Category: Environment, Science & Nature

By London Evans

While many locals and tourists who come to St. Petersburg know about the beach, St. Petersburg is full of hidden parks, green spaces and nature spots that are often overlooked. 

The History of St. Petersburg explains why officials kept the nature preserves and parks over time. StPete.org tells the lost stories of how these areas came to be and provides media releases from years ago. The website also gives information on how Weeden Island came to be what it is today.  

The website also states that in 1974, the state of Florida purchased Weedon Island and its surrounding islands, which were officially opened for public use in December 1980.  

For example, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, formerly Lake Maggiore Park, was renamed in 1958, while the park’s history dates to 1947. 

A Nature Preserve ranger for Boyd Hill Park, Ken Payette, said her focus is on wildlife surveys, prescribed burns and removing non-native plants. 

“The absolute best thing to do is get involved by volunteering at one or more of your favorite preserves or natural areas by doing whatever you can to help out,” Payette said. 

Jason Cowen represents the Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve nonprofit as its executive director, and he made it clear that he would love to see the continued protection of current natural areas within the city.  

He said he also wants additional investments in restoring ecologically important areas, which he believes will improve overall ecosystem health. 

“You can get involved with the decision-making process within the city by attending city council meetings and making your opinions known to elected officials and department heads,” Cowen said. 
 
Cowen said he has always had a passion for the outdoors and recognized that St. Petersburg needs more support and advocacy to allow space for native wildlife to flourish.  

One memorable experience for Cowen was helping the city acquire a 30-acre buffer next to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, expanding its protected land. He said it’s rare to see a preserve grow in such a densely populated area. 

“Conservation-wise, the city and the program’s support gopher tortoise, native plants and bird research within the preserve,” Cowen said. “As for protecting natural resources, the city charter offers some protection for natural land, and there are various levels of zoning that offer higher protections, such as the preserve designation.” 

Raymond Vinson, supervisor of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, said the city’s best chance at environmental preservation lies in protecting existing natural areas, restoring the urban tree canopy and improving the watershed. Unlike regional or county efforts, he said, St. Petersburg has little untouched land left to conserve. 

“I’ve always loved being outdoors in FL. From a young age,” Vinson said. “I’ve spent most of my recreational time outdoors. I spent lots of time hiking, biking, kayaking and fishing in the Tampa Bay area.” 

Vinson emphasized that the ecological benefits of even a small patchwork of natural areas can be immense. It can significantly enhance a city’s existing preserves with invasive plant management, consistent prescribed fire return intervals and groundcover restoration. 

“Similarly, there are a lot of small opportunities to reduce channelization and increase native plant cover in our streams and stormwater conveyances,” Vinson said. “That will do a lot to improve water quality in our estuaries and bays.” 

Like Payette, Vinson also touched on the benefits of volunteering in preserves.  

He said there are opportunities present for non-profits like Tampa Bay Watch and International Coastal Cleanup.  

One way residents can contribute, Vinson said, is by removing invasive plants and replacing them with native species around their homes, especially if they live near natural areas where seeds can easily spread.  

“We have an Integrated Sustainability Action Plan,” he said. “We also have an Integrated Pest Management Plan to control invasive plants with the most ecologically sensitive options.” 

The sustainability plans have come a long way, Vinson said. He reflected on one of his more memorable moments working in environmental protection, which occurred in Sarasota County shortly after Hurricane Irma in 2017. 

“We were clearing a section of the Legacy trail a day or two after the storm passed,” Vinson said. “That day I spoke with a bike rider who was getting his first taste of fresh air after hunkering down for the storm. Another man was riding his bike from Sarasota back to North Port to get home after evacuating a low-lying area. It was amazing to see the value of the trail and natural area surrounding it to such a vastly different pair of visitors.” 

According to experts like Vinson and Cowen, educating local schools is an important part of their long-term work for these areas. 

“At Boyd Hill we have an exceptional amount of school groups [that] come out and learn about nature,” Vinson said. “Many elementary schools visit and get programs from rangers where they learn about our raptors, snakes and invasive cane toad. We also have Martyne, a Pinellas County science teacher on site, and every fourth-grade class in Pinellas County takes a field trip with her to learn about subjects like the water cycle and native trees.” 

Boyd Hill offers an extensive list of programs that cover all ages and interest groups. 

Additionally, the Friends of Boyd Hill offers funds for camp scholarships and field trip groups that have financial barriers, according to Cowen. 

While the city’s nature preserves continue to grow and thrive, ongoing environmental threats remain. 

These workers are the only reason the parks stay afloat, according to Payette. 

“The main thing is to protect our natural areas against threats to maintain them for public use and enjoyment,” Payette said.  

By Kayla Buckingham 

After years of a concerning amount of lost seagrass across Tampa Bay, the city of St. Petersburg is launching a massive summer project that aims to restore one of our water’s most critical natural resources. 

The North Shore Park Seagrass Bank Mitigation Project is planning to rehabilitate more than 30 acres of seagrass beds and turn the tide on one of Florida’s most overlooked environmental crises. 

