Ed Sherwood

Executive Director

esherwood@tbep.org

Tampa Bay Sailing Squadron, Apollo Beach, FL August 21, 2023

State of The Bay & �Getting It ‘Back on Track’

tbep.org

Ed Sherwood

Executive Director

The TBEP Team

Marcus Beck

Program

Scientist

Jessica Lewis

Community Projects Manager

Sheila Scolaro

Community Programs Scientist

Carly Jones

Science Communication Coordinator

Kerry Flaherty-

Walia

Restoration Ecologist

Blake Simmons

Social Scientist

28 Estuaries of National Significance

• Tampa Bay designated in 1991
• Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (v. 3 in 2017)

Clean Waters

& Sediments

Thriving Habitats

& Abundant Wildlife

Informed, Engaged,

& Responsible Community

Program Priorities

ccmp.tbep.org

Manual Presentation

Page

21

Tampa Bay Watershed

32% Undeveloped 42% Urban/Suburban�17% Agriculture 9% Mining

6

Tampa Bay 2023:�An Urban Estuary Still in Recovery

• 1950 – 1980: Nearly ½ of seagrasses lost
• 1980 – 1990: Initial point source and nonpoint source regulations enacted
• 1991: Tampa Bay Estuary Program
• 1994 – 1996: Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium formed to more fully address loads to Bay
• 1992 – 2017: >470 TN Reduction projects implemented;

530 Tons of TN precluded

>$2.5 Billion invested

• 2014 – 2018: Sustaining seagrass coverage above 1950s & Restoration Goal levels
• 2018 – 2022: Seagrass losses in upper Tampa Bay drop baywide coverage below Restoration Goal

​

Illustration by Doug Thompson

Underwater Seagrasses: Tampa Bay’s Canary in the Coal Mine

Data Source: TBEP & SWFWMD

Thriving Habitats & Abundant Wildlife

tbep.org/seagrass-assessment

Tampa Bay’s Underwater Seagrass

• Lost >11,500 acres from 2016 to 2022

• Three consecutive assessments with declines

Illustration by Doug Thompson

Underwater Seagrasses: Tampa Bay’s Canary in the Coal Mine

Data Source: TBEP & SWFWMD

Clean Waters & Sediments

tbep.org/waterquality

Seagrass Trends

Thriving Habitats & Abundant Wildlife

tbep.org/seagrass-assessment

Pyrodinium bloom: 7/18/2021

Credit: Dorian Aerial Photographics

Clean Waters & Sediments

tbep.org/waterquality

Recent Water Quality Results

Clean Waters & Sediments

tbep.org/waterquality

Pyrodinium bahamense capitalizing on nutrients + other physical factors prevalent in Old Tampa Bay

Source: Cary Lopez, FWRI

What is the State of Tampa Bay?

Fashion

21

3 Key Takeaways

Old Tampa Bay Needs Our Help

01

Upper portions of Tampa Bay show clear indicators of stress. We need to refocus efforts to reduce nutrients and invest in projects that enhance water quality, like reducing nutrient inputs, improving tidal circulation, and conserving coastal habitats.

The Urgency of Restoration

02

As development continues to increase throughout the watershed, the amount of habitat available for restoration decreases. We need to act fast, capitalizing on the restoration opportunities that remain before they are lost in the coming years.

Community Support Increasing

03

A new leaders advocating for the Bay's restoration have emerged, thanks in part to media coverage of issues like Piney Point, red tide, and manatee mortalities. Consequently, additional resources are becoming available to support community-focused collaborations and bay improvement efforts.

tbep.org/state-of-the-bay/

Getting the Bay Back on Track

tbep.org/get-involved

Some Simple Actions that Can Make a Real Difference

Thriving Habitats & Abundant Wildlife

tbep.org/nekton

Robinson Preserve

When you build it, they will come …

Investing in habitat preservation & restoration also bolsters important fish nurseries in the Bay

Informed, Engaged, Responsible Community

tbep.org/befloridian

Behavior Change: Be Floridian

• Reduce stormwater nutrient pollution in Tampa Bay by encouraging homeowners to skip fertilizing during the Summer rainy season and adopt Florida-Friendly landscaping practices

​

• Reinforce awareness of municipal ordinances that preclude N fertilizer applications during a June-September blackout period

Informed, Engaged, Responsible Community

tbep.org/pipeup

Behavior Change: Pipe Up

• Reduce nutrient and bacteriological pollution in Tampa Bay by encouraging homeowners and homebuyers to inspect, repair, or replace aging private lateral sewer lines to prevent sanitary sewer overflows into Tampa Bay

Informed, Engaged, Responsible Community

tbep.org/restoration-research

Community-Focused Living Shoreline & Habitat Restoration Initiatives

• Waterfront homeowner initiatives (VOGs=Vertical oyster gardens)

​

• Community waterfront, habitat restoration, stormwater and flood abatement (e.g. green infrastructure implementation)

​

• TBEP Bay Mini Grant &

Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund

After: Safety Harbor Living Shoreline &

Marsh Restoration

Before: Safety Harbor Waterfront

Gulfport Rain Garden

https://youtu.be/kvht0DNbTek

Clean Waters & Sediments

tbep.org/waterquality

Thriving Habitats & Abundant Wildlife

tbep.org/hmpu

Capitalizing on Remaining Restoration Opportunities + Address Stormwater Nutrients

Clean Waters & Sediments +

• Increase coastal resiliency in an urban estuary

​

• Attenuate stormwater nutrient loads

​

• Support other baywide coastal habitat restoration goals (enhance salt marsh habitats)

DRAFT CONCEPT

Emergency releases have occurred in the past, usually resulting in nuisance harmful algal blooms

6,931 plates registered

230K awarded to 57 Bay Mini-Grants

Informed, Engaged, Responsible Community

tbep.org/tarpontag

Tarpon Tag

Funds from the Tampa Bay Speciality License Plate (Tarpon Tag) support community-based restoration projects

​

Bay Mini-Grant proposals due 9/15/2023

https://tbep.org/bay-mini-grants

2019-2021 Metrics

2022$ TBRPC Economic Footprint

of Tampa Bay Update

tbep.org/state-of-the-bay

Improving the State of the Bay

• Community can rally around Tampa Bay as the environmental and economic centerpiece for the region

​

• Bay’s ecology is responding to continuing urban development pressures & new climate related stressors (warming waters, greater rain-driven stormwater runoff)

​

• Persistent Pyrodinium bahamense blooms are a vexing challenge to water quality and seagrass coverage maintenance – new investments needed

​

• Nitrogen Management 2.0:

Multifaceted nutrient loading, tidal circulation and habitat/ecosystem restoration approach is necessary

​

Summary

Questions?

Name

Contact Info

Questions?

esherwood@tbep.org

Extra Slides