U.S. FISH &

National 'Veil"md. R","c;nch CeIH",,:

NASA. Slide!! Co:mp1e1t

:uno Gause Boulevard

Slidell, LA 7045S

Biological Report 85(15)

December 1984

TAMPA SAY ENVIRONMENTAL ATLAS

By

J. Thomas Kunneke

and

Thomas F. Palik

Martel Laboratories, Inc.

7100 30th Avenue North

St. Petersburg, FL 33710

This study was sponsored by the

Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Project Officer

James Johnston

National Coastal Ecosystems Team

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

NASA/Slidell Computer Complex

1010 Gause Boulevard

Slidell, LA 70458

Performed for

National Coastal Ecosystems Team

Division of Biological Services

Research and Development

Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington, DC 20240
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kunneke, J. Thomas.

Tampa Bay environmental atlas.

(Biological report / Fish and Wildlife Service

85 (15))

"Project officer, James Johnston, National Coastal

Ecosystems Team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

NASA/Sl ide" Computer Complex. II

Supt. of Docs. no.: I 49.89/2:85(15)

1. Coastal ecology--Florida--Tampa Bay Region--Maps.

2. Coastal zone management--Florida--Tampa Bay Region--

Maps. 3. Tampa Bay Region (Fla.)--Maps. I. Palik,

Thomas F. II. Martel Laboratories. III. National

Coastal Ecosystems Team (U.S.) IV. U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service. V. Series: Biological report (Washington, DC) ; 85-15.

G1317.T3C6K8 1986 912'.13339164'0916364 86-600552

This report and the accompanying atlas should be cited:

Kunneke, J.T., and T.F. Palik. 1984.

Fish Wildl. Servo Bio1. Rep. 85(15). B21).

Tampa Bay environmental atlas. U.S.

73 pp. + 38 separate maps (AI through
PREFACE

The purpose of the Tampa Bay Environmental Atlas is to compile existing

biological and water resource data for the Tampa Bay ecosystem and map these

data at a scale of 1:24,000. The atlas was compiled in conjunction with the

1982, 1972, and 1952 wetland land-use mapping of the Tampa Bay area, which is

also at a scale of 1:24,000. The Tampa Bay Environmental Atlas consists of

composited information overlain on 18 biological and 20 water resource base

maps to produce a total of 38 maps, and an accompanying map narrative.

Federal, State and local decision-makers will be able to use this atlas and its

accompanying map narrative for coastal planning and management of the wetland

areas within the Tampa Bay ecosystem study area.

This project was conducted under Contract FWS 14-16-0009-83-002. Funding

was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Any questions regarding this publication should be directed to:

Information Transfer Specialist

National Coastal Ecosystems Team

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

NASA/Slidell Computer Complex

1010 Gause Boulevard

Slidell, Louisiana 70458

; ; ;
CONVERSION TABLE

r~etric to U.S. Customary

~lul tip ly

mill imeters (mrn)

centimeters (an)

meters (m)

ki 1ometers (km)

2

square meters {m) 2

squa re ki 1ometers (km )

hectares (ha)

liters (1)

cubic meters (m 3

)

cubi c meters

milligrams (mg)

grams {g)

kil ograms (kg)

metric tons (t)

metric tons

kilocalories (kcal)

eel sius degrees

inches

inches

feet (ft)

fathoms

mil es (mil

oau ': ical miles (nm i)

square feet (ft 2

)

ac res 2

square miles (mi )

;anons (gal)

cubic feet (ft 3 )

,jere-feet

c:unces (oz)

:)0 rds (lb)

S [10 rt tons (ton)

fhtish thennal units (Btu)

~ahrenheit degrees

!?1.

