Bay Grasses at McDill Air Force Base

On Tuesday, April 15, the eighth grade traveled to McDill Air Force Base with several individuals from Tampa Bay Watch to plant bay grasses on the coast of the bay. The field work had its challenges (wind and higher water levels than expected), but our students were able to focus and complete the job they traveled there to do and planted 3000 plugs of Spartina alternifora. Spartina a. is a smooth cord grass that helps retain coastal sand / soil, helps filter toxins that make it to the bay, and provides habitat for numerous species of organisms.

After months of caring for the bay grasses in a nursery on campus, the eighth graders were able to give back to the Bay by planting plugs. The excellent community restoration project gives hope to quality of water and habitat available to organisms in the Tampa Bay region.