You are here:
TAMPA BAY: THE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR TAMPA BAY
Citation:
TAMPA BAY: THE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR TAMPA BAY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 1996.
Description:
The Tampa Bay National Estuary Program was established in 1991 to assist the community in developing a comprehensive plan to restore and protect Tampa Bay. The program is part of a national network of 28 estuary programs established under the Clean Water Act and administered nationally by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Local administrative support is provided through the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. The landmark agreement establishing the Tampa Bay NEP brought together Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties; the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater; the Southwest Florida Water Management District; Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and EPA in a partnership committed to action. These partners will sign an implementing agreement in the Spring of 1997, pledging to achieve the goals of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for Tampa Bay. Since 1991, the Tampa Bay NEP has conducted extensive technical investigations to define bay conditions, impacts and environmental needs. Steps in developing the CCMP are outlined in Figures 1 and 2, begimling with efforts to define the bay's priority problems. A key focus of the NEP has been to coordinate existing bay management programs to maximize benefits to the bay and the people who share this magnificent resource. Early technical findings and aetions were reported to the community in Stam.~ & Trends, published by the Tampa Bay NEP in 1993. Additionally, the NEP has developed a number of educational outreach programs and provided gratus to involve citizens and communities in efforts to improve their bay. These efforts, and a summary of the community's response to the draft CCMP, are presented in the chapter on public involvement.