Fred Webb oral history interview

Joe Guidry speaks with Fred Webb, who developed the Environmental Studies Center at Cockroach Bay. In the interview, Webb recounts designing the adult education, environmental studies programs at Hillsborough Community College and becoming an active participant in conservation efforts in Hillsborough County. He discusses the necessity of ELAPP and how the efforts from groups such as the National Estuary Programs, Save Our Bay, and Tampa Audubon effected positive changes in the health of Tampa Bay\u27s waters. He stresses the importance of continued dedication from environmental organizations to protect not only the Tampa Bay waters but also other ecosystems as the health of one system definitely impacts the health of other systems. Webb concludes the interview by emphasizing the need to maintain purchased lands. To illustrate, he describes how fires are vital to the health of pine forests but that funds are necessary to safely conduct controlled burns. Public relations work should not be neglected as it keeps public support high and funds available