Seagrass, the underwater plant that supports fish, feeds manatees and helps keep Florida’s waters clean, is vanishing at alarming rates. There’s a major concern of what this decline could mean for the health of Florida’s underwater ecosystems. 

According to Steve Newborn at WUSF radio station, after decades of being on the mend, the number of seagrasses in Tampa Bay has decreased for three years in a row. That’s bad news for marine life, which depends on these grasses as a vital food source. 

Seagrasses grow in shallow coastal waters and are often mistaken for seaweed, but they are actually flowering plants — the only type able to live fully submerged in saltwater

Known as the lungs of the sea, seagrass helps produce oxygen and absorb excess nutrients from the water. 

“The North Shore Seagrass Mitigation Bank Project will help restore historical losses of natural habitat and plant native seagrass,” according to the city of St. Petersburg’s press release on the project. 

The project was approved for over $150,000 in funding for its restoration efforts. 

As seagrass meadows promote water quality and clarity, they also serve as nurseries for newborn fish, provide food for endangered manatees and support biodiversity for its waters.  

Specifically, some key fish species that rely on seagrass are snook, redfish and speckled seatrout— all in which are vital catches for local fishermen. When asked if they have noticed any changes in bite activity, local fisherman Kyle Sommerschuh said he has noticed some decline in the past couple of years. 

“It is definitely harder to catch snook than it used to be,” he said. “When I take people out to do some of the more laid-back kind of fishing, like for local species, I always go to seagrass beds. I’m not going to lie though, it is not uncommon to come back empty-handed.” 

According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Tampa Bay lost more than 6,300 acres of seagrass between 2018 and 2022—a roughly 16% decline. More recent data released in 2023 found that in just over two years, another 4,100 acres were lost.  

In some areas near Old Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River, the damage is even more severe. 
 
Brianna Varner, a member of Tampa Bay Watch who participates in numerous conservation projects for the area, said there are a couple of reasons why Seagrass has been in trouble. 

“Unfortunately, all of our pollution ends up in the Bay, which causes an excess of nutrients,” Varner said. “Not only does it make our water really gross, but in turn, it can cause red tide, harmful algae blooms and it also can kill our seagrass.” 

Rising water temperatures is another culprit for the harm on our Seagrass. Marine scientists have been working for years to reverse the effects of coral bleaching, a state that coral goes into when the water is too warm. Just like coral, seagrass also bleaches.  

According to a Tampa Bay Watch conservationist, rising temperatures have begun affecting seagrass health, causing it to lose some of its color — but human activity remains one of the greatest threats. 

“People affect seagrass in a couple different ways,” Varner said. “First one being habitat loss, due to the development of beaches, which clears out seagrass habitats. You may have also heard of prop scars. When boaters leave the marked channels, they are usually going through seagrass beds. A lot of the time this is super damaging and tears up the seagrass, leaving prop scars.”  

The city said it plans to restore 178 acres from North Shore Park into a protected habitat for seagrass, as well as four other types of aquatic vegetation.  

According to St. Petersburg officials, this project is said to be Florida’s first and one of the largest seagrass projects in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The community can take part by volunteering for the project or helping to raise awareness. More information, including how to get involved, is available at https://tampabaywatch.org/. 

By Kylie Perz

Beach erosion has been an ongoing issue faced by Pinellas County, but officials warn it’s worsening as sea levels rise and storms intensify. In response, the county is pushing beach renourishment projects to protect buildings, support tourism and keep the man-made shorelines that help protect the area. 

Barrier islands are dynamic environments where the sand constantly shifts and inlets open, close and migrate. According to John Bishop, Pinellas County’s coastal management coordinator, beach erosion has always been a problem along the county’s beaches.  

While erosion occurs daily due to natural processes, much of the recent damage has been caused by hurricanes and storms. 

“It wasn’t until the 1980s that a decision was made to put the beaches back,” Bishop said. “The county began nourishing Sand Key island with the [United States] Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1980s. Beach erosion has been a consistent problem. Our beaches today are largely a man-made feature. Much of our Sand Key project area had no beach or dune when we first began nourishment. The projects that the county does now are more of a maintenance effort to put sand back that had been previously placed.” 

Recent storms such as Hurricane Helene and Milton hit the entire coastline of Pinellas County with over seven feet of storm surge, one of the highest water levels experienced in the last 40 years. This caused about three feet of sand to wash over onto other parts of the islands, and the beaches have been in recovery mode since. 

Bishop said beach nourishment is essential for protecting both the shoreline and the economy. 

Before these projects began, many areas had little to no beaches left, and erosion threatened local buildings and infrastructure. 
“Beach nourishment definitely helps,” Bishop said. “The beach allows the waves to start breaking offshore, instead of releasing their energy on seawalls and buildings.” 

The process involves pumping sand from offshore and grading it to fit a specific design, which must be repeated every four to six years to maintain beach width.  

The county follows a method known as regional sediment management, using sand from nearby inlets like Egmont Shoals, Johns Pass, Blind Pass and Pass-a-Grille to keep waterways open and reduce buildup. 