0.03937

0.3937

3.281

0.6214

10.76

0.3861

2.471

0.2642

35.31

0.0008110

0.00003527

0.03527

2.205

2205.0

1.102

3.968

1.8(OC) + 32

U.S. Customary to Metric

25.40

2.54

0.3048

1.829

1.609

1.852

0.0929

0.4047

2.590

3.785

0.02831

1233.0

28.35

0.4536

0.9072

0.2520

O.5556(OF - 32)

;v

To Obtain

inches

inches

feet

mi 1es

square feet

square miles

acres

gallons

cubic feet

acre-feet

ounces

ounces

pounds

pounds

short tons

Brit ish thennal units

Fahrenheit degrees

mill imeters

cent imeters

meters

meters

ki 1ometers

ki 1o'11eters

square meters

hectares

square kilometers

1Hers

cubi c meters

cubic meters

grams

kil ograms

metric tons

kilocalories

Celsius degrees
PREFACE .

CONVERSION TABLE .

FIGURES .

TABLES .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .

CONTENTS

iii

iv

vii

ix

x

1. INTRODUCTION .

1.1

1.

1.3

Genera 1 .

Biological Resourc

Water Resources ...

5 ..

1

1

3

3

2. BIGLOGICAL RESOURCES ... 4

2. Approved Shellfish Harvest Area.... 4

2.2 Oyster Beds , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.3 Clams............. 6

2. Finfish Spawning, i'ursery, and Harvest Areas................... 7

2. ::; Colonial Bird Nest ng Sites.................................... 11

2.6 Manatee Habitat... 15

2. 7 Seagrass Beds..... 15

2. Macroalgae.................................................... 16

2.9 Artificial Reefs.. 16

3. WATER RESOURCES . 18

3.1 Salinity.......... 18

3.2 Poi nt Source Di schcrges. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3.3 Dredge Spoil Dispo al Arei1s.................................... 23

3.4 Tide Stations..... 23

3.5 Water Qual ity ' . .. . 30

3.6 Bathymetry........ 36

3.7 Intertidal Zone... 41

3.8 Sediments......... 41

3.9 Tidal Currents........... 42

3.10 Freshwater-Saltwater Intei'face................................. 45

v
4. APPENDIXES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

4.1 Appendix A - Tampa Bay Water Quality Stations Five-Year

Seasonal Means................................................. 50

4.2 Appendix B - 1982 Commercial Landings (Pounds) and

Exvessel Values (Dollars) for Selected Finfish Species

for Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties....... ..... ... 60

4.3 Appendix C - 1982 Commercial Landings (Pounds) and

Exvessel Values (Dollars) for Selected Shellfish

Species for Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties....... 60

4.4 Appendix D - Colonial Bird Nesting Site Matrix.... 61

5. NARRATIVE REFERENCES................................................ 65

6. SOURCES OF MAPPED INFORMATION........ 68

6.1 Biological Resources........................................... 68

6.2 Water Resources. . ... .. . ... . . .... . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . 70

7. GLOSSARy.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

vi
FIGURES

Number

1 Quadrangles included in Tampa Bay environmental atlas 2

2 Approved shellfish harvest areas in Tampa Bay...... 5

3 Isopleth map of mean annual total chlorophyll (~g/l)

for Tampa Bay, 1978-1983...................................... 31

4 Mean monthly stream discharge (1952-1966) for four

major rivers discharging into Tampa Bay 33

5 Isopleth map of annual specific conductivity (mmhos/cm)

for Tampa Bay, 1978-1983...................................... 34

6 Isopleth map of annual turbidity for Tampa Bay, 1978-1983..... 35

7 Monthly water temperatures for St. Petersburg, Florida,

1947-1962. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

8 Isopleth map of annual middepth water temperature for

Tampa Bay, 1978-1983.......................................... 38

9 Isopleth map of annual total nitrogen for Tampa Bay,

1978-1983 , .. . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . . . 39

10 An example of a bathymetric map of Tampa Bay

(1:250,000 scale) 40

11 Generalized sediment map of the Tampa Bay area 43

12 Mean monthly St. Petersburg mean sea level, 1947-1980 44

13 Mean annual St. Petersburg mean sea level, 1947-1980..... .... 44

14 Typical flood tide current flow in Tampa Bay 46

15 Typical ebb tide current flow in Tampa Bay 47

16 Resultant current flow for one tidal cycle in Tampa Bay 48

vii
Number

17 Generalized position of the freshwater-saltwater interface

in the upper portion of the Floridan aquifer across the

Tampa Bay area (1979); 250 mg/l chloride concentration

isop1eth, or contour 1i ne .

viii

49
Number

1

2

3

4

5

TABLES

Artificial reefs .

