Elizabeth "Betty" Staugler
Charlotte County
25550 Harbor View Road, Unit 3
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
(941) 764-4346
FAX: (941) 764-4343

staugler@ufl.edu

For more information on Charlotte County Sea Grant

Charlotte County is located along southwest Florida 's gulf coast. The 694 square mile County contains 129 square miles of estuary waters and 12 miles of beaches. The Charlotte Harbor estuary at the heart of the County is a biologically productive natural jewel. The estuary receives most of its fresh water from the Peace and Myakka rivers. The Peace and Myakka river watersheds are extremely large, draining on average 26 acres of water for every 1 acre of estuary. Because the estuary is at the receiving end of the watershed, every effort must be made to ensure both estuary and watershed are in balance, so that all life continues to flourish.

During the months from November to April, Charlotte County 's population of 152,000 increases by as much as 30%, due to visiting tourists. Tourism is a major industry for Charlotte County with b eaches being the top attraction.

The estuary and offshore Gulf waters support an important commercial and recreational fishery, which includes tarpon, flounder, permit, mullet, snapper, seatrout, cobia, and pompano, shrimp, blue crab and stone crab. In addition, hard clam aquaculture has become a significant industry for the Charlotte Harbor area.

The Sea Grant marine extension program in Charlotte County is active in many areas relating to boating, fishing, and watershed/coastal living.

Outreach Programs

Keep Charlotte Beautiful
Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program
Assistance in youth 4-H Marine Ecology & Fishing Clubs
Presentations on coastal habitats, water quality and artificial reefs
Boaters Education

Specialties

Marine Ecology
Water Quality
Artificial Reef Development

Education

BA, Environmental Science, Florida Gulf Coast University