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Project To Restore Shoreline

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com

Published: December 3, 2008

TAMPA - Gathered by the Hillsborough River in a nook next to Blake High School, students recently helped Mayor Pam Iorio cut the ribbon on a $100,000 shoreline restoration project.

They say they can't wait to get their hands dirty.

"I'm going to try and plant as many plants as possible," said Stewart Middle School eighth-grader Toon Chulikavit, 13.

"We need to keep our river clean so we won't be littering our environment," said Just Elementary fifth-grader Marlo Marbra, 11.

Funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District with a matching grant from the county's school district, the Hillsborough River Restoration Grant also involves students from Dunbar and MacFarlane Park elementary and Blake High schools.

The focus is to address riverbank erosion which affects water quality. Thomas Ries, president of Ecosphere Restoration Institute who is helping design and permit the project, said the goal is to create a gradual sloping from the shore to the water along 1,500 feet from Blake west to Rick's on the River restaurant.

"There is not much habitat value," Ries said of the shore's sharp drop-off. "A sloped-shore helps filter nutrients."

Ries said they will remove non-native vegetation - such as the Brazilian pepper trees growing in abundance - and with the students' help, plant native species such as railroad vines and gumbo-limbo trees.

"It's an opportunity for students from our neighborhood schools to become environmental leaders and protect our natural resources," Stewart Principal Baretta Wilson said at the Save the Shoreline ribbon cutting Nov. 20.

The project's design and survey is under way, and the water management district's staff plans to begin construction in the spring.

When students return from spring break, they will help with the planting, enhancing a second-semester environmental curriculum.

"If we do it, we'll have a feeling inside us that we were a part in making it beautiful," said Stewart eighth-grader Christian Sumalpong, 13.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661.

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