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Restoration projects after the oil spill

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 2009

About $3 million has been spent on mitigation projects in the area.

Bird restoration

Goal: To help mitigate the injuries to seabirds as a result of the oil spill

Project: Boca Ciega Bay - monofilament cleanup

Tampa Bay Watch and Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries hosted two cleanups to help prevent birds from getting tangled in monofilament.

Project: Pinellas County - bird sign placement photo

More than 100 signs were placed around waterways in Tampa Bay describing how to remove fishing hooks from birds.

Boat ramp restoration

Goal: To improve access and safety

Project: St. Pete Beach East 33rd Avenue boat ramp

The cement ramp was replaced by a prefabricated ramp with a nonslip surface.

Sand replacement/dune restoration

Goal: To compensate for the loss of beach sand from the spill

Project: Upham Beach sand renourishment

Sand dredged from offshore was used to help protect against erosion.

Project: Treasure Island dune vegetation restoration

About an acre of dunes were shaped and sea oats planted. A dune walkover also was built.

Project: Fort DeSoto Park dune walkovers for dune restoration

Two dune walkovers were built.

Fishing pier restoration

Goal: To compensate for the loss of recreational use of area waterways

Project: St. Pete Beach Seventh Avenue Pier photo

The deck of the pier was replaced and expanded. The new deck was made from recycled plastic. St. Pete Beach paid 25 percent of the cost.

Project: St. Pete Beach, McKenney Park

This pier, made from recycled plastic, was partially paid for by St. Pete Beach.

Project: Park Street Boat Ramp

A 470-foot-long, elevated boardwalk and fishing pier were built.

Oyster reef restoration

Goal: To restore the oyster habitat. Many oysters died after the spill.

Project: Eleanor Island oyster reef restoration

Contaminated shells were removed and new fossil shells were put down to bolster the physical stability. The reefs also protect the mangroves.

Project: Pinellas County War Veterans Memorial Park oyster reef construction

The reef provides fish habitat and shoreline erosion protection.

Public park enhancement

Goal: To improve recreation and habitats

Project: Sunset Vista Trailhead Park, Treasure Island Park enhancement

This project restored dunes and created beach access.

Project: Madeira Beach Causeway Shoreline Park photo

Improvements included planting native vegetation, creating oyster habitat along the shoreline and building two piers.

Turtle restoration

Goal: To mitigate the damage done to the turtle habitat.

Project: Egmont Key nesting beach survey

Egmont Key has an active turtle-nesting beach and can indicate turtle-nesting trends, so Egmont Key needs to be enrolled in the Index Nesting Beach Survey Program. This project pays that enrollment.

Project: Gulf of Mexico turtle enforcement

The Marine Enforcement Division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was created to try to decrease death and injuries to sea turtles in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Dune walkover, walkway and boardwalk restoration

Goal: To improve access and protect the dunes

Project: Gulf Way beach in Pass-a-Grille walkway extension

The walkway was extended by about 3,400 feet.

Project: Indian Rocks Beach boardwalk construction

The boardwalk provides access to Indian Rocks Beach nature trail.

Project: Indian Rocks Beach dune walkover construction

A walkway was built to connect the parking lot to the dune walkover. Marine sensitive lighting also was installed to help protect nesting turtles.

Project: Redington Beach dune walkover construction

Three public access beach boardwalks were replaced.

Project: Indian Shores dune crossover construction

Higher and wider crossovers were built to replace the existing boardwalks.

Wetland restoration

Goal: To mitigate environmental damage

Project: Joe's Creek wetland restoration

A wetland in Boca Ciega was cleared of debris and invasive plants. A nesting area for bald eagles and other species was preserved.

Project: Cross Bayou mangrove restoration

Solid waste was removed from the mangrove, new tidal channels were created and a new marsh was planted.

Project: Turtle Crawl Point salt marsh restoration

Cordgrass was planted on about 1.5 acres to help prevent shoreline erosion and provide foraging habitat for birds.

Project: Bird Key salt marsh restoration

Cordgrass was planted.

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