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Local volunteers and businesses tackle Tampa Bay’s piece of global plastic pollution (w/video)

Volunteers with Phi Theta Kappa, from Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor City campus, clean single-use plastics from a Watergoat on Saturday, where it was strained from a stormwater drainage canal south of Ybor City next to the Selmon Expressway in Tampa.
 
Volunteers with Phi Theta Kappa (honor society club) with Hillsborough Community Colleges Ybor City campus clean single-use plastics from a Watergoat on Saturday (6/30/18) where they were strained from a stormwater drainage canal south of Ybor City next to the Selmon Expressway at the top of McKay Bay in Tampa. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Volunteers with Phi Theta Kappa (honor society club) with Hillsborough Community Colleges Ybor City campus clean single-use plastics from a Watergoat on Saturday (6/30/18) where they were strained from a stormwater drainage canal south of Ybor City next to the Selmon Expressway at the top of McKay Bay in Tampa. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
By
  • Douglas R. Clifford, Tampa Bay Times
Published July 3, 2018|Updated July 6, 2018

The array of netting and floatation - managed by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and adopted by Phi Theta Kappa - strains the water, which becomes laden each month with hundreds of pounds of trash which would otherwise end up in Tampa Bay transported through area storm drains.

There are currently 81 water goats being used throughout the state of Florida, according to the device’s inventor, Mark Maksimowicz, of Crystal River.


