Dr. Megan Moore Named First Sea Grant Agent in Pasco County – Technologist

Pasco County is a vital area, with 24 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, encompassing the southernmost region of the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve. Nestled between Hernando, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sumter, and Polk counties, Pasco serves as a transition zone between agricultural lands and developed coastal communities. It is characterized by barrier islands, estuaries, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds that support vital fisheries. Pasco County is often referred to as the “Sports Coast,” with scenic coastlines and a thriving fishery driving community recreation and ecotourism. 

Important waterways such as the Anclote and Pithlachascotee Rivers drain into the Gulf of Mexico, while wilderness areas and preserves are interspersed among residential communities. Two major state parks, Anclote Key Preserve and Werner-Boyce Salt Springs, cover nearly 16,000 acres of coastal terrain, including sandy beaches, wetlands, tidal creeks, and small artesian springs. 

Given the vital natural resources and economic value that Pasco County contributes to Florida, it is critical to address the environmental challenges the county is currently facing.

“In Pasco, we face both anthropogenic and natural challenges,” Dr. Moore explains. “One of our biggest concerns is shoreline and coastal vulnerability, especially with storm surges, sea level rise, and flooding causing coastal erosion. We also have water quality issues, with red tide and shellfish toxins affecting our scalloping season. Pollution and eutrophication from water runoff are causing environmental damage to our seagrasses, oyster reefs, and more.”

Dr. Moore envisions bolstering coastal resiliency through initiatives like living shorelines and mangrove programs, watershed management, water quality monitoring from inland Pasco near agricultural districts to coastal zones, and habitat restoration for damaged areas.

“Pasco is very important, and that’s my priority,” she says. “I want to develop projects that will benefit the community and provide restoration and conservation initiatives. The overall goal is to improve the quality of life for everyone by creating projects that they’re interested in and feel they can make a difference with. Because our program is new for Pasco, not only do I want to find solutions to current problems but also proactively address issues before they become significant challenges.”

To contact Dr. Megan Moore, you can reach out via email at me.moore@ufl.edu or her office phone at 727-355-7601.