Estuary Conservation Association, Inc

Estuary Conservation Association, Inc General Information Contact Information Nonprofit Primary Contact First Name Primary Contact Last Name Estuary Conservation Association, Inc Alan Ritchie Address 853 VANDERBILT BEACH ROAD SUITE 272 NAPLES, FL 34108 8746 Phone (239) 777-3730 Organization E-mail Web Site Facebook Twitter ritchie2020@aol.com www.estuaryconservation.org http://www.facebook.com/estuary conservation association http://www.twitter.com/ At A Glance Year of Incorporation 1984 Organization's type of tax exempt status Public Supported Charity Organization EIN# 59-2363938 1

Statements & Search Criteria Mission Encouraging environmental stewardship for the Cocohatchee estuary that fosters a balance of nature and community through science, education, safe navigation and local action. environmental stewardship for the Cocohatchee estuary that fosters a balance of nature and community through science, education, safe navigation and local action. Background ECA was established in 1984 as a local non-profit organization dedicated to informed stewardship of Wiggins Pass and the Cocohatchee estuary. ECA's early involvement in the community focused on working in collaboration with local recreational boating interests, and Collier County, to help secure needed support for the creation of the Wiggins Pass inlet and navigational channel. Following this successful effort, ECA turned it's focus to environmental stewardship, establishing partnerships with Rookery Bay Reserve, Florida Gulf Coast University, and others to help initiate habitat restoration efforts, monitor changing water quality conditions, and begin community outreach efforts designed to enhance awareness and understanding of the environmental and economic values associated with this important ecosystem. ECA has successfully developed community partnerships with La Playa Beach and Golf Resort, Aqua Condominiums, Pelican Isles Yacht Club, and Vi at Bentley Village. CEO/Executive Director Statement ECA is the only non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship of the Cocohatchee River estuary and Wiggins Pass, a mangrove forested estuary and barrier island ecosystem located in north Collier County that provides important environmental and economic values to our local community. ECA promotes improved water quality in the Cocohatchee River estuary and works with the County by providing information and analysis on navigation issues in Wiggins Pass. Recent efforts include our partnership with Naples Boy Scout Troop #243 to help restore two oyster reefs, in collaboration with Rookery Bay and Florida Gulf Coast University. In addition to our ongoing series of Coastal Forums offered free of charge to the public, we have also conducted outreach to the local community though articles in Coastal Angler magazine. Areas Of Service Areas Served Areas Served ALL Geographic areas served in Collier County ECA's efforts focus on the Cocohachee River estuary and Wiggins Pass inlet, located in North Collier County. However, the scope of ECA's efforts are County-wide. Examples include an ongoing series of Coastal Forums that has reached thousands of local residents and seasonal visitors from across Collier County, and working in close partnership with Collier County's Coastal Zone management Department to help ensure safe navigation for local recreational boaters from across the County. Service Catergories Environmental Education Safety Education Marine Science and Oceanography 2

Programs Programs Community Outreach Description Long-Term Success Examples of Long-Term Success Target Population 1 Target Population 2 Coastal Forums: ECA has worked with local partners to conduct a series of free public forums for local residents and seasonal visitors for eight years. The Coastal Forums are designed to improve community awareness and appreciation for the environmental and economic values associated with the Cocohatchee River estuary. It is anticipated that participants of Coastal Forums will become better informed on environmental issues and challenges affecting the Cocohatchee River estuary, and as a result, will choose to modify behaviors in ways that contribute to a more sustainable coastal environment. In turn, better informed and engaged residents and visitors can help sustain our quality of life in Collier County, by helping to ensure informed decisions that affect the coast. Coastal Forums have reached thousands of local residents and seasonal residents over the course of eight years, on topics ranging from sea turtles, manatees, safe boating, invasive species, and reef restoration. A number of Coastal Forum participants are returning to learn more, and feedback from participants indicates that they have made changes in their behavior as a result of a better understanding of environmental issues. Recent examples include commitments to volunteer with ECA and other local environmental organizations, participating in coastal beach cleanups, and donations to help support ECA projects. Adults K-12 (5-19 years) 3

