We enjoyed working the recipients of the 2017 National Estuaries Week Gulf of Mexico CITGO Grants! Each of the eight organizations work every day to support the mission of National Estuaries Week and we are pleased to support their hands-on restoration projects, coastal clean-ups, and estuary education events during the celebratory week.
The following eight groups received funds to support their National Estuaries Week events:
- Alabama Coastal Foundation, Mobile, Alabama
- Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Pinellas County, Florida
- Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Tampa, Florida
- Launch Leeville, Leeville, Louisiana
- Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, Bradenton, Florida
- Marine Conservation Club, Brooklyn, Mississippi
- Pearl Riverkeeper, Madison, Mississippi
- Sarasota Bay Watch, Sarasota, Florida
Together, these eight organizations engaged more than 3,400 volunteers to collect more than 146,000 pounds of trash, clean nearly 450 miles of shorelines, restore 65acres of coastal land, and plant 2,100 trees.
We are thrilled to have been able to support these groups' efforts and look forward to following their efforts throughout the rest of the year!
More than 30 volunteers with the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department gathered to harvest native wetland cordgrass and saw grass to be planted the following day. |
More than 50 dedicated volunteers planted 2,100 native wetland grass plants and trees as part of the effort to restore and expand marsh within the Robinson Preserve in Florida. |
The University of Southern Mississippi's Marine Conservation Club before their canoe clean-up along Cyprus Creek. |
USM's Marine Conservation Club pulled some pretty incredible items from the creek this year! |
Volunteers with Pearl Riverkeeper's first river-long cleanup along the Pearl River |
Check out all the trash collected by just a single group during Pearl Riverkeeper's cleanup! |