SARASOTA,
FL –
The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is continuing to do habitat
restoration at FISH Preserve, a 100-acre parcel adjacent to Sarasota
Bay within the Village of Cortez in Manatee County. The latest plan
includes the removal of exotic plants later this fall followed by the
conversion of two stormwater retention ponds into additional wetland
habitat. New creeks, ponds and trails will also be created as part of
the plan. The project is expected to take up to two years to
complete. Dr. Jay Leverone, the SBEP Staff Scientist, will manage the
project.
FISH
is an acronym for Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, a
non-profit organization that purchased the property in 1999 to help
restore, conserve and protect the upland and wetland habitats and
adjacent waters. The
ongoing restoration at FISH Preserve is supported by major funding
from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).
The
first phase of the large-scale restoration project was completed in
2009 and involved the removal of exotic vegetation, creation of a
tidal wetland, and mangrove restoration. Last year, two bridges were
constructed to connect hiking trails thanks to support from the
Bonefish Grill. Volunteers with the SBEP Bay Guardians, including
students from Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton, have
completed small projects that support the restoration plan.
The
restoration will increase wetland acreage, improve tidal circulation,
and reestablish natural water flow. Exotic Brazilian pepper and
Australian pine trees that currently dominate the landscape will be
cleared and replaced with native trees and shrubs. Trash piles will
also be removed.
The
Florida Department of Community Affairs designated Cortez a
Waterfront Community in 1997. Since that time, the community has
worked to preserve their community through policy change, land
acquisition, the development of a maritime museum, and other
projects. The creation of the FISH Preserve is a cornerstone of the
longer term preservation plan.