitats, need to be increased.
And, there are measures that can be taken to reduce algal blooms, but they are costly.
Water reuse was also discussed:
Warren Hogg from Tampa Bay Water (TBW) said that use of reclaimed water is not currently under consideration.
There is a water recycling pilot study at Keel and Curley brewery in Plant City.
USF Professor Dr. Brisban noted that in order to prevent further degradation, Tampa Bay must stop/limit the further development of coastal areas.
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