Industrial point source discharges .

Municipal point source discharges .

National Ocean Service tide station data .

National Ocean Service tidal datums at Clearwater

and St. Petersburg .

ix

17

21

24

27

29
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This atlas was funded by the National Coastal Ecosystems Team, Division of

Biological Services, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the

Interior, Washington, D.C.

The authors sincerely appreciate the critical reviews of the first draft

of thi s report whi ch were provi ded by the Tampa Port Authori ty, Offi ce of

Environmental Affairs: William K. Fehring; U.S. Geological Survey, Tampa:

Carl Goodwin; Office of the Governor, Tallahassee: Libby Herland; Florida

Department of Environmental Regulation, Tampa: Ralph Moon; Tampa Bay Regional

Planning Council, St. Petersburg: Michael McKinley; Florida Department of

Natura1 Resources, St. Petersburg: Barbara Harri s; U. S. Fi sh and Wil dl ife

Service, Vera Beach: Joe Carroll; University of South Florida, Engineering

Department, Tampa: Bernard Ross; Mangrove Systems, Inc., Tampa: Roy

Lewis III; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville: David Wesley; Gulf of

Mexico. ~1inerals f'1anagement Service, New Orleans: Larry Handley. We would

also like to acknowledge the assistance of the staff at the National Coastal

Ecosystems Team including Joyce Rodberg, Daisy Singleton, Dianne Cain, Anita

McKelroy, Gaye Farris, Rob Brown, and Sue Lauritzen.

Martel Laboratories gratefully acknowledges the input and advice from the

many individuals and organizations which supplied data for this atlas.

x
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL

The Tampa Bay Environmental Atlas is a comprehensive large-scale atlas of

the bi 01 ogi ca1 and water resources of the Tampa Bay area. The study area is

the greater Tampa Bay coastal region within the following 21 U.S. Geological

Survey 1:24,OOO-scale quadrangle maps (Figure 1): .

Oldsmar

Citrus Park

Clearwater

Safety Harbor

Gandy Bridge

Tampa

Brandon

Seminole

St. Petersburg

Port Tampa

Gibsonton

Riverview

Pass-A-Grille Beach

Cockroach Bay

Ruskin

Egmont Key

Anna Maria

Palmetto

Parri sh

Bradenton

Lorraine

The atlas is being produced in conjunction with the 1982, 1972, and 1952

wetland land-use mapping of the Tampa Bay area, which is also being mapped at a

scale of 1:24,000. The Tampa Environmental Atlas consists of composited

information overlain on 18 biological and 20 water resource base maps to

produce 38 maps and thi s accompanyi ng map narrati ve report. Map numbers A19,

A20, A21, and B19 were not printed due to lack of data on the resources of this

area. The data used in the production of this atlas meet all cartographic

standards and specifications outlined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Previously or newly acquired map data and collateral information have been

compiled to produce this atlas.

The topics included within this map narrative are biological resources and

water resources.

Federal, State, and local decisionmakers will be able to use this atlas

for coastal planning and management of the wetland areas within the Tampa Bay

ecosystem study area.

Included within the Tampa Bay Environmental Atlas are Tampa Bay (200.4

mi 2 ), Hillsborough Bay (,10.4 mi 2 ), Old Tampa Bay (78.3 mi 2 ), 30ca Ciega Bay

(26.9 mi 2 ), St. Joseph Sound (53.2 mi 2 ), and the northern portion of Sarasota

Bay (55.6 mi 2 ). The average depth of these waters is 11.4 ft (mhw) UkNulty

et a1. 1972; Lewis and Whitman 1984).

