This presentation will cover background information about the vibrant seagrass meadows of the Nature Coast and the water quality conditions necessary to maintain them. You will learn about the ongoing monitoring programs focused on water quality and seagrasses, as well as some of the current science around seagrass ecology and conservation in the region. At the end, we will review the designation of the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve and how FDEP and the University of Florida collaborated with community stakeholders to draft the management plan.

About our Speaker.  Savanna Barry grew up on a small farm in central Virginia and discovered her interest in marine ecology during family vacations to small fishing towns along the Chesapeake Bay. After earning her B.S. in Biology from the University of Virginia, Savanna split her time between Gainesville, FL and Little Cayman Island to earn her M.S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences through the University of Florida. 

Savanna Barry did her dissertation work in the beautiful seagrass meadows of the southern Nature Coast where she investigated the morphology, resilience, invertebrate community composition, and carbon storage of seagrass meadows growing under different rates of nutrient input. Savanna began serving the Nature Coast as a Regional Specialized Agent with Sea Grant and UF/IFAS Extension in February 2016. She lives in Cedar Key and is stationed full time at the Nature Coast Biological Station.  Dr. Barry earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

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Saturday, Sept 23 , 2023  –9:00 AM - NOON
Russell Street Park
28 Russell St, Brooksville, FL 34601
Hernando Chapter Fall Native Plant Sale

September is fine time to plant trees and shrubs and refresh your landscaping in general before the rains stop. We'll have a fine selection of native shrubs, perennials and annuals for sale. Do you have a specific landscaping project in mind? Native plant experts can help you select the right plants for your place. Native plants are adapted to our changeable conditions and can require much less maintenance and fewer chemicals. Come early for the best selection!

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Saturday, October 14, 2023, 9:00 am - noon

Field Trip: Janet Butterfield Brooks WEA

Hosted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Meet at Bailey Hill Road across from gate, park on north side of the road.

Join Chinsegut Conservation Center education specialists for a field trip at this hidden jewel of a preserve. This beautiful upland habitat is not open to the public and is accessible only with FWC staff. The hike will be moderate in duration and difficulty, and our focus will be the mosaic of upland species that call the preserve home, as well as the land management strategies that support them.

The Janet Butterfield Brooks WEA encompasses approximately 319 acres in Hernando County and has some of the area’s last tracts of older growth longleaf pine sandhill forests and hardwood hammocks. The mix of mesic hammock, upland hardwood forest and bottomland forest found here provides important wildlife habitat for species including gopher tortoises and southeastern American kestrels.

Janet Butterfield Brooks enjoys a regular burn regime and we should see the outcomes in fall blooms. The hike is just under 2 miles along sandy and somewhat uneven terrain and should take about 2 hours. Please bring your own water and snacks. There are no restrooms at Janet Butterfield, so please plan accordingly.

Please meet at the south entrance of the WEA (comprised of a vehicle-sized gate) along Bailey Hill Road and be ready to start by 9am. Carpooling is strongly encouraged! There is no address for this entrance, but participants can use the address for the residence directly across from the entrance for navigation: 15478 Bailey Hill Rd, Brooksville, FL 34614. All participants should park along the side of Bailey Hill Road as far off the road as they can manage.

We also offer guided field trips to help celebration the natural beauty that is Hernando County.  We hope you'll decide to join in!