Wednesday, April 25, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm at the North Port Library, located at 13800 Tamiami Trail, North Port, FL NPFOWL is sponsoring a talk by Sierra Strickland, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Research and Outreach Specialist, on water quality.Water quality is a major concern in Florida from our tributaries to the oceans. Our economy thrives on tourism and many places depend on drinking water from groundwater sources. However, a majority of waterbodies are not meeting water quality standards and are considered impaired. Strickland will discuss water quality for the area and emphasize on the issue of nutrient pollution. She will also touch on ways to prevent further degradation of Florida waters.
This talk will also cover microplastics, an emerging pollutant being found in waterways. Stemming from the breakdown of plastic waste, microplastics are known to pose both environmental and human health impacts through ingestion and chemical leaching during the breakdown process.
Sierra Strickland, a Florida native, started at the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) as a Science Conservation Associate where she assisted in various science projects. Her main focus was coordinating with program staff to interpret technical information for use in public outreach initiatives. After finishing her B.S. she returned to CHNEP as the Research and Outreach Specialist; an interdisciplinary role primarily responsible for supporting citizen science initiatives, research support, and implementing science-based public engagement.
Strickland earned her B.S. in Marine Science from Florida Gulf Coast University, and is currently in the process of applying to graduate school to pursue a joint degree with a Masters in Environmental Studies and Juris Doctorate to practice Environmental Law.
This is free and open to the public.
Below shares some fun where a gopher tortoise burrow is being inspected by a young visitor. The City of North Port Public Works department has been great environmental stewards which has been demonstrated by their care to protect the city's tortoises.