Oyster Reef Restoration Description ECA has worked successfully with local community partners to build three new oyster reefs in the Cocohatchee estuary over the past three years. The project involved preliminary environmental assessment to identify appropriate sites, securing required regulatory permits, seeking funding support from local partners, and using community volunteers to build the reefs. ECA worked in partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Rookery Bay Reserve, local troops of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the Walmart Foundation, Pelican Isle Yacht Club, and LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort to complete the projects. Two local scouts have received their Eagle Scout awards as a result of working in collaboration with ECA and partners to conduct the restoration. Long-Term Success Examples of Long-Term Success Target Population 1 Target Population 2 The building of three new oyster reefs in the Cocohatchee estuary has resulted in the introduction of new habitat that provides essential refuge and feeding grounds for a variety of fish, shellfish, and coastal wildlife. Improved coastal environment in Collier County contribute to an enhanced quality of life for local residents and visitors through tourism, recreational boating and fishing. In addition, the project has included an educational component designed to improve community awareness and appreciation for the Cocohatchee River estuary, resulting in more informed decisions affecting our coastal environment. Examples of program success include the number of collaborative partners involved in the project (six), the number of community volunteers engaged in assisting with the restoration effort (over 100), and the square footage of new submerged estuarine habitat created (estimated 1200 sf). In addition, two local Boy Scouts worked in partnership with ECA to secure the necessary requirements for their Eagle Scout awards. Adults K-12 (5-19 years) 4

Safe Boating and Navigation of Wiggins Pass Description Long-Term Success Examples of Long-Term Success Target Population 1 Target Population 2 ECA has a long history, dating to 1984, of working in collaboration with the recreational boating community and local government interests to enhance boating safety and increased navigational awareness of the Wiggins Pass inlet. Early efforts involved securing community support for the creation of a maintained channel and inlet for Wiggins Pass, and more recent efforts have focused on working with Collier County's Coastal Zone Management Department to assist in assessing current conditions of the Pass, identifying needs for management (e.g. placement of channel markers), and sharing updated spatial data and information on Pass conditions and channel location with local boaters. Starting in 2017, ECA is planning a series of navigational briefings, in partnership with the USCG Auxiliary and Collier County, to enhance boating safety for the Pass. The establishment of a channel and maintained inlet for Wiggins Pass has resulted in safer recreational boating conditions for boaters in the local community. ECA's efforts to continue to work with local government and boating interests has resulted in increased attention to navigational issues within the Pass, including recent efforts to redesign and establish a more sustainable channel that requires less maintenance. ECA's success with efforts to enhance boating safety and navigational awareness of the Wiggins Pass inlet can be measured, in part, by the commitments made by Collier County's Coastal Zone Management Department to redesign the inlet channel for Wiggins Pass, making it a safer and more reliable navigational inlet for recreational boating. Work on the new inlet design was completed in 2015, and ECA continues to work with local government and boating interests to assess changing conditions of the Pass, reporting findings through briefings to boaters, articles published in local boating magazines, and ECA's website. Adults Families 5

Impact Goals What are your organization's long-term strategic goals? Through local partnerships and by engaging with the community, ECA's work is intended to result in improved environmental stewardship of the Cocohatchee River estuary, and enhanced boating safety for recreational boaters in Wiggins Pass. Restored habitats in the estuary, such as the three new oyster reefs constructed by ECA and partners, are already contributing to improved environmental conditions by enhancing water quality through filtration of sediments and organic material, while providing needed refuge and feeding grounds for fish, shellfish, coastal birds, and wildlife. ECA's commitment to raising community awareness of the environmental issues and needs associated with the Cocohatchee estuary has reached thousands of local residents and visitors, and as a result, a more informed community is better equipped to make informed decisions that effect estuaries. ECA's efforts to increase local awareness of navigation conditions of the Wiggins pass inlet is intended to enhance recreational boating safety. Strategies What are the major strategies you will do to accomplish your goals? ECA has three key strategies for achieving the primary goals outlined above: Building and sustaining strategic partnerships is essential to ECA's success, and requires a commitment of time and limited resources necessary to identify mutual goals, establish relationships with key individuals, and work in collaboration. Conducting outreach and education is essential to ECA's success, contributing towards key goals designed to improve community awareness and appreciation for the Cocohatchee river estuary. Securing grants, donations, and cost sharing has become essential to support costs associated with ECA's key projects and objectives. Capabilities What are your organization s capabilities for doing this? ECA has worked within the last five years to develop a strategic vision and plan, establish key partnerships in the community, and secure needed funds for priority projects. ECA's capabilities include a strategically recruited Board of Directors, representing key local community partnerships such as LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort, Aqua Condominiums, and Pelican Isle Yacht Club. In addition, the Board includes individuals with demonstrated experience in leadership, financial management, marketing and outreach. ECA is working with advisors and consultants including the retired former Director of the Rookery Bay Reserve, a science professor from FGCU, and a professional accountant. In addition, ECA has a membership of over 100 local residents and seasonal visitors who assist with ECA's work. Indicators What indicators do you use to measure progress? ECA has developed a strategic vision and plan that includes metrics for measuring success, while evaluating needs for improving efforts and meeting the challenges of changing conditions and new issues that may arise. ECA's Coastal Forums, as one example, have reached over 2,000 local residents with updated information on environmental issues and needs for the Cocohatchee river estuary. ECA's three reef restoration projects have engaged over 100 local community volunteers, and resulted in over 1,500 sf of new habitat. ECA has successfully established collaborative partnerships with Rookery Bay Reserve, Florida Gulf Coast University, Vi at Bentley Village, LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort, Pelican Isle Yacht Club, Barron Collier Junior Foundation, the Halstatt Charitable Foundation, Collier County's Coastal Zone Management Department, USCG Auxiliary and Walmart. Progress 6

