Joint Mangrove Restoration Boosts Tampa Bay's Coastal Resilience
Restoration plays a crucial role in the daily operations and hurricane response strategies of Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric. However, this marks the first joint effort between the two utilities to safeguard Tampa Bay's ecosystems and enhance regional environmental resilience.
Over 40 volunteers, employees, and environmental experts from Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida, Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Land Management, and Pinellas County’s Environmental Management Division came together for a unique restoration initiative. They simultaneously planted nearly 700 red and black mangroves at EG Simmons Regional Park and Keystone/Carlton Road in Northern Pinellas County, chosen based on environmental needs and consultations.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida's state president, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing community needs, stating, "Teaming up with neighboring utilities, government leaders, and community organizations to prepare, protect, and support our communities has been a longstanding commitment of ours." She expressed gratitude to Tampa Electric, CCA Florida, and local counties for their dedication to community safety and resilience.
Archie Collins, president and CEO of Tampa Electric, echoed this sentiment, calling the project a victory for shoreline preservation and a testament to their ongoing environmental stewardship. He highlighted their collaboration with Duke Energy Florida and others in completing this critical coastal resilience project.
Florida's mangrove ecosystems are crucial for the health of coastal estuaries, reducing storm surge erosion, improving water quality by absorbing excess nutrients, and providing habitat for diverse marine life. The mangroves planted were grown and donated by CCA Florida and Duke Energy's Crystal River Mariculture Center, a facility dedicated to conserving Florida's fish populations and habitats.
The Mariculture Center, which originated over 30 years ago as an environmental compliance initiative for nearby power plants, has evolved into a leading fish hatchery and conservation partner. Eric Latimer, Duke Energy Florida's manager of the Mariculture Center, has spearheaded efforts to collaborate with nonprofits, universities, and state agencies like CCA Florida to mitigate impacts on Florida's marine habitats from issues such as water quality decline, red tide, and hurricanes.
To date, the Mariculture Center, with support from CCA Florida, has released nearly 5 million fish and crustaceans along Florida's coasts and contributed approximately $200,000 worth of submerged aquatic vegetation for habitat restoration projects statewide.
Click here to know more information about the Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center.
Over 40 volunteers, employees, and environmental experts from Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida, Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Land Management, and Pinellas County’s Environmental Management Division came together for a unique restoration initiative. They simultaneously planted nearly 700 red and black mangroves at EG Simmons Regional Park and Keystone/Carlton Road in Northern Pinellas County, chosen based on environmental needs and consultations.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida's state president, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing community needs, stating, "Teaming up with neighboring utilities, government leaders, and community organizations to prepare, protect, and support our communities has been a longstanding commitment of ours." She expressed gratitude to Tampa Electric, CCA Florida, and local counties for their dedication to community safety and resilience.
Archie Collins, president and CEO of Tampa Electric, echoed this sentiment, calling the project a victory for shoreline preservation and a testament to their ongoing environmental stewardship. He highlighted their collaboration with Duke Energy Florida and others in completing this critical coastal resilience project.
Florida's mangrove ecosystems are crucial for the health of coastal estuaries, reducing storm surge erosion, improving water quality by absorbing excess nutrients, and providing habitat for diverse marine life. The mangroves planted were grown and donated by CCA Florida and Duke Energy's Crystal River Mariculture Center, a facility dedicated to conserving Florida's fish populations and habitats.
The Mariculture Center, which originated over 30 years ago as an environmental compliance initiative for nearby power plants, has evolved into a leading fish hatchery and conservation partner. Eric Latimer, Duke Energy Florida's manager of the Mariculture Center, has spearheaded efforts to collaborate with nonprofits, universities, and state agencies like CCA Florida to mitigate impacts on Florida's marine habitats from issues such as water quality decline, red tide, and hurricanes.
To date, the Mariculture Center, with support from CCA Florida, has released nearly 5 million fish and crustaceans along Florida's coasts and contributed approximately $200,000 worth of submerged aquatic vegetation for habitat restoration projects statewide.
Click here to know more information about the Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center.
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