Header image by Shirley Denton. Shamrock? There is no such species. Wood sorrels are commonly sold as a symbol for St. Patrick's Day. The species above, Oxalis stricta, is a common native in Florida
Many thanks from Rocky and Dianne to those of you who contributed with either money or with support.
I you have not heard, they experienced what can only be called a catastrophic convergence of storms aimed at their personal health and property -- the kind of stuff that can't be predicted and which is hard to survive and recover from.
Rocky and Dianne did not ask for the Go Fund Me, they did agree to it and they thank you. The Go Fund Me was concocted by their Sierra Club friends, the Tampa Bay ExCom and other leadership, and the Tampa Bay Area ICO leadership team.
Choosing the Right Candidates Doesn't Happen By Itself
We're in a hugely important election season, and vetting the candidates who are running is extremely important, especially for busy folks who don't have the time to pay attention to politics.
However, thankfully, there are some Sierra Club members who are greatly interested in politics, and who volunteer on our local Political Committee to research the candidates who are running, ask them questions about their positions on environmental issues, and make recommendations for endorsements.
Right now, our Tampa Bay Sierra Club Political Committee is seeking volunteers to help vet our local candidates for Hillsborough County Commission races, Hillsborough County School Board Races, and State Legislative races. Right now, we need more people to step up and help our committee because the more volunteers that we have, the broader our reach and influence can be in the upcoming elections.
And, right around the corner after the November elections, the City of Tampa has its election in March, 2027, when all 7 members of City Council and a new Mayor will be elected. Our committee will be heavily involved in all of those races.
If you are interested in volunteering or in learning more about joining our Political Committee, please reach out to the Political Committee Chair, Gary Gibbons, by email at: GaryGibbons@tampabaysierraclub.org and to gibbgary@gmail.com for further information.
Together, we can do more!
--- Gary Gibbons, Political Chair, Tampa Bay Group
Special Election to Replace Jay Collins
If you live in this district, please register if you have not done so already, and vote. Local voting is often not considered to be important -- however, one election at a time, one vote at a time, this is how grass-roots governing can succeed.
Special elections typically have a lower turnout, so your vote counts even more.
Standing Strong for Florida's People and Nature in 2026
We are halfway through our Florida Legislative session, and the Florida Sierra Club keeps members informed on which bills we are supporting, opposing, and need members to take action on.
For each one, the action involves calling your Florida State Senator and/or Representative. So, if you don't already know their names, email addresses, and phone number, the first step is to use the following links to look that information up. Then record it so that you can reference it in the future.
Find the bills that the Florida Sierra Club is tracking below:
Questions? Please give the Florida Sierra Club your information here and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Affordable Energy Community Discussion
Sierra Club is a member of the Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition (HAEC), a local group of non-profits that fights against the skyrocketing electricity costs thru various organizing efforts.
With TECO primed to approach the PSC for yet another rate hike, HAEC is hosting a Affordable Energy Community Discussion on Tuesday, March 10th at 7:30 PM at the C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library. We’ll be talking about TECO’s recent rate hikes, and why electricity bills have been increasing. We will also discuss what our local and state governments are doing — and should be doing — to advance affordable energy solutions.
Then we’ll open the floor for conversation about how rising electricity bills are impacting community members and what we want to see from our elected officials. We’ll close by sharing concrete ways we can mobilize as a community to push for affordable energy reform.
A station will be set-up with Information and assistance in the services TECO provides to help residents immediately lower their bill.
The Tampa Bay Sierra Club is contributing pizza for attendees.
House Bill 479 (2025) - would override local laws regarding water-related issues
Pasco Tree Ordinances
Senate Bill 64 (2021) – Legislation that impacts Tampa Bay
--- Tampa Bay Group Conservation Committee
This proposed development has been submitted to Hillsborough County for approval. It poses significant risks for water quality and quantity, in the Hillsborough River and tributaries, and public conservation and recreation lands.
Two Rivers Ranch
This proposed development is adjacent to multiple public conservation and recreation lands. It is also only part of the overall development of Two Rivers Ranch - the part is Pasco County is larger and was approved by that county in 2024. Construction is ongoing in Pasco County.
In a recent victory, local community members came together to oppose HC/CPA25-37 amending the Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan for Two Rivers Ranch. This property contains undeveloped stretches of the Hillsborough River and Blackwater Creek and wild lands forming a rough triangle just across HWY 301 from Hillsborough River State Park, east to HWY 39 (Paul Buchman Hywy), and south to Quail Meadow Road, adjacent to the Hillsborough County Blackwater Creek Preserve, and close to the Dead River Wilderness Park. This amendment if approved, would increase the number of homes allowed on the 8,000-acre property from a maximum of 700 to over 3,900 homes. The thorough analysis of the Hillsborough Planning Commission staff cited several environmental concerns with the amendment including- our water supply, our wetlands, natural greenways, and wildland habitat.
