Interested in learning more about seagrass? Join us at the 2015 Sarasota County Seagrass Survey event on Saturday, April 25, 2015 from 8:00am – 1:00pm at Ken Thompson Park. The annual Seagrass Survey is a citizen science event that celebrates Sarasota County’s commitment to its water resources and focuses on increasing awareness of the economic and environmental value of seagrass habitat. Volunteers and staff will take to the waters around Sarasota Bay to count and identify seagrass species, in an effort to collect data for the county’s Seagrass Monitoring Program.
The theme for this year’s event is: Seagrass: The Lawn that Doesn’t Need Fertilizer, focusing on how stormwater runoff and pollution affect seagrass species. Residual fertilizer that’s used on lawns can enter our bays and waterbodies as stormwater runoff. The increase in nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can result in algae blooms. Algae can attach to seagrass blades and drift in clumps, blocking necessary sunlight from reaching seagrasses.
This fun, family-friendly, hands-on event will include on-site training for all participants and data collection, followed by a free volunteer appreciation luncheon.
We need the help of our local community members, including: snorkelers, waders, kayakers, boaters, and paddle boarders.
Register Here: https://seagrasssurvey.eventbrite.com
The event sponsors include the Sarasota Environmental Aquatics Team and Sarasota County Government.
