If you are looking for a way to contribute to environmental conservation efforts in your area, the UF/IFAS Extension Florida Sea Grant Charlotte County in partnership with the Lemon Bay Conservancy has put out a call for volunteers to aid in the 5th Annual Eyes on Seagrass Citizen Science Monitoring Program. This initiative is pivotal to collecting data on the health of the seagrass in upper Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay which, as we all know, play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of our local marine ecosystems.
The program not only welcomes but relies on community involvement, asking volunteers to form teams of a minimum of three members, teams that will be responsible for reaching their monitoring sites, these teams can choose their preferred mode of transportation - be it boats, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards or simply wading through the waters. Once there, volunteers will gather data between April 14-30, as mentioned on the Charlotte County website. Participation in this program is without cost, and following a mandatory training session, all volunteers will be provided with the necessary equipment to conduct seagrass surveys.
Training for new volunteers is an in-person affair, designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required for the surveying process. For those who have participated in the past or are unable to attend the training sessions, online instructional videos will serve as a suitable replacement. It should be noted, however, individuals who attend training are not guaranteed a spot on a team but are encouraged to participate and support the program in various capacities.
The program's past successes have greatly benefitted local environmental health assessments these assessments have in turn informed natural resource managers in decision-making, an invaluable contribution to the region's sustainability efforts.