Related: READ MORE: Plastic pollution in Tampa Bay is bigger than straws. Here’s what local advocates are doing
A Watergoat contains the movement of single-use plastics, glass and polystyrene containers from a drainage canal next to the Selmon Expressway at the top of McKay Bay on Friday (6/15/18) in Tampa. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
A Watergoat contains the movement of single-use plastics, glass and polystyrene containers from a drainage canal next to the Selmon Expressway at the top of McKay Bay on Friday (6/15/18) in Tampa. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
From left: Melanie Grillone, environmental specialist with Tampa Bay Watch, volunteer Frank Gallant, of Tampa, volunteer Paul Kelmer, of Brandon, and Melinda Spall, environmental scientist with Tampa Bay Watch, sort through plastics and polystyrenes on Thursday (6/21/18) while cleaning out the Watergoat at the stormwater outfall canal on Lake Maggiore at Dell Holmes Park in St. Petersburg. They removed 75 lbs. of debris in 1.5 hours, including 136 styrofoam pieces and 79 single-use plastic bottles. Watergoat floating buoy structures, which are deployed to protect wildlife and the stop debris from causing damage to the ecosystem, use netting to capture trash that flows out of stormwater discharge areas and are typically maintained by environmental groups. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
From left: Melanie Grillone, environmental specialist with Tampa Bay Watch, volunteer Frank Gallant, of Tampa, volunteer Paul Kelmer, of Brandon, and Melinda Spall, environmental scientist with Tampa Bay Watch, sort through plastics and polystyrenes on Thursday (6/21/18) while cleaning out the Watergoat at the stormwater outfall canal on Lake Maggiore at Dell Holmes Park in St. Petersburg. They removed 75 lbs. of debris in 1.5 hours, including 136 styrofoam pieces and 79 single-use plastic bottles. Watergoat floating buoy structures, which are deployed to protect wildlife and the stop debris from causing damage to the ecosystem, use netting to capture trash that flows out of stormwater discharge areas and are typically maintained by environmental groups. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
This Watergoat has been installed on Lake Maggiore (March, 2018) at Dell Holmes Park in an effort to protect wildlife and the stop debris from causing damage to the ecosystem. The floating buoy structure uses netting to capture trash that flows out of stormwater discharge areas and is maintained by Tampa Bay Watch. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
This Watergoat has been installed on Lake Maggiore (March, 2018) at Dell Holmes Park in an effort to protect wildlife and the stop debris from causing damage to the ecosystem. The floating buoy structure uses netting to capture trash that flows out of stormwater discharge areas and is maintained by Tampa Bay Watch. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Single-use plastics are stopped by a Watergoat on Saturday (6/30/18) where they were strained from a stormwater drainage canal south of Ybor City next to the Selmon Expressway at the top of McKay Bay in Tampa. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Single-use plastics are stopped by a Watergoat on Saturday (6/30/18) where they were strained from a stormwater drainage canal south of Ybor City next to the Selmon Expressway at the top of McKay Bay in Tampa. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Trash is collected from the sand at a beach on the South Gandy Channel in Tampa Bay during one of the Ocean Conservancy's coastal cleanup events on Tuesday (6/26/18) in St. Petersburg. A nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., the Ocean Conservancy works to help formulate ocean policy at the federal and state government levels based on peer reviewed science. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Trash is collected from the sand at a beach on the South Gandy Channel in Tampa Bay during one of the Ocean Conservancy's coastal cleanup events on Tuesday (6/26/18) in St. Petersburg. A nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., the Ocean Conservancy works to help formulate ocean policy at the federal and state government levels based on peer reviewed science. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Tampa Bay Watch volunteer Frank Gallant, of Tampa, works to sort plastics and polystyrenes recently (6/21/18) which were collected from a Watergoat which has been installed on Lake Maggiore. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Tampa Bay Watch volunteer Frank Gallant, of Tampa, works to sort plastics and polystyrenes recently (6/21/18) which were collected from a Watergoat which has been installed on Lake Maggiore. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Melanie Grillone, environmental specialist with Tampa Bay Watch, holds the remnants of a balloon found on Thursday (6/21/18) while cleaning out the Watergoat at the stormwater outfall canal on Lake Maggiore at Dell Holmes Park in St. Petersburg. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Melanie Grillone, environmental specialist with Tampa Bay Watch, holds the remnants of a balloon found on Thursday (6/21/18) while cleaning out the Watergoat at the stormwater outfall canal on Lake Maggiore at Dell Holmes Park in St. Petersburg. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Volunteers gather at a beach on the South Gandy Channel in Tampa Bay during one of the Ocean Conservancy's coastal cleanup events on Tuesday (6/26/18) in St. Petersburg. A nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., the Ocean Conservancy works to help formulate ocean policy at the federal and state government levels based on peer reviewed science. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Volunteers gather at a beach on the South Gandy Channel in Tampa Bay during one of the Ocean Conservancy's coastal cleanup events on Tuesday (6/26/18) in St. Petersburg. A nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., the Ocean Conservancy works to help formulate ocean policy at the federal and state government levels based on peer reviewed science. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
From left, Katie Hogge, Jordana Merran, Maddie Black and Katie Morgan, with the Ocean Conservancy, collect a plastic trash bag which was buried in sand at a beach on the South Gandy Channel in Tampa Bay during a coastal cleanup event on Tuesday (6/26/18) in St. Petersburg. A nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., the Ocean Conservancy works to help formulate ocean policy at the federal and state government levels based on peer reviewed science. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
From left, Katie Hogge, Jordana Merran, Maddie Black and Katie Morgan, with the Ocean Conservancy, collect a plastic trash bag which was buried in sand at a beach on the South Gandy Channel in Tampa Bay during a coastal cleanup event on Tuesday (6/26/18) in St. Petersburg. A nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., the Ocean Conservancy works to help formulate ocean policy at the federal and state government levels based on peer reviewed science. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
The Tampa skyline is visible over McKay Bay at the northeastern corner of Tampa Bay on Friday (6/15/18). The area is protected by a watergoat which captures single-use plastics, glass and polystyrene containers before they enter the bay, which is surrounded by mangrove and salt marsh wetlands. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
