{"id":211689,"date":"2017-03-01T17:02:27","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T22:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1.tempurl.host\/?p=211689"},"modified":"2017-11-04T15:01:54","modified_gmt":"2017-11-04T19:01:54","slug":"lake-countys-conservation-efforts-go-beyond-shorelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thegraphicgeek.com\/demo-cflwire\/lake-countys-conservation-efforts-go-beyond-shorelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Lake County\u2019s conservation efforts go beyond its own shorelines"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAVARES<\/span><\/b> \u2014\u00a0<\/span>Lake County<\/span>\u2019s Environmental Services Division has <\/span>joined with the Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA) and local restaurants to assist with reef estuary habitat restoration along Florida\u2019s coast.\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

Oyster shells collected <\/span>at participating restaurants are now being taken to the Lake County Central Solid Waste Facility in Tavares and <\/span>put in drying beds. From there, <\/span>they will be placed in Florida\u2019s coastal waters to create new oyster habitat<\/span>s.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the CCA, each oyster filters <\/span>up to 50 gallons of water per day, sequesters nitrogen, provides <\/span>an important refuge for hundreds of marine species and is a food source for many species.<\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is really great about Lake County\u2019s participation in the program is its central location in the state, which allows us to distribute them throughout Florida to areas in desperate need of restoration,\u201d said Frank Gidus, Director of Habitat and Environmental Restoration at CCA Florida. \u201cSome parts of the state, such as Brevard County\u2019s Indian River Lagoon will benefit greatly from having access to these shells.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

The oyster shells are <\/span>first required to dry out for <\/span>a minimum of three months.<\/span> To date, the county has about 1,600 pounds of shells in the drying beds.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cRecently the CCA has focused intently on habitat restoration,\u201d added Gidus. \u201cWithout places like Clermont Oyster Bar in Lake County, and other restaurants throughout the state, it would make vital programs that help improve water quality and provide habitat a harder goal to reach.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Restaurants looking to participate in the program are provided storage drums by the CCA and are required to separate out the shells from their general refuse.\u00a0 Volunteers collect the shells and transport them to the drying beds.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cLake County is known for its rolling topography and beautiful inland\u00a0lakes and water resources,\u00a0but it\u2019s exciting to know that through this partnership<\/span>,\u00a0we are doing our part to help with the protection and restoration of Florida’s coastal water resources,\u201d said Commissioner Sean Parks<\/span>, who helped broker the partnership. \u201cIt\u2019s <\/span>also an added benefit when local\u00a0businesses step up to help Florida’s environment.”\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

The Coastal Conservation Association Florida is a grassroots organization that is committed to conserving and protecting Florida\u2019s marine resources.<\/span>\u00a0 Its mission is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

For more information about the CCA Oyster Shell program, or for restaurants wanting to participate, contact Frank Gidus at 407-790-0702<\/a> or email fgidus@ccaflorida.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n