Water Quality Monitoring Programs
新澳门六合彩 monitors the water quality of creeks, lakes, bays and intracoastal waters through a variety of programs to ensure we鈥檙e successfully managing our watersheds and meeting regulatory program requirements.
新澳门六合彩 has monitored the quality of surface waters (creeks, lakes, bays and intracoastal waters) since 1991. If a waterbody does not meet the State standards indicative of a healthy system, it is considered impaired, and actions are required to improve water quality. More detailed 新澳门六合彩 water monitoring data can be viewed through and through the聽.
You can view more information about our monitoring sites and results on our Watershed Information page, or for more information on the county’s monitoring programs, email watershed@pinellas.gov.
Monitoring Program Components
Ambient Water Quality Monitoring
Throughout the year, 新澳门六合彩 collects samples from various streams, lakes and coastal waters around the county. Samples are analyzed to measure pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and salinity, water temperature and nutrients.
This data is submitted to the periodically for Clean Water Act assessments. The FDEP website presents the current water quality status of waters throughout the state.
Bay Benthic Monitoring
The bottom of a waterbody is known as the benthic zone, and it’s a critical habitat for plants and animals. The plants and animals that live in, on or near the bottom are known as “benthos.”
新澳门六合彩 participates in a bay-wide monitoring program to assess the health of the benthic environment. The health of the benthos can be determined by what organisms are found there, as well as what chemicals, such as metals and nutrients, are stored in the sediments.
The county collects data about sediment grain-size, sediment toxicity, water chemistry, water clarity and benthic macroinvertebrates and produces a report on these results every few years. The indicates local benthic environments are in fair to good condition and appear to be improving over time.
Biological Monitoring Program
新澳门六合彩鈥檚 biological monitoring program evaluates our freshwater streams, canals and lakes to ensure they are healthy, with a well-balanced population of fish and wildlife.
The FDEP has established to determine the health of an ecosystem.
This includes monitoring flowing waters (streams, canals, ditches) for levels of macroinvertebrates, algae and aquatic plants, as well as important attributes of available habitat. The county also monitors lakes for native, invasive and sensitive species.
View 新澳门六合彩’s watershed summaries for local biological monitoring assessment results.
Phytoplankton Monitoring Program
Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that live in watery environments. Under certain conditions, phytoplankton populations can grow explosively, creating a “bloom” which can potentially have adverse effects.
新澳门六合彩 monitors phytoplankton in Lake Seminole and Lake Tarpon on a regular basis, and marine waters are monitored regularly during the wet season. The County also collects samples for analysis in response to potential blooms, as indicated by a visible color or the presence of dead organisms in the water.
Why monitor phytoplankton?
- The relative abundance of phytoplankton species in an aquatic system can give an indication of general water quality conditions.
- Phytoplankton are particularly sensitive to changes in nutrients, water clarity and other water quality parameters due to a short life cycle.
- Some phytoplankton may impact human health as well as the health of aquatic organisms.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are tracked by the state and can be viewed on the . You can also report a suspected HAB on this site. Red Tide is an example of a phytoplankton bloom that has impacted 新澳门六合彩 and surrounding areas recently. Learn more about this type of algal bloom on the county’s Red Tide information web page.
Seagrass Monitoring
Seagrass is an important coastal resource ecologically, recreationally and commercially. Seagrasses can reduce shoreline erosion and help improve water quality by trapping suspended sediments.
新澳门六合彩 participates in a regional, multi-governmental seagrass monitoring program developed by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP). The program was designed to characterize the general health and condition of seagrass meadows around the Tampa Bay area.
新澳门六合彩 monitors seagrass in Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay, Clearwater Harbor, and St. Joseph Sound. Results are summarized every two years, after compiling annual field data. The acreage of seagrass in Tampa Bay has increased significantly in recent years and is reaching targets set in the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’s Comprehensive Management Plan for Tampa Bay.