“Without beaches, there would be no place for sea turtles and shorebirds to nest, so this process can also be considered a form of habitat restoration,” Bishop said. 

Brenda Murphy, a longtime resident of Pinellas County’s Sunset Beach neighborhood in Treasure Island, said the beach isn’t what it used to be and continues to change with every storm. 

“Our neighborhood looks different after every storm, and it’s getting worse as the years go on and storms get stronger,” Murphy said. “It’s scary to see how quickly the shoreline is disappearing and how much everything can change overnight. We’re still seeing piles of sand pushed up along walkways and seawalls, even months later.” 

In response to concerns like Murphy’s, Bishop said supporting these projects is essential for the local economy and for protecting infrastructure along the coast. According to Bishop, they’re most effective when built as one continuous stretch without gaps. 

Brian Lowack, CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, said tourism plays a key role in funding these types of coastal improvements. He highlighted how the From Visitors With Love campaign helps educate residents and local officials about the importance of tourism and its impact on the community. 

“This is a great way to show the results of tourism in real dollars and cents and [its] impact on our jobs, incomes and amenities in our community,” Lowack said. “It also allows us to let our residents know that our beach renourishment projects are paid for by the tourist development taxes collected from visitors, meaning no residential taxes are used to help replenish our beaches.” 

By Victoria Byrd-Harrington

After Hurricane season came to an end in late November, Pinellas County has worked to rebuild its coastal reputation through campaigns and safety measures, reassuring discouraged tourists that many beaches are now safe. 

The fall hurricanes caused significant damage to Pinellas County beaches, including erosion, debris and contamination. To bring back tourists and help local businesses flourish, the city aimed to rebuild confidence by sharing safety updates and promoting the area through targeted campaigns. 

To rebuild visitor confidence, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, the county’s tourism agency, launched a locally targeted campaign, Still Shining, a project that updated visitors on available beaches and businesses along the coast. 

VSPC, in partnership with the City of Clearwater, helped organize storm recovery events at Clearwater Beach, including beach cleanups. They also promoted recovery efforts at Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach and participated in a post-hurricane 
tourism webinar. 

Jason Latimer, director of public relations at Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, emphasized the importance of encouraging visitors to return once repair and restoration efforts were underway.  

While media coverage highlighted significant damage, much of it was already addressed, and most beaches are now open and safe for visitors, according to Latimer.

“We knew it was important to let folks know that they may have seen images on the news, but it didn’t really represent the entirety of the destination,” Latimer said. “Certainly, we’re working with local businesses and municipalities … to have folks come back and enjoy the beautiful award-winning beaches.” 

Latimer explained that the tourism agency organized media efforts to encourage tourists to return. These efforts included appearances on Tampa Bay’s NewsRadio WFLA, The Ryan Gorman Show, as well as billboard advertisements. 

Still Shining also attracted beachgoers with a collection of exclusive discounts on dining, hotels, attractions and spas. The discounts not only provided value but also reinforced the message that the beaches were safe and ready for enjoyment, despite ongoing recovery efforts. 

Christian Wells, an environmental anthropologist with a doctorate in anthropology, explained that tourists shouldn’t be overly concerned about their safety at the beach. He emphasized that the county would not have reopened the beaches if they believed the hurricane’s effects were still a threat. 

“The very first thing they would do is provide an assessment to see if there is contamination,” Wells said. “The local government would have to rely on environmental consultants to find the beaches safe for any visitors.” 

In addition to restoring sand and infrastructure, the county’s experts would have carefully looked for contaminants such as sewage water, biological or chemical fungus and red tide, Wells added.  

He stressed that the county would not intentionally “increase the risk for illness” to attract visitors back to the beaches. 

Florida’s Healthy Beaches Program conducted weekly water samplings at Pinellas County beaches to test for enterococci, a bacterium that indicates the presence of E. coli, viruses and other harmful microorganisms. If the department found poor water quality, a warning would be posted, and a public service announcement would be issued.  

Local visitors and tourists can view the state of their nearby beaches online if concerned with any health risks, including water contamination and other environmental factors. 

Despite the county’s efforts to restore its beaches, some businesses feel tourists are still discouraged. Small business owner Diane Butterfield, who runs Kilwins Ice Cream – Chocolate – Fudge, a franchise in Madeira Beach, expressed her ongoing struggle.  

After reopening following Hurricane Milton, her business struggled with low customer volume, reaching only 10% of normal operations. 

“The challenges we’ve faced obviously are financial… making payroll, making rent {and] making inventory payments,” Butterfield said, emphasizing the financial strain of operating with fewer customers. 

Over time, however, business gradually improved, with customer volume rising to around 25% of its usual levels. While the recovery had been slow, Butterfield remained hopeful, she said.  

“There is clearly an effort to support businesses who have reopened,” Butterfield said. “We greatly appreciate and depend upon the support of residents and the few tourists who are here.” 

While challenges remained for small businesses like Kilwins, the steady progress in Pinellas County offered the possibility of making a full recovery. The county’s work to restore its beaches has made the area safer and more inviting, providing a foundation for the revival of local businesses and tourism.