DEP Coral Protection & Restoration Program (CPR) and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) spent two days collecting sediment and water samples in Broward County as part of a DEP CPR-funded project to investigate pollutants in sediment pore water. The DEP dive teams collected over 60 samples across the two days with topside support from NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS).

Rookery Bay staff teamed up with the Von Arx Wildlife Hospital to release a rehabilitated Black tern back into the wild. After receiving care at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Von Arx Hospital, the bird was transported by boat to the Second Chance Critical Wildlife Area in the southern region of the reserve. Here it soared once again over the Gulf.

Two outreach events in celebration of Save Our Waters Week. Our annual kayak tour returned after a year off due to Hurricane Helene, fittingly taking place on the storm’s one-year anniversary. Community members joined staff and partners from the Florida Public Archaeology Network, Crystal River Preserve State Park, and SMMAP for a guided paddle highlighting the area’s cultural and natural resources.

The GTMNERR (GTM Research Reserve) celebrated National Estuaries Week with two events hosted by the Friends of GTM Research Reserve. On Friday, September 26, 2025, the reserve came alive with an evening of oysters, a low country boil, music and an estuary celebration.

Each year, Buffer staff welcomes Dr. Tom Miller and his FSU research students for a weekend of learning. Dr. Miller is a professor of biological sciences who has been conducting research and taking a vegetation census in our area since 1999.

The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve (BBAP) water quality team performed station maintenance at the Rickenbacker Basin (BBMRRB) continuous monitoring station located in North Bay, Biscayne Bay near the mouth of the Miami River.

On September 20, BBAP hosted the Pelican Harbor Marina cleanup for International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC). Over 30 volunteers got to work picking up small debris, like microplastics and bottle caps, and stumbling upon larger debris, like a rusted bike. In total, 248 lbs. of trash were removed from Pelican Harbor Marina.

TBAP staff and interns worked on some preparations of buoy moorings that had been damaged by last year’s hurricanes to be sure that the new rookery island buffer buoys will be securely anchored. This work is ongoing, along with post-rainy season assessments of volunteer work needs on islands near each rookery island.

On International Coastal Cleanup Day, Rookery Bay staff and volunteers met at Shell Island Road (SIR) within the reserve for a successful cleanup effort. The morning began with just a few participants, but the group quickly grew to include more than a dozen volunteers, staff and students from Florida Gulf Coast University.

On Saturday September 20th, employees from the FDEP Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (RCP) traded their desks for the shoreline to take part in the 40th International Coastal Cleanup, hosted locally by Keep Wakulla County Beautiful (KWCB). This annual event unites volunteers worldwide in a shared mission: protecting oceans and shorelines from marine debris.