Welcome Michael Barbour, Ph.D. to the Ei Advisory Council

On March 5, 2005 renowned Aquatic Ecologist Michael Barbour, Ph.D. officially joined the Earth Impact (Ei) Advisory Council!

According to his official bio:

Dr. Michael T. Barbour is an Aquatic Ecologist. He was the 2014 recipient of the International Environmental Stewardship Award given by a scientific society represented by 62 countries. This award was given because of his efforts in assisting EPA in updating the Biological and Physical Integrity components of the U.S. Clean Water Act and participating with scientists from the European Union to develop their biological protocol of their Water Framework Directive. He has been a member of the Heritage Oaks Healthy Lakes Initiative since its inception 4 years ago and has consulted with other Associations and Sarasota County EPD.

Michael at his LAI-member induction ceremony
FL Suncoast VP John Osborne, Michael & Charles
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Michael will serve as an invaluable Ei Advisor within the Nature Prevails, Soil Health, and Water Use | Toxicity Ei platforms. 

Additionally, Michael joined the Ei Regenerative Working Group (RWG) Executive Team. The RiA Magazine article, Regenerative Working Group: growth and evolution, chronicles the RWG formation and history, growth over the years, and the current evolutionary stage. Michael is slated to present at the March monthly RWG meeting.

LAI Global Water-Land Series Group 
Fellow Ei Advisor Charles Reith introduced Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore to Michael for the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Global Land-Water Series Group co-chaired by Holly and Jim Musbach. Charles is a LAI FL Suncoast Chapter member.

In early January, Michael accepted Charles and Holly's co-sponsored LAI FL Suncoast Chapter-member nomination and was formerly inducted into LAI at the January 30 chapter meeting. The IMPACT article, 2025 Suncoast Economic Forecast, chronicles the six chapter-member inductions at the prominent meeting.

About LAI

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders 

in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.

LAI is a growing network of chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Each chapter offers a wide variety of programs with industry leaders, discussion forums, community service projects and networking events.

Membership is highly selective through a nomination process initiated by a LAI member. Nominees for LAI membership must demonstrate ten or more years of experience in their fields, professional distinction, and outstanding contributions to the community in their field of endeavor.

LAI is committed to excellence and high professional standards to make a difference. A value to members is knowing you are someone who helped make that difference.

Healthy Ponds Collaborative*
Stormwater ponds are manmade with three main purposes: 1> flood control, 2> filter out excess nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) and pollutants (oil & gas,) and 3> provide wildlife habitat. The manmade ponds are part of an overall stormwater-control system of linked ponds, man-made control boxes (weirs.) and natural wetlands that eventually flow stormwater into the Gulf.

Unfortunately, many of the more than 6,000 stormwater ponds in Sarasota County are decades old and only operate at 40 - 60% filtering efficiency. 

START is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1995 to reduce the excess nutrients in our waterways that feed red tide and other Harmful Algal Blooms.  According to START Chair Sandy Gilbert, an Ei Advisor and LAI FL Suncoast Chapter member, START's mission is accomplished via public-education programs, water-quality government outreach, and nutrient-control programs. Recently, Michael joined the START Board to share his expertise as an Aquatic Ecologist.

In September 2021 START secured a $250,000 three-year grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to develop a regional “Healthy Pond Collaborative (HPC)” initiative. In addition to START, partners include Sarasota County’s Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team, the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, and the Science and Environment Council (SEC) of Southwest Florida. Subsequently, START received a matching grant to duplicate the successful program in Manatee County.

According to the START website, 

The Barancik Foundation grants enabled START to advise over 100 communities along the Suncoast on how to improve their ailing stormwater-detention ponds and provide funding for native-aquatic plants that created over 25 miles of newly planted pond shoreline.

* the Healthy Ponds Collaborative section is lightly edited copy from the 2023 RiA article, Coastal Water Quality: challenges, solutions, and economic impact. Sandy was one of four panelist on the LAI Global Webinar of the same name.

Sarasota Bay Rotary Club
In his capacity as club president, Charles invited Michael to present at the March 4 Sarasota Bay Rotary Club on the HPC's successes from a scientific perspective. Holly and Ei Advisor and LAI FL Suncoast Chapter member Tim Rumage are also members of the Sarasota Bay Rotary Club.

