2018 Seagrass Survey a success

Volunteers helped make 2018 Seagrass Survey a success

SARASOTA COUNTY – More than 100 volunteers took part in the fourth annual 2018 Seagrass Survey, an event that provided a hands-on opportunity to identify seagrass species and collect data for Sarasota County's Seagrass Monitoring Program.

A Seagrass Festival afterward invited volunteers and members of the public to learn about what they can do to protect seagrass, and the animals that depend on it, by participating in wading trips and visiting educational nature exhibits.

The Seagrass Survey celebrates Sarasota County's commitment to protecting its water resources. This citizen science event has become a staple in Sarasota Bay and a unique way to connect community members not only to their native environment, but to one another.

Aerial mapping studies show that seagrass meadows are recovering and have increased by 54 percent since the 1980s. The recovery of this important resources can be attributed, in part, to improvements in water quality practices, like Sarasota County's fertilizer restricted season, which starts June 1.

For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000.