Tampa Bay is the economic and environmental centerpiece of our region. YOU can help Tampa Bay thrive! Read the Practical Guide to Estuary Friendly Living to see how you can take action at home to help benefit Tampa Bay. Register to join us his Saturday, June 6th, you can join Tampa Bay Watch staff at Weedon Island Preserve at 10am, for a presentation to learn how you can get involved in hands on restoration projections to directly improve bay habitats!

Tampa Bay is one of the nation’s treasured Estuaries! Estuaries are bodies of water where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries are very productive and important ecosystems. Tampa Bay is home to mangrove forests, seagrass flats, saltmarsh, and other habitats that serve as nesting and feeding grounds for many fish and invertebrate species. Wading birds, sea turtles, and manatees also spend time in Tampa Bay feeding, resting, and nesting!

Unfortunately, in the 1970’s the water quality in Tampa Bay had declined. However in 1991, Tampa Bay was designated an “estuary of national significance” and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) was created by Congress. Thanks in large part to the management efforts of the TBEP and coordinated restoration efforts of non-profits such as Tampa Bay Watch and state agencies such as the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Tampa Bay water quality and habitats have met and exceeded restoration goals!

0