Q&A | Serra Herndon from Tampa Bay Watch 

Tampa Bay Watch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Tampa Bay watershed. Through hands-on restoration projects, education programs, and community outreach, the organization works to maintain the health and resilience of the region’s unique coastal ecosystems. Supported by volunteers, members, and community partners, Tampa Bay Watch continues to be a leader in environmental stewardship, demonstrating the power of collective action to protect and preserve Tampa Bay for future generations.

WEDU had the chance to learn more about Tampa Bay Watch through Serra Herndon, the organization’s Habitat Restoration Director. She shared insights into her role, highlighted one of the organization’s proudest achievements, and explained why the manatee would be a fitting mascot for their sustainability mission. Here's what she had to say: 

Can you tell us about your role at Tampa Bay Watch?

I am the Habitat Restoration Director at Tampa Bay Watch, an environmental non-profit whose mission is dedicated to fostering a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through community-driven restoration projects, education programs, and outreach initiatives. My role involves the oversight and management of the community-based restoration projects and programs performed by Tampa Bay Watch including living shoreline implementation, oyster reef building, native wetland and freshwater plantings, marine debris prevention and removal, and seagrass transplanting. 

What programs or initiatives does Tampa Bay Watch offer to encourage local businesses and residents to adopt more sustainable practices?

All of the habitat restoration projects that we implement are community-based, so we are keenly interested in encouraging our local community to get involved with our organization and start implementing sustainable practices in their day-to-day lives.  We offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities from building and installing reef balls, collecting and cleaning monofilament fishing line, maintaining wetland nurseries and planting in restoration locations, among many other opportunities, we offer something for everyone.  Our hope is that our volunteers and students will take with them a greater appreciation and a sense of stewardship for our local environment when they leave our projects.

How do you personally encourage your friends and family to adopt eco-friendly habits and go green?

I think the most effective way to encourage change that is easy to adapt to your daily routine is to make it simple.  My top suggestions are to reduce single use plastics by bringing your own water bottle, reusable straws and utensils, etc. Also spend a minute learning about your local recycling guidelines so you can ensure that you are recycling properly for your area. 

Is there a particular environmental documentary or book that has deeply inspired you? What key takeaway did you gain from it?

I would have to say that the most recent documentary to have a profound impact on me was My Octopus Teacher.  It is such a beautifully documented film that demonstrates that small, simple actions can have much larger impacts and implications on our wildlife and our ecosystems. There is such a fragile balance between us and our oceans, and this film really reminds you of all of the magic and beauty the world and the oceans have to offer.

What would you consider one of the most successful projects or achievements by Tampa Bay Watch?

I am proud of all of the projects and programs that we have implemented over the years, but the ones that I would say are our proudest achievements are our living shoreline projects that displayed success in the light of last year’s hurricanes.  We have several projects around the Bay that highlighted that the locations in which we have implemented living shoreline projects withstood noticeable damage from the storms, while other adjacent areas that were not protected experienced significant impacts.  We have learned some important lessons, but we are looking at decades of living shorelines showing that they stop erosion while providing habitat and coastal resilience. 

What motivated you to join Tampa Bay Watch, and why do you believe it’s important to practice sustainability on a personal level?

I have been involved with Tampa Bay Watch for almost two decades and have been consistently inspired by the valuable work that we get to do and the people we get to do it with.  We must lead by example with our sustainable practices and set the tone for our children, our friends and family, and our community.

What is one green change you’d love to see in your community in the near future?

Continued focus on resiliency, including improvements to the aging infrastructure as well as storm preparedness.

If you had to pick an animal as the mascot for Tampa Bay Watch’s sustainability efforts, which animal would you choose and why?

I would choose the manatee because the mission that we are working so hard towards achieving, maintaining a healthy watershed, is the lifeline of the manatee and without healthy waters and seagrass beds, we would not have these magnificent gentle giants in our waters.  

In one word, how would you describe your vision for a greener, more sustainable world?

Harmony

How can people get involved with Tampa Bay Watch?

There are many ways to get involved with Tampa Bay watch, including volunteering, donating and sharing our mission. 

Do you have any final thoughts or insights about your work with Tampa Bay Watch that you’d like to share?

The greatest part of my job is that I get to make a positive impact on our local environment through all of the projects and programs that we implement across the organization. I get to do that for a living with some of the coolest people around. How lucky am I?

To learn more about Tampa Bay Watch, visit their website at tampabaywatch.org, or connect with them on Facebook and Instagram (@tampabaywatch).