b'FEATURE STORYWater Heroes InterviewTRACY FANARAClimate First ResponderWritten by Mission: Water StaffAbout TracyAt Mote, Tracy is a staff scientist who manages the Environmental Health Program, investigating the effects of marine and freshwater chemicals on public health. A focus of the program is Motes Beach Conditions Reporting System, which is an operational, non-federal, sub-regional observing system providing real and near-time data from the Florida Gulf Coast. Tracy works with Gulf Coast beaches to organize twice daily beach condition reports, which are available to the publicat VisitBeaches.org. She also brings creative ways to educate and inform the public about Florida red tide and other harmful algal blooms, and is at the forefront of citizen science efforts.Tracy was nominated as a Water Hero because of her passion for educating the public about environmental issues and her support of citizen science. Alma MaterB.S., M.E., and Ph.D. in EnvironmentalCivil Engineering, University of Florida28 MISSION: WATER'