Successful Grant: $15,000 for Sarasota Bay Watch
Shafer Consulting wrote another successful grant proposal for Sarasota Bay Watch. The Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation has awarded Sarasota Bay Watch $15,000 toward funding an Executive Director position. Shafer Consulting contributes time and expertise providing grant writing and scientific and technical support for Sarasota Bay Watch.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

Successful Grant: $20,000 for Sarasota Bay Watch
Shafer Consulting wrote a successful grant proposal for Sarasota Bay Watch. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County through its Boost Initiative Funds has awarded Sarasota Bay Watch $20,000 toward funding an Executive Director position. Shafer Consulting contributes time and expertise providing grant writing and scientific and technical support for Sarasota Bay Watch.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

Shoreline Analysis of the Withlacoochee River
Shafer Consulting conducted a survey and GIS analysis of the Withlacoochee River in west-central Florida. Understanding historic flows of tidal rivers can help re-establish appropriate levels after years of alteration. One approach to understanding historic flow is to analyze the community composition of shoreline vegetation, which shifts with tidal influence. Using GIS to identify and analyze these shifts in shoreline type in the context of river salinity signatures can provide insight into appropriate flow levels for maintaining river ecology. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Ernest Estevez, Center for Coastal Ecology, Mote Marine Laboratory.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

2010 Sister Keys Cleanup
Shafer Consulting joined Sarasota Bay Watch in their Second Annual Sister Keys Clean-Up on Saturday May, 8 2010. Over eighty participants gathered close to a ton of trash during the morning event. The volunteers were treated to a complimentary lunch by Ed Chiles and the Chiles Group, under the buttonwood trees bayside at the Mar Vista and Dockside Restaurant. Town of Longboat Key Public Works employees Curtis Vandermolin, Lloyd Hines, James Linkhogle and Dale Wyman provided invaluable logistical support while David Miller of Cannons Marina and Longbeach Village Association President Michael Drake provided transportation to and from Sister Keys aboard one of the Marina's custom deck boats. Sarasota Bay Watch would like to thank Audubon, the Sarasota Bay Guardian's, Around the Bend Nature Tours and the Snook Foundation for their support. A special nod to Officer Dennis Silvero of the Longboat Key Police, who stood guard along the intercoastal waterway.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

Sea Level Rise in Sarasota New College Adjunct Professor Jennifer Shafer led a team of students in a spatial analysis of the potential impacts of sea level rise on Sarasota County. Using GIS to analyze new Lidar elevation data, the students evaluated the vulnerability of Sarasota's natural, cultural and economic resources to a 2-, 4- and 6-foot rise in sea level, which could occur over the next century. A 6-foot rise in sea level would impact almost 12,000 coastal residences currently valued at $5.5 billion. Many of Sarasota's cultural landmarks such as St. Armands Circle, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and Selby Gardens are also vulnerable to inundation. Pelican Press article http://www.shafer-consulting.org