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Schedule for Estero Bay estuary wading trips released

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

The 2007-2008 series of Estero Bay estuary wading trips is scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2007 at noon, and Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.

The field trips are offered through the Estero Bay Buddies and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve office and are free of charge thanks to funding by the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program.

Please join us as we discover first-hand why estuaries such as Estero Bay are so important to Southwest Florida. Explore the ecology of the state’s first Aquatic Preserve and learn more about what lies beneath the waters of Estero Bay.

Participants will travel into mudflats and seagrass beds at low tide and encounter the many species that call this estuary home. Seines, dip nets and field microscopes will be provided for closer examination of crabs, fish, shrimp, and other interesting animals. Participants will discover first hand why estuaries are known as the “cradles of the ocean.”

Advance registration is required. For reservations and information, call the Preserve office at 239-463-3240.

Wading trips take about 1½-2 hours. Wear old tennis shoes or diving booties and a swimsuit or shorts. Please DO NOT wear flip-flops or sandals. Remember to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, water and a towel.

Wading trips are provided free to the public thanks to funding from the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP).

The CHNEP is a partnership that protects the estuaries from Venice to Estero Bay. This partnership gives citizens, elected officials, resource managers, and commercial and recreational resource users in the 4,400 square-mile study area a voice to address diverse resource management concerns, including fish and wildlife habitat loss, water quality and water flow. The watershed in the study area includes all or portions of Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Polk, Hardee, and DeSoto counties.

For more information on the CHNEP please visit www.CharlotteHarborNEP.org.