Michael & Tim Rumage after
the Rotary meeting
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

In his An Approach to Developing a Habitat Assessment Procedure for Stormwater Ponds presentation opening remarks, Michael shared his impressive contributions to the U.S. Clean Water Act and the European Union's Water Framework Directive. 

Within the Clean Water Act, there are three components to ecological integrity - chemical, physical and biological - that are pertinent to all waterbodies; these components are integrated within State Water Quality Standards and the foundation for managing stormwater ponds. Chemical contamination and physical degradation result in altered biological condition.

Based on the Habitat Parameters for a Lake (from the EPA’s Lake Assessment Protocol,) Michael listed the following plausible parameters to consider for stormwater ponds:

1. Shoreline buffers (biofilters)
2. Presence/absence of bank failure 
3. Quality of littoral zones (sediment, slope)
4. Aquatic plants in littoral zones (extent and type, that is Florida-friendly or invasive)
5. Presence of Floating or in-pond wetlands
6. Presence of noxious algae at certain times of the year
7. Perimeter upland Florida-friendly landscaping (vegetation, rain gardens, etc. to retard runoff)
8.  Pesticide/herbicide use (type, amount, frequency) 
9. Impervious surface runoff (extent, drainage system) 
10. Landscaping maintenance (mowing, trimming, etc.)

In a less scientific yet aligned format, START lists the four basic elements of healthy pond maintenance:

1. The use of best irrigation and fertilizer practices in the land area around the pond.
2. The creation of a “No Mow Zone” around the perimeter of the of the pond that is at least 8 inches to 12 inches high and at least 3 feet wide.
3. The use of aquatic plants on at least 30% to 50% of the Littoral Shelf or shallow area of the pond.
4. The minimal use of herbicide sprays (Copper Sulfate) in and around the pond.

Michael uses Buffer Zone and Littoral Zone Scorecards to provide an informative approach to assessing physical habitat & structure. Additionally, the scorecards identify weaknesses in overall pond management, enable a prioritization of elements to restore, and measure success as the healthy pond practices are implemented, 

Per Michael, the ultimate goal is to obtain ecologically sustainable ponds and reduce discharge of excess nutrients and chemical herbicides to the watershed.

The SEC, a HPC Partner, showcases Pond Restoration Success stories on their website. 

In March 2023, the HPC announced the award-winning The Healthy Ponds Guide, a homeowners guide to establishing and maintaining healthy stormwater ponds; the Guide was written by members of the University of Florida IFAS Sarasota, Manatee and Polk County Extensions, the Sarasota County Public Works, Environmental Stormwater Utility and designed and edited by SEC co-executive directors Jennifer and David Shafer. Michael brought a copy of the Guide to the Rotary meeting, and club members gave the Guide sincere accolades.

Michael's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

An Interesting Introduction

As she prepared her introduction at the Rotary Club meeting, Holly asked Michael to share some interesting facts about his history and background. Wow, Holly hit the jackpot of interesting tidbits!

Michael speaking at the meeting
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Originally, Michael went to Eastern Michigan University to play basketball, which he did for his freshman and sophomore years. Then the science bug bit Michael, and he ceased his basketball adventures to focus on his biology studies. At Eastern Michigan, Michael received his undergraduate degree in Biology and his Masters degree in Aquatic Biology. Later, Michael earned his Ph.D. in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science from the University of Maryland.

Michael is a published author with three children's books and two novels. In the vein of an Indiana Jones-style action-hero narrative, the novels include an environment theme within their plots. As Michael has a Second Black Belt in Taekwondo, martial arts are integrated within the action scenes.

Not someone to completely retire, Michael continues to share his scientific expertise in his roles as a START Board member, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Adjunct Senior Scientist, Heritage Oaks Healthy Lakes Initiative Chair, LAI FL Suncoast Chapter member, and most recently an Ei Advisor.

Ei is honored to welcome Michael Barbour, Ph.D. to the Advisory Council and work with him on a variety of endeavors.

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Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. 

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About Earth Impact:

Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024). Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the  primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era focus areas carry over into the Era of Impact.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org.