News & Updates
Volunteers Support Hillsborough River Cleanup
More than 80 students from Woodrow Wilson and Stewart Middle Schools, along with parents and Ecosphere volunteers, participated in the second of five Healthy Hillsborough River cleanup events supported by a mini-grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Working from 7 a.m. to noon, the group removed over 42 bags of trash from the riverbank and, with help from Living Restorations, removed 15 invasive Brazilian pepper and lead trees, improving both the waterway and the surrounding living shoreline habitat. Learn more about Ecosphere’s Healthy Hillsborough River restoration work.
Advancing Seagrass Resiliency Research in Tampa Bay
Ecosphere Restoration Institute, Inc. recently supported a seagrass research effort to better understand the genetic resilience of local seagrass populations. Researchers collected and preserved shoal grass samples from long-established seagrass beds in Tampa Bay, from permanent transects first established by Ecosphere’s founder in 1997 to study how certain beds withstand changes in water clarity and salinity. The findings will help identify resilient seagrass suitable for future restoration projects and shared with the global seagrass community. These efforts were led by University of South Florida scientists, funded through Mote Marine Laboratory.
Ecosphere Awarded 2026 Bay Mini-Grant for Hillsborough River Restoration
Ecosphere Restoration Institute has been awarded a 2026 Bay Mini-Grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to advance the Healthy Hillsborough River initiative. The grant supports five community volunteer restoration events focused on invasive species removal, shoreline cleanup, and native planting at key riverfront sites. This funding will enable five volunteer-driven restoration events at three former Ecosphere-led project sites along the Hillsborough River: Stewart Middle School Living Shoreline, Ignacio Haya Linear Park Living Shoreline, and Lowry Park Spring Basin Restoration Site.
Healthy Hillsborough River Restoration at Lowry Park
On a cold Florida morning, 21 volunteers joined Ecosphere and partners at Lowry Park to advance the Healthy Hillsborough River campaign. Together, the team removed trash, planted 200 smooth cordgrass plugs, and cleared invasive species, leaving the shoreline healthier for wildlife and the community. This collaborative effort was comprised of the following partners: Ecosphere, Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP), ZooTampa, KTBB, and Tampa Parks department This effort was supported by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’s Mini-Grant Program.
In the News
Tampa Electric + Ecosphere Earn Community Award for Wetlands Restoration
The Tampa Bay 100
December 11, 2025
Ecosphere Restoration Institute and Tampa Electric were recognized with the Outstanding Contribution to the Community award for the Newman Branch Creek Living Shoreline / Tidal Creek Restoration project. This phase created 1,500 linear feet of living shoreline along Newman Branch Canal to stabilize the steep bank and create a new meandering tidal creek segment to support fish and wildlife.
Ecosphere invited to join the United Nations Race to Resilience
Bay Soundings
August 25, 2025
A local not-for-profit organization has been invited to join the United Nations’ Race to Resilience (R2R), an international initiative with 1,762 members in 139 countries working together to strengthen communities with the goal of protecting four billion people by 2030.
A non-profit is trying to save manatees by restoring seagrass
WMNF Wavemakers with Janet and Tom
July 24, 2023
Tom Ries joins the WMNF team as a guest speaker to highlight Ecosphere Restoration Institute and the work they are doing on restoring seagrass (submerged aquatic vegetation or SAV). The Wave hosts Tom & Janet were great to talk with and they did an excellent job producing this show. Have a listen.
Shoreline Solutions: Public-Private Partnerships for Florida's Wetlands
Podcast: People Places Planet Episode 15 Season 6
May 16, 2024
In May, 2023 the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) celebrated their 35th Year of recognizing individuals, communities and agencies that protect these vital ecosystems. This year ELI is highlighting past awardees via their “People Places Planet” podcast. Ecosphere’s very own Tom Ries was their 1st interviewee talking about what he’s been doing since being presented the Conservation/Restoration award in Washington DC (2013). He discussed the importance of preserving and restoring wetland systems and the most critical things that need to be done to further the protection of these important resources.
Podcast: Sustainable Living with Kenny Coogan and Anni Ellis
Dec 11, 2023
Tom Ries joins WMNF's Sustainable Living show with Anni Ellis and Tonya Vidovic! They discuss the advantages of implementing Living Shorelines as an alternative to hardened shorelines such as seawalls. The segment included some great questions from the audience as well as from the gracious hosts!
Seeking higher ground: Florida's resiliency community on frontlines of climate change
Jacksonville.com
Ecosphere has been collaborating with Admiral William McQuilkin on resiliency stories and his article was published in the Florida Times-Union. It's a great summary of the current state of Florida's coastline issues and funding opportunities to address nature-based shoreline stabilization techniques, e.g., Living Shorelines. Currently, Ecosphere is spearheading 3 Living Shoreline projects in the Tampa Bay area.
Tampa honors man who built city's first cigar factory, Ignacio Haya
Fox 13 News
Jan 17, 2023
Segment about a founding father of Tampa and the new Living Shoreline restoration at the urban park that bears his name
Model Shoreline Ordinance Plans for Future Protection and Habitat Restoration
Bay Soundings
Jan 6, 2023
Article about a model ordinance developed for Tampa Bay communities that establishes uniform standards for seawalls, while positioning living and hybrid shorelines as preferred alternatives to protect developed waterfronts from rising sea levels and storm surges.
Creative Loafing
June 24, 2021
Restoring a forgotten spring on the edge of Tampa's urban core has brought new life to the Hillsborough River and kickstarted a thriving redevelopment of the waterfront.
Ecosphere Featured on the TBD POD
Tampa Bay Developer
February 6, 2026
Ecosphere Restoration Institute’s founder, Tom Ries, is featured on the Tampa Bay Developer (TBD POD), a weekly podcast hosted by Garrett Greco that highlights the people shaping the future of Tampa, Florida.
Tom shares the hidden history of Florida’s springs and shorelines, how decades of development have altered these ecosystems, and how restoration efforts are bringing them back to life.
Restoring Habitat to Support Coastal Communities: A Look Back at the Recovery Act
NOAA Fisheries News
May 24, 2021
A look back at habitat restoration projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including Ecosphere's Lost River Preserve in south Hillsborough County.