The Tampa skyline is visible over McKay Bay at the northeastern corner of Tampa Bay on Friday (6/15/18). The area is protected by a watergoat which captures single-use plastics, glass and polystyrene containers before they enter the bay, which is surrounded by mangrove and salt marsh wetlands. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Stubby, an adult green sea turtle, right, swims with other rehabilitated turtles in Mavis‰Ûª Rescue Hideaway habitat at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Tuesday (6/12/18) in Clearwater. Stubby lost her front flippers as the result of entanglement in monofilament fishing line and was picked up by Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) and brought to Clearwater Marine Aquarium on May 9, 2001. Stubby is now a permanent resident at CMA due to the severity of her injuries. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Stubby, an adult green sea turtle, right, swims with other rehabilitated turtles in Mavis‰Ûª Rescue Hideaway habitat at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Tuesday (6/12/18) in Clearwater. Stubby lost her front flippers as the result of entanglement in monofilament fishing line and was picked up by Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) and brought to Clearwater Marine Aquarium on May 9, 2001. Stubby is now a permanent resident at CMA due to the severity of her injuries. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Available at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber on Clearwater Beach is a medium rare Sterling New York Strip, complete with a biodegradable temperature stick to reduce the restaurant's environmental footprint. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Available at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber on Clearwater Beach is a medium rare Sterling New York Strip, complete with a biodegradable temperature stick to reduce the restaurant's environmental footprint. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Available at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber on Clearwater Beach is the house-made Margarita, served without a straw, a deliberate act intending to reduce the restaurant's environmental footprint. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Available at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber on Clearwater Beach is the house-made Margarita, served without a straw, a deliberate act intending to reduce the restaurant's environmental footprint. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Bobby Heilman of Bob Heilman's Beachcomber said the restaurant was the first Clearwater Beach establishment to be certified Ocean Friendly for their efforts in reducing single-use plastics. The 70-year-old family owned restaurant has gone beyond the minimum standards, changing the way they operate to eliminate straws, use only biodegradable coasters and other moves. Even the stick that goes in your steak is biodegradable. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Bobby Heilman of Bob Heilman's Beachcomber said the restaurant was the first Clearwater Beach establishment to be certified Ocean Friendly for their efforts in reducing single-use plastics. The 70-year-old family owned restaurant has gone beyond the minimum standards, changing the way they operate to eliminate straws, use only biodegradable coasters and other moves. Even the stick that goes in your steak is biodegradable. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
From left, clockwise, Celia Kottmeier, Margaret Metz, Nancy McKeever, Deanna Snedeker and Janet Niemann prepare to leave Heilman's Beachcomber restaurant on Clearwater Beach after a lunch service on Tuesday (6/12/18). In front of the women are their leftovers, placed in biodegradable to go boxes, part of the restaurants efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
From left, clockwise, Celia Kottmeier, Margaret Metz, Nancy McKeever, Deanna Snedeker and Janet Niemann prepare to leave Heilman's Beachcomber restaurant on Clearwater Beach after a lunch service on Tuesday (6/12/18). In front of the women are their leftovers, placed in biodegradable to go boxes, part of the restaurants efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Bob Heilman's Beachcomber restaurant on Clearwater Beach was the first on Clearwater Beach to be certified Ocean Friendly for their efforts in reducing single-use plastics. The family-owned Beachcomber has gone beyond the minimum standards, changing the way they operate to eliminate straws, use only biodegradable coasters, go boxes and other green and environmentally friendly moves. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Bob Heilman's Beachcomber restaurant on Clearwater Beach was the first on Clearwater Beach to be certified Ocean Friendly for their efforts in reducing single-use plastics. The family-owned Beachcomber has gone beyond the minimum standards, changing the way they operate to eliminate straws, use only biodegradable coasters, go boxes and other green and environmentally friendly moves. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) rescued and is rehabilitating its smallest rescue yet: Frito, a tiny seahorse (2î tall). Frito, a female lined seahorse, was rescued Sunday, June 10, 2018, off Redington Shores by local resident Dawn McCartney and her two daughters. McCartney said they were snorkeling when they found the seahorse tangled in fishing line among trash, with the fishing line wrapped around its neck several times. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) rescued and is rehabilitating its smallest rescue yet: Frito, a tiny seahorse (2î tall). Frito, a female lined seahorse, was rescued Sunday, June 10, 2018, off Redington Shores by local resident Dawn McCartney and her two daughters. McCartney said they were snorkeling when they found the seahorse tangled in fishing line among trash, with the fishing line wrapped around its neck several times. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Server Jackie Brown, right, packs to a biodegradable to go box with leftovers during a lunch service on Tuesday (6/12/18) at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber restaurant on Clearwater Beach. The restaurant, with recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, was the first on Clearwater Beach to be certified Ocean Friendly for their efforts in reducing single-use plastics. The family-owned Beachcomber has gone beyond the minimum standards, changing the way they operate to eliminate straws, use only biodegradable coasters, go boxes and other moves. Even the stick that goes in your steak is biodegradable. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
Server Jackie Brown, right, packs to a biodegradable to go box with leftovers during a lunch service on Tuesday (6/12/18) at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber restaurant on Clearwater Beach. The restaurant, with recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, was the first on Clearwater Beach to be certified Ocean Friendly for their efforts in reducing single-use plastics. The family-owned Beachcomber has gone beyond the minimum standards, changing the way they operate to eliminate straws, use only biodegradable coasters, go boxes and other moves. Even the stick that goes in your steak is biodegradable. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
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