What have and haven t you accomplished so far? ECA has successfully worked with local recreational boating interests and local government to secure the needed support for establishing and maintain safe navigational access for the Wiggins Pass inlet. ECA has successfully reached over 2,000 local residents and seasonal visitors with updated information on environmental issues and needs for the Cocohatchee estuary, through it's ongoing Coastal Forum series, offered free of charge to the public. ECA has worked successfully to build three new oyster reefs in the Cocohatchee River estuary, creating over 1500 sf of new submerged estuarine habitat that helps improve water quality through increased filtration while providing refuge and feeding grounds for wildlife. In 2017, ECA is focusing on the use of new technologies to better assess Wiggins Pass inlet conditions, and share findings with local recreational boaters to improve safe boating conditions. 7

Board & Governance Board Chair Board Chair Mr. Alan Ritchie Board Members Name Affiliation Status Len Crame Retired Voting Mac Hatcher Retired Voting Darline Hillard Sales Manager, Aqua Condominiums Voting Debbie Laites Realtor Voting Alan Ritchie Retired Voting Dr. Mike Savarese Florida Gulf Coast University Exofficio Kathy Worley Conservancy of Southwset Florida Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 9 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 7 Female 2 Unspecified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 3 Board Meeting Attendance % 0 Written Board Selection Criteria? Written Conflict of Interest Policy? Under Development Yes Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 10 8

Management Executive Director/CEO Executive Director Term Start 2014 Email Experience Alan Ritchie ritchie2020@aol.com Alan Ritchie is a former Vice President of General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a Director Emeritus of the 170,000 member Experimental Aircraft Association. He is a past Chairman and currently a member of the Pelican Isle Yacht Club s Marina Committee. Staff Full Time Staff 0 Part Time Staff 2 Volunteers 100 Plans Organization has a Strategic Plan? Yes 9

Financials Current Fiscal Year Fiscal Year 0 Projected Revenue $22,248.00 Projected Expenses $29,646.00 Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year 2018 2017 2016 Total Revenue -- -- -- Total Expenses -- -- -- Revenue Sources Fiscal Year 2018 2017 2016 Foundation and Corporation -- -- -- Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $0 Federal State Local Unspecified Individual Contributions -- -- -- Indirect Public Support -- -- -- Earned Revenue -- -- -- Investment Income, Net of Losses -- -- -- Membership Dues -- -- -- Special Events -- -- -- Revenue In-Kind -- -- -- Other -- -- -- Expense Allocation Fiscal Year 2018 2017 2016 Program Expense -- -- -- Administration Expense -- -- -- Fundraising Expense -- -- -- Payments to Affiliates -- -- -- Total Revenue/Total Expenses -- -- -- Program Expense/Total Expenses -- -- -- Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue -- -- -- Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year 2018 2017 2016 Total Assets -- -- -- Current Assets -- -- -- Long-Term Liabilities -- -- -- Current Liabilities -- -- -- Total Net Assets -- -- -- Capital Campaign 10