On Monday, February 9th, the community packed the Hillsborough County Planning Committee’s meeting and overflow rooms. Of the nearly thirty speakers, none spoke for the amendment. Speakers ranged from grandparents to first responders to15 year olds.
Our diverse community came together and spoke about the threat to the wild spaces, wildlife, lack of current infrastructure, drinking water, and rural lifestyles. Based on their comments and staff recommendations, the planning committee voted against recommending approval to the Hillsborough County Commission, which was scheduled to vote on the amendment in three days.
This is not over yet
Two days later, the applicants officially requested a continuance from the County Commission to not hold a vote until April 9th. The county commissioners approved the continuance at the February 12th commission meeting which had a very strong showing from concerned community members. After that vote, the counselor for the applicant said they plan to have two meetings to engage the public in the interim. In the meantime, the community continues to organize in preparation for the next vote and build on this momentum.
We are still waiting for word of any meetings for the owners of Two Rivers Ranch to engage the public.
Add your voice to that of Sierra members and the citizens of this rural area. Stop the sprawl that is destroying our wild spaces, poisoning our water, and threatening our future.
Four things you can do:
Tell the Hillsborough Commission to vote NO on HC/CPA 25-37: Email All Commissioners
Attend the Commission meeting at 6 PM, April 9th, at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. 2nd Floor. Sign up to speak. You do not have to give a Ted Talk. Just be sincere (and you only have three minutes).
Join us at Westshore Audubon Sanctuary Saturday March 28th, from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Volunteers, please wear closed-toe shoes, hat/visor and sunglasses. Be prepared to get wet and dirty. Gloves, trash bags, water and a light snack will be provided.
Tampa Bay Sierra Club and Tampa Audubon Society volunteers will partner to clean up the Sanctuary, a mangrove forest along Old Tampa Bay which serves as habitat for many wading birds and marine life such as horseshoe crabs.
Address: 5009 W San Jose St, Tampa, FL 33629 Directions to Site: From 1-275, take the Westshore Blvd. exit and head south on Westshore. Turn right at San Jose Street. Follow San Jose until you reach an S-shape curve. The Sanctuary is located on the right. The neighborhood is known as Sunset Park.
Let Todd know you are coming and register. Email: ToddRRandolph@gmail.com Phone: 815-347-2421
Call for anyone interested in becoming a Military Outdoors, ICO, Sierra Club Leader contact by email - Ed Shindle Ed.Shindle@Florida.Serraclub.org
Tampa Bay Sierra Club Leaders wanting First Aid, or Wilderness First Aid training. Email Ed Shindle Ed.Shindle@Florida.Serraclub.org
Outings leadership training is both fun and rewarding. You will learn more than just leading outings. You will learn things that could save someone's life (in fact, it is likely that this training saved a life last month). You can learn new skills such as wilderness survival or water skills. You will definitely learn people skills, and those are precious especially to those of us who grew up shy.
Lake Park Hike
Mar 9, 2026; 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Join us for a 3-to-4-mile hike along the shores of multiple lakes and through flatwoods and cypress swamps.
Lake Park has an abundance of plant and animal life, anticipate frequent stops to appreciate it and to discuss water conservation. Some examples of what Lake Park has to offer: herons, raptors, warblers, sweet gums, shiny blueberries, and hog, deer and raccoon tracks.
Lake Park is a multi-use park owned by the City of St. Petersburg, managed by Hillsborough County for recreation and used by Tampa Bay Water as an important regional drinking water source.
More details including driving directions are available at the registration link.
Meet at the shelter by the playground at Lake Starvation.
Signup Instructions: Registration required (blue link above).
Signup Restrictions: limited to 7 people
Triple Creek Hike
Wed, Mar 25, 2026; 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for a 6-mile hike exploring open prairies, scrub, riverine corridors and flatwoods. We will learn about the habitats and pause for quotes to help us connect with the natural world. Parts of the walk may be soft sugar sand. There are no restrooms or water sources at this preserve.
This site has a number of endangered species. We will keep our eyes open. The Florida scrub-jay (shown in the image) was spotted at an adjacent preserve after a 20+ year lapse, and potential habitat exists on Triple Creek. Other rare species associated with scrub, dry flatwoods and wetlands have been recorded at Triple Creek.
Usual hiking gear/apparel including extra water, hat, sun protection, closed toe shoes, long pants recommended, binoculars helpful. If you have any questions on what to bring check with the leader ahead of time.
