Aquatic Preserve Appreciation Clean Up in the Southwest APs

The Southwest APs and DEP South District Offices Conduct Cleanups for DEP Stewardship Day 

Charlotte Habor Aquatic Preserve staff hosted a shoreline cleanup with the assistance of nearby DEP partners from the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park and the South District office. There were 22 participants who showed up for a trail hike to Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor AP. With the low tide, the DEP staff were able to easily walk along the shoreline to clean above and below the water line and pick up debris within the aquatic preserve and the Preserve State Park.  The group collected an estimated 285lbs of debris and had a great time! This workday was a fun and productive way to highlight the importance of the APs to other DEP staff who may not work in those submerged lands very often. 

Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve worked together with six staff from DEP South District’s Permitting and Compliance Assurance Program on a rookery cleanup! South District staff learned about the aquatic preserve and EBAP monitoring programs before heading out to clean up the islands and went “all in” as they fished monofilament out of trees and plastic bags out of mangrove roots!