Cockroach Bay workday & workshop
Thanks to all of you who wrote emails and attended the workshop in November, the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has heard our concerns about their 10-year Management Plan for Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park.
In response to our concerns they have scheduled 2 events:
(1) Workday — volunteers needed!
(2) Workshop — citizen participation is important!
See dates & details in the 2 announcements below to help out.
(1) Workday
Dec. 13
In response to our comments that they are allowing invasive plants like Brazilian Pepper to destroy habitat on the islands, Florida DEP Parks Dept. has scheduled a workday, and they are asking for volunteers to help.
A message from Cockroach Bay State Park staff:
VOLUNTEERS with KAYAKS & CANOES NEEDED!
Join park staff on Saturday, December 13th in their efforts to maintain the beautiful islands of Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park. We’ll be removing invasive/exotic plants and picking up trash on a Preserve island from 8am – Noon. Everyone should meet at the Hillsborough County Boat Launch on Cockroach Bay Rd.
Please RSVP by December 10th, 2014.
Trash bags, bug spray, sunblock and gloves will be provided. Bring refillable container for water.
Contact Tracy Telatycki (941-782-7865)
or Larry Busby (941-737-2243)
for more information
If you can’t make this workday, but would like to participate in future workdays, call the contact numbers above to ask them to add you to their email list for Cockroach Bay workdays.
(2) Workshop
Jan. 6
DEP has indicated that they intend to improve their Management Plan, in light of our input, and they have agreed to hold another Workshop.
PUBLIC WORKSHOP
on the 10-year Management Plan
for Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, 7:00pm
South Shore Regional Library, Community Room
15816 Beth Shields Way Ruskin, FL 33573-4903
You can also submit written comments on the Plan to Enid Ehrbar
Comments will be accepted for 2 weeks after the January 6 workshop.
It is important that people attend this meeting to make sure that the 10-year Management Plan is effective, and to show the State that people do care about Cockroach Bay.
For more information:
- See my previous post for the issues involved in the Cockroach Bay Management Plan
- Draft Management Plan for Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park:
- Tampa Tribune article, front page, “State fails to deal with invasive plants at Cockroach Bay critics say”
- Tampa Tribune editorial: “Halt Cockroach Bay invasion”
- Observer News announcement of Workday & Workshop
Cockroach Bay includes:
- Cockroach Bay Preserve — County-managed uplands within the ELAP Program
- Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve — State-managed submerged lands
- Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park — State-managed islands within Cockroach Bay and the mouth of the Little Manatee River
It is these islands which are the subject of this Management Plan.