More details including driving directions are available at the registration link.
There is a substantial parking area just off of the west side of the road. Somewhat hard to see.
Signup Instructions: Registration required (blue link above).
Signup Restrictions: limited to 6 folks
Meet the Rice's Whale (Yes, we have whales in the Gulf!)
Wed, Mar 25, 2026; 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Join us at the Lover's Key Discovery Center to dive into the whale tale of the Rice’s whale—the Gulf’s only year-round resident whale and one of the world’s most critically endangered. This free public presentation explores how science, advocacy, and community action are coming together to protect this rare species and our shared Gulf waters
--- This is a Florida Chapter event
More details including driving directions are available at the registration link.
Signup Instructions: Registration required (blue link above).
Raymond James Recycling
We are proud to have the oldest education program supporting recycling at sporting events and concerts at the Raymond James Stadium.
Join us at one of the upcoming events. You must be a Sierra Club member to participate. You not only get to make a difference, you also get free admission to the event. Find out more by contacting Todd Randolph. Email: ToddRRandolph@gmail.com Phone: 815-347-2421
Tabling is a fun activity where our members go to public events--events you would probably want to go to anyway because they are fun, have great vendors and most offer good food. The purpose of tabling is to stand and talk to people at a Sierra Club table about the Sierra Club. Amazing as it sounds, many people don't know about Sierra Club and are very interested to learn about our activities, environmental action, and outings. It is a way we obtain new members and volunteers. Each new tabling volunteer is paired with an experienced member, and we provide talking points about our key campaigns.
We attend these events 6-10 times per year . Each volunteer can be scheduled for a two hour shift at their convenience. Before and after their volunteer shift, they can enjoy the event as a regular attendee. Our volunteers get free admission to these events.
Here are upcoming events for which we need volunteers:
March 9, 6:30 pm. Virtual. Google Link: meet.google.com/hub-nuec-neq Phone number: 601- 844-2921 PIN: 219 177 816#
Improving Our Outreach to Members
Make sure you are set up correctly in the national Sierra Club database
If you are not seeing your newsletter, well, you probably won't see this. But, you should first check to see if it is in your spam. Take a look at the sender's email address and add it to your safe senders list.
If you are not getting our group emails, call Member Support and work with them. You want emails from the Tampa Bay Group.
Member Support: 415-977-5653
If you are getting too much Sierra Club communication, member support can help you with that too.
Needless to say, don't use "Unsubscribe" - call member support and tell them what you want -- Florida Chapter and Tampa Bay Group emails only.
To avoid others accidentally unsubscribing you, either do not forward Sierra Club emails, or delete the unsubscribe options at the end of the email before doing so.
If you want to see emails from other groups, you can add those to your preferences as well.
Get Your Tampa Bay Sierra Club News
More ways to do it
1. Join our Facebook Group -- we are not perfect, but we try to post our news here. You can also share with others by clicking "share" below the post to put a copy on your personal Facebook page or group.
2. Check on our MeetUp site. We most public-facing events there. For outings, you MUST register with our group....we do not use the MeetUp "going" as for many events we need a reliable participant count (think buying food) and we do need signed waivers (an insurance requirement) for outings.
3. Go to our website home page and calendar which is on the home page (https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/tampa-bay) -- we post events there as they are set up. If you see an event that you are interested in that requires registration, you can go straight to the event information and registration from the calendar. Be aware that the national and state Sierra Club entities can and do also post -- events distant from the Tampa Bay area do get posted.
4. Go to our Instagram site. We have not done well with this, but we do have someone helping. As your newsletter editor, I want you to know that she has to redesign almost everything to make it work well on Instagram -- and the "not done well" is not her fault -- it is me failing to keep her up to date.
4. Look for our newsletters on our website (https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/tampa-bay). They don't embed nicely, but you can pull the newsletter from there usually within about 3 days of when we send it out by email. We also have links to past newsletters on the website. Use the menu and click on "News" for the latest posted newsletter.
5. Bookmark the links above to make these resources easy to find.
We are starting to send out the entire newsletter twice - once by the Sierra Club email system, and again by a system that we are paying for locally. Rocky was sending out parts of it, but as of January, we are sending the entire newsletter with both systems
We are also trying to streamline. We are relying on our calendar more so that we don't have to repeat every posting about 5 times. We do still have to repeat for every different method of information described above. But the calendar is always the most current, and everything else essentially copies it.
All of this takes work. Please consider joining one of our committees (committees provide most of our content), sharing through your personal social media, or volunteering to assist if you have social media, writing, or web skills. Being good at chasing cats would not hurt either. ShirleyDenton@tampabaysierraclub.org.
