SBEP Bay Guardian Volunteers Complete Project at Baywalk Creek

SARASOTA, FL – A group of 37 Bay Guardian volunteers with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) completed a project at Baywalk Creek on Saturday. Baywalk Creek is located near New College of Florida. The volunteers removed more than 1,000 pounds of the invasive air potato vine and tubers along with other non-native species.

Volunteers included students from Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton and New College. Volunteers earned prizes for the smallest, biggest, weirdest-looking, and most air potatoes collected. SBEP provided a picnic lunch following the morning project.

The Bay Guardians is a family-friendly program that SBEP manages in partnership with Around the Bend Nature Tours. New volunteers receive a blue t-shirt featuring the Bay Guardians logo. Each outing features environmental education and a picnic lunch. Join the Bay Guardians for a single project or as an ongoing commitment. Local school, scout and church groups interested in volunteering can contact Sara Kane.

Photo: Students from Martha B. King Middle School with air potato tubers