From Stars to Starfish…a Space, Earth, and Sea Interactive Demonstration School

Aqua Greenhouse Certificate of Completion issued!

 

TO: State Farm Youth Advisory Board Update #2 (April 9, 2012)

   RE: Stars to Starfish: Interactive Space, Earth, Sea Demonstration  Site                                                                                              

             In the November 30^th, 2011 update, we stated that the construction schedule, overseen by Mills Gilbane as their “Community Service Project”, was completed. Since then construction activities involved initial layouts; pad, density, and water quality tests; storm and drainage, slabs and footings, plumbing and electrical, pouring the slab for the greenhouse, sidewalk, chillers, and door pads; installing the HVAC fans; erecting the greenhouse, and installing the cool pad system and shade. Being a public school bound by state construction laws, additional requirements arose, specifically involving security, communications, and fire requirements. As a result, additional work was completed by Sarasota County School District personnel. The greenhouse now has around it perimeter four infrared post and five video surveillance cameras securing the area. It has wireless capacity, and is tied into our school’s networked system...and has an intercom to administration. Finally, a fire alarm pull switch and extinguisher are located on the front interior wall. To date, all awarded grant dollars have been spent. Those funds were utilized for the site preparation, surveys, and electric.

We are pleased to announce that in March, 2012, the required “Certificate of Completion” was issued!

             Paralleling this enormous construction effort was staff and student’s planning and purchase of those items required for the actual production of fish and plants. To date  invoices have been submitted reflecting the following purchased and received items:

             December 19, 2011: Purchases included grating/drainage systems and holding tank required for Sarasota County’s mandated Zero Discharge filtration system; UV sterilizers, and HVAC thermostat.

             January 18, 2012: Purchases included coral fiberglass tanks, 105 aquariums, RO systems, two chillers, and 15 filtration pumps.

             February 6, 2012: Purchases included the PVC parts, Tuff tubs, and cement blocks needed to build the hatchery systems, and three HVAC fans required for climate control.

             March 8, 2012: Purchases included skimmers, reactors, and grow-out systems (note: A no-cost Touch Tank representing a $3000 donation included!).

             Students and staff are currently in the process of building all the systems in preparation for the Saturday, May 5^th, “Special Recognition (2:00-4:00 p.m.)” and “Open to the Public” Grand Opening (4:30-6:30 p.m.) Event. The broodstock and fry systems have been established in one of the wet rooms in the main building. The freshwater crypts and associated filtration systems in the greenhouse have been completed and are currently being tested for effectiveness. The additional aquarium systems (three rows), coral tanks, and touch tanks are all under construction.The Sarasota School Board's Education Channel will be doing a 30 minute segment  highlighting this entire project. Once completed, we will provide access through youtube.com

            There are so many individuals and groups involved in this inspiring endeavor! So many have donated so much in terms of services and dollars! Mills Gilbane personnel have spent months on the project. The architect (CMSA Architect, Inc.), sub-contractors and vendors have gone above and beyond in providing not only quality services, craftsmanship, and products but also in donating and/or discounting services saving us thousands of dollars. Sarasota School District personnel and school administration have been astounding in their support! Our Community Advisory Board has been phenomenal in their support, including the expert consulting and hands-on assistance provided by such organizations as Mote Aquaculture Research Park, Tropical Labs, and New College’s Pritzker Marine Lab. Other examples include Riverview High School Foundation member Jeff Charlotte (J H Charlotte Construction Corp) who donated 8100 square feet of Bahia sod...and it is now green and beautiful. Bambi Famous Kaine, in memory of her late daughter who was a Riverview High School student, is donating all the plants and benches for the Butterfly Garden in what will be the outdoor classroom area. I will reserve mention of others until after I report on the May 5^th, , 2012, Grand Opening event.

             In closing, with successes such as this....there are always “tipping points”...pathways that make wonderful things happen. A major tipping point was the tremendous support we received from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. Because of that support, Riverview will have a Space, Earth, and Sea Demonstration site like no other...one that will positively impact thousands both environmentally and educationally for decades!

