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Join the Charlotte Harbor Estuary Program at the Charlotte Harbor Watershed Summit: March 25–27, 2014

The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) is a partnership working to protect the natural environment in Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven. The CHNEP hosts the Charlotte Harbor Watershed Summit every three years to learn about current research and restoration efforts, critical environmental issues affecting the Charlotte Harbor watershed and to review progress since the preceding summit. Summits are important in the CHNEP process of bringing public and private stakeholders together.

The next Summit will be held March 25–27, 2014, at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center (75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda). The theme is “Our Vision in Action” with 60 presentations scheduled. Sessions will include:

  • Tuesday morning: evaluating water quality.
  • Tuesday afternoon: mapping and monitoring seagrass, assessing macroinvertebrates and birds, and a poster session.
  • Wednesday morning: assessing fish communities.
  • Wednesday afternoon: assessing shellfish and a poster session.
  • Thursday morning: restoring water quality, habitats and watersheds.
  • Thursday afternoon: enhancing stewardship and planning for the future.

A draft agenda may be found at the link below. Additional details and updated agendas will be available at on CHNEP's website as soon as they are confirmed. PDF files of presentations made at the summits in 1997, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011 will also be available on the website.

Please register by March 14 online at www.eventbrite.com, search for CHNEP and enter Punta Gorda as the location. Please register whether you plan to attend in person or remotely or wish to receive notices that files are available after the Summit. Thanks to generous sponsors, the Charlotte Harbor Watershed Summit is free, but we do ask those who are able to donate. (The EventBrite registration page is able to accept donations. Donations and sponsor fees are paid to the Friends of Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Inc.) Each donation of $100 or more will be acknowledged as a sponsor. At the 2014 summit, coffee and water will be available throughout the day (no additional refreshments will be provided) and lunch will be provided each day to those who register. We anticipate using WebEx during the Summit so that people can participate remotely. We also plan to make the PowerPoint presentations available after the Summit as well as videos that combine the PDF with the presenter's talk.

Sponsors: The CHNEP is able to hold this event in part because of the generosity of sponsors. Thanks to Charlotte County, CF Industries, Mosaic, Atkins, Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority, Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida, Friends of Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Inc. and the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center for being the first to sponsor the 2014 Summit. If you are able to help as a sponsor, contact Maran Hilgendorf.

Additional Contact Information

Maran Hilgendorf

Communications Manager,, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

326 West Marion Avenue
Punta Gorda, FL - 33950

(941) 575-3374
maran@chnep.org