Parks	Modified: Mar 18, 2010 12:30 PM

Clam Bayou Nature Preserve

The action of the tides creates a lovely day

In November 2009, the City was awarded a $10,000 Urban and Community Forestry Grant for the Clam Bayou Preserve Tree Reforestation project from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Community Services.  The goal of the project was to increase the habitat value of the Preserve, having a positive impact on the health of all surrounding ecosystems and wildlife in or visiting the Preserve. The objective was to restore upland habitats at the Preserve.  The grant funds awarded to the City contributed to the purchase and installation of Sabal Palm, Red Cedar, Densa Slash Pine, and Live Oak trees. 
For information on the City's urban forestry programs, please visit www.stpete.org/development/urban_forestry_information/index.asp

Many different environments meet at the Clam Bayou estuary. Freshwater from springs and rain runoff come together in a weave of creeks. Because of Florida's gentle slope, these streams braid their way into wide mud flats where birds wade gently and many animals live and feed…

Tiny shellfish make their homes between
the roots of coastal grasses.
Small hermit crabs scurry across the mud flats
looking for tidbits of food.
Crowds of fiddler crabs await the tiny particles of food
brought in on the incoming tide.

As freshwater flows into the sea it mixes. This brackish water is a world of its own...

The branches of mangrove trees shade
mussels and tree oysters who live there.
The tangled stilt-like roots of the red mangrove
are ornamented with shells, fleshy sea squirts,
and delicate bryozoan colonies.
Ducks drift along the shallow channel
between out-reaching mangrove trees.
Golden orb and star-belly spiders
weave webs in the shadows between branches.
The limbs above provide homes
to nesting snowy egrets and pelicans.
Mangrove crabs use the branches as highways.
Oyster beds cluster between the low islands
along the widening shallows.
Great blue herons look for minnows.
The beds also attract tiny sea snails called
oyster drills and sea stars as well.
The sea stars probe the oysters looking for a meal.

As the marsh and mangrove forest reaches Boca Ciega Bay, the shoreline is rimmed with white sand beaches. Along these channels the waters deepen enough to attract manatees, dolphins and an amazing variety of fish. Clams live just below the sand and all kinds of sea snails hunt for a meal. Many of the shellfish need a clean environment. Every day, as the tide leaves, it carries the fine dust-like soil (silt) down the creeks, out into the bay and beyond…

Directions: Travel south on 37th Street to 34th Avenue South. West on 34th Avenue South into park.