 Update #1:

Celebratory Ground-Breaking on November 30, 2011

The entire Community of Sarasota is riveted with excitement! In our previous report, submitted in October, 2011, we indicated we were preparing for our Ground-breaking, and we are excited to say that that symbolic event took place on November 30, 2011!  On the very next day, December 1, 2011, construction began on the 30 X 72 foot aquaculture greenhouse. Our partners from Mills-Gilbane, having completed the construction schedule, are currently overseeing the project! The projected completion date is February, 2012!

 This brings us to the present.  During the past few months (September through December, 2011), numerous days have been devoted to collaborating with additional partners, specifically Mote Aquaculture Park and UF Tropical Labs in Ruskin) to make the very best choices regarding product and equipment while simultaneously making every penny count! Dr. Kevan Main and Michael Nystrom are assisting Riverview in possible designs for the wastewater treatment systems, a critical component regarding product survival and our requirement to be a zero discharge facility! We never realized how much physics is involved...what an educational lesson when determining wastewater requirements...number of fish, amount of waste, nutrients, ammonia, consequent required flow, etc. UF Tropical Lab personnel Craig Watson, Scott Graves, Carlos Martinez, Roy Yanong, and Matt Wittenrich are also assisting with product and equipment selection. Definite decisions have been made...and we think the members of the State Farm Youth Advisory Board members will be pleased.
 First, one of the indoor wet rooms (discharge allowed) is going to be retrofitted to become a brood stock and nursery room for the salt water component of our aquaculture program. The five crypts in that wet room will be relocated to the greenhouse. That wet room will then house two set-ups (modeled after UF Tropical Lab’s) that will include 14 tanks each (14 X 29 gallons = 406 gallon volume) along with six (25 gallon) Tuf tubs to be used for fry. One of the indoor vertical setups will accommodate four clownfish pairs (2 fish each) with the rest housing up to 10 benggai cardinals each. The second setup will accommodate 2 males and 5 female striped fang blennie broodstock each. The filtration system will accommodate the daily feedings to occur four times/day (combination of flake, pellets, shrimp, PE mysis). One half of the “zero discharge” outdoor aquaculture greenhouse will serve as the “grow out” for the salt water product. Three additional broodstock set-ups at 406 gallons (14 X 29 gallon tanks)...each with 50 gallon sumps...will serve 700 juvenile fish per set-up (fed 3 times daily). In addition, there will be a Touch Tank (550 gallons) and two Coral tanks (500 gallons and 760 gallons)...with a maximum 3300 gallons.  Six (25 gallon) Tuf tubs with a 90 gallon sump (210 gallons) will accommodate greenwater, rotifers, artemia, and larval flaked foods.

 The other half of the aquaculture greenhouse will develop freshwater product. That half will contain another two setups. These setups will be used for the rearing of fingerlings. However, each setup will contain 14 tanks each (14 X 10 gallons = 140 gallon volume). In addition, the freshwater area will contain eight 250 gallon crypts with six being functional and two being used as sumps for biofilter removal of ammonia. Other equipment includes two polygeisers and two UV sterilizers. Product will include tilapia, koi, and orchids.
   We are close to purchasing the equipment. Those purchases (aquariums, PVC and PT lumber needed to build our systems, chillers, filtration systems, etc.) will allow Riverview’s aquaculture greenhouse to become operational for our Grand Opening followed by our Open to the Public viewing on Saturday May 5, 2012...Belated Earth Day! We are hoping that Jose Soto, the Youth Advisory Board members and YAB facilitators, and local State Farm representatives can attend so that they can witness, first-hand, the impact their contribution will have on thousands of children and adults!  In preparation for this event, on November 21, 2011, 90 fifth grade children came to visit our aquaculture program. In our “Kids Teaching Kids” program, Riverview students met with these children in small groups, teaching them about the parts of the fish, reproduction, fish nutrition, invasive species, and water quality. The most opportune moment was when one of the tilapia spit out its young in front of the many children watching...a moment they will never forget as evidenced by a “Thank You” card written by one of the 5th graders.
 For staff and students involved, it has been quite a time-consuming, whirlwind of an education...but one that will continue to bring our program national, if not global, recognition...and with that recognition a new and sustained appreciation regarding the necessity to protect and promote aquaculture education and enterprises.
   In closing, we continue to be thankful to the State Farm Youth Advisory Board, and we know that with your continued support, we will have a high school aquaculture program that we are hoping will serve as a model not just for the state and nation but for the world!