ANNA MARIA – Proponents of clam and seagrass restoration projects have withdrawn their $50,000 funding request for projects proposed in and around the city.
The money will instead be used on a water filtration-related maintenance project for the multi-use trail that runs along Gulf Drive from the entrance of the city to Willow Avenue.
The group seeking $50,000 of the city’s $850,000 in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds included local restaurateur and All Clams on Deck initiative founder Ed Chiles, Diatom Initiative founder and Terra Ceia-based clam hatchery operator Curt Hemmel, Gulf Shellfish Institute Executive Director Stephen Hesterberg, Sea & Shoreline aquatic restoration firm President Carter Henne and Dr. Angela Collins from the Sea Grant Florida program.
A final vote on the funding request was expected during the City Commission’s March 24 meeting. Based on previous commission discussions, there did not appear to be commission majority support for the funding request.
On March 18, Hemmel sent a letter to Mayor Dan Murphy and others withdrawing the $50,000 request.
“After input from commissioners, I find our proposal is not suitable for the American Rescue Plan funding opportunity. Although filter feeding bivalves are missing in our environment, in need of restoration, consume red tide and provide numerous documented ecosystem services, I gather the main focus of the ARP funding is for red tide mitigation and not for general environmental improvement. Moreover, a portion of our proposal was intended to advance our knowledge of shellfish biology and ecology, a research endeavor. It was made apparent that research is not the intended use of ARP funding.”
None of the group representatives attended Thursday’s meeting.
Prolonged consideration
In July 2021, Chiles first floated the idea of a city-funded clam and seagrass restoration project. Mayor Dan Murphy noted the commission already earmarked $50,000 in ARP funds for a potential red tide mitigation/water quality improvement project.
On Jan. 13, the group presented its $50,000 request to the commission. Chiles said community support and additional matching funds could produce up to an additional $100,000 for the proposed projects. He also mentioned the ongoing pursuit of state and federal funds for additional clam restoration projects.
Chiles and some of the other presenters claimed clams remove red tide molecules (Karenia brevis) and other harmful elements from the water in which they live, while also enhancing seagrass restoration. Hesterberg said the proposed restoration projects would also provide important research opportunities for marine scientists.
Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I am told that clams and oysters do generally clean water but there is no evidence that clams or oysters remediate red tide.”
Crane requested the funding decision be delayed until the commission heard from Kevin Claridge, vice president of Mote Marine Laboratory’s sponsored research and coastal policy programs. Crane also noted he received a letter from retired marine biologist Dr. Randy Edwards.
In his letter, Edwards stated, “Although this request has good intentions, it is very unlikely to have much or any positive impact on protecting and conserving the bay. This is particularly true with regard to any impacts on reducing red tide or improving water quality in Sarasota Bay or Tampa Bay.”
Hesterberg then sent a letter to the mayor that stated, “It is empirically well supported that filter-feeding, bivalve shellfish improve water quality, support adjacent marine habitats and eliminate the organism that causes red tide.”
On Jan. 27, Claridge discussed with the commission Mote Marine’s red tide research efforts, but he said he was not qualified to comment on the effectiveness of clams filtering out red tide molecules.
On Feb. 10, Edwards told the commission there is no documented scientific research that indicates clams remove red tide from the water. Edwards recommended using the federal funds on a project that removes algae-enhancing nitrates, phosphates and other nutrients from the rainwater discharged into the surrounding natural waters through the city’s stormwater system.
The commission later discussed using the earmarked ARP funds to build more stormwater infiltration trenches but took no formal action on doing so.
During Thursday’s meeting, Commission Chair Carol Carter said she attended a Holmes Beach Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee meeting on March 8 and heard a presentation given by Dave Tomasko, Executive Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.
According to Carter’s meeting notes, which she provided to the city clerk’s office, Tomasko suggested property owners use less fertilizer and reroute their rain gutters into the ground. He also feels the public needs to be better educated about the proper disposal of grass clippings and dog droppings.
According to Carter’s notes, a committee member asked Tomasko about the effectiveness of clams regarding seagrass restoration. In response, Tomasko referenced 600,000 clams previously placed in the waters near Port Manatee and said there was no measured difference of seagrass restoration in the test areas where clams were placed and not placed.
The commission voted 5-0 to use the $50,000 to refurbish the drainage system along the multi-use trail. This will include replacing the surface-level lime rocks that get crushed and compressed over time, which reduces their drainage and filtration capacities.
Edwards’ reaction
When addressing the commission Thursday evening, Edwards said he drove for an hour to attend the meeting, spent several hours preparing for it and felt the public should have been notified that the request had been withdrawn.
Edwards said the claims that clams remove red tide were “scientifically false” and he noted Chiles is among those involved in the pursuit of up to $2.5 million in state funds and $15 million in federal funds for additional clam restoration projects. Edwards said those funding pursuits are based on a “false premise” and lack scientific merit.
State budget
The proposed budget that state legislators submitted to Gov. Ron DeSantis in early March includes a $2.5 million appropriation request sponsored by Sen. Jim Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson Jr. The request form lists Chiles as the requestor and The Gulf Shellfish Institute as the requesting organization for clam and seagrass restoration projects in three southwest Florida estuaries.
“We’re encouraging people to write a letter to the governor and express their support for these important projects that will improve the coastal water quality and help mitigate the nutrient load,” Chiles told The Sun on Monday.
The proposed state budget also includes a $950,000 appropriations request sponsored by Boyd and Robinson and requested by Charlie Hunsicker on behalf of the Manatee County government. The county request is for a water quality improvement project using oysters and clams.
As of Sunday, DeSantis had not approved the budget as presented or vetoed these two line item budget requests.