1
I

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

- - - ~ATEE C'ii'UNTv - - - --I.

I

.

I

,

I

I

---····----l

BRANDON I

PARRISH

CITRUS PARK

- --pjNELLASY- • - - - • - • - - -- • --- - - --- - -,

~I .

I

I

I

I

I

Figure 1. Quadrangles included in Tampa Bay environmental atlas.

2
1.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

The Tampa Bay ecosystem is part of the Outer Coastal Plain Ecological

Province according to R.G. Bailey (1978). The Outer Coastal Plain Ecological

Province is an area of gentle slopes with numerous rivers and creeks. Swamps,

marshes, and 1akes are abundant in the regi on and support a wi de vari ety of

animal life. The Hillsborough, Alafia, Little Manatee, and Manatee Riveros all

empty into Tampa Bay, which is a drowned river valley.

Biological map topics are approved shellfish harvest areas, oyster beds,

clams, scallops, finfish, shore birds, wading birds, manatee habitat, seagrass

beds, and artificial reefs.

1.3 WATER RESOURCES

The topics on the water resource maps include salinity (mapped as specific

conductivity), point source discharges, dredge spoil disposal areas, tide

stations, water quality, bathymetry, the intertidal zone, sediments (mapped by

grain size), tidal currents, and the freshwater-saltwater interface.

3
2. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

2.1 APPROVED SHELLFISH HARVEST AREAS

Approved shellfish harvest areas depicted in the atlas are defined by

strict water quality standards and do not show actual extent of shellfish

aggregations. Continual monitoring of fecal coliform bacteria levels is

conducted by the Flori da Department of Natural Resources (FDNR), Bureau of

Marine Regulation and Development through the Department1s Shellfish

Envi ronmenta1 Assessment Secti on. She llfish harvest areas are cl assifi ed as

either approved, conditionally approved, prohibited, or unclassified. Approved

areas consistently fulfill water quality criteria (a total coliform bacteria of

less than 70 colonies per 100-ml sample). Conditionally approved areas also

meet water quality standards, but are subject to more frequent localized

changes from flooding and urban runoff which reduce water quality. Prohibited

areas, whi ch consi stently do not fulfi 11 such requi rements, are offi ci ally

prohib"ted for the harvesting of shellfish. Unclassified areas are not

subjected to continual water quality monitoring and are officially unapproved

for shellfish harvesting. The classification of all coastal and estuarine

waters is subject to change due to water quality standards. Cunent shellfish

harvest status of any particular area can be obtained from county health

departments and the local office of the FDNR, Shellfish Environmental

Assessment Section, Punta Gorda, Florida, (813) 639-3443.

Shellfish is a broad term applied to many invertebrates. The water

quality constraints imposed by shellfish harvest areas are directed at those

species of shellfish which filter water to feed, specifically clams and

oysters. These fi 1tel' feeders, eaten in thei renti rety, have the potentia1 to

concentrate pathogens and toxins (Palik and Lewis 1984).

The generalized location of shellfish harvest areas is shown in Figure 2.

Total commercial landings by shellfish species for Pinellas, Hillsborugh, and

Manatee Counties for 1982 are itemized in Appendix c.

2.2 OYSTER BEDS

The American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) spawns during the late spring

and summer, generally from April through October. Larvae are pelagic for 2-3

weeks, then settle and become permanently attached to pil i ngs, red mangrove

roots, seawalls, or hard 5ubstY'ate in the form of oys ter reefs. They then

grow rap-idly, provided water flow, temperatuy'e, and salinity are favorable.

Good water flow not only aids in dispersal of the iarvae, but also assures

transport of nutri ents and removal of wastes. Oysters can to1e'rate a wi de

salinity l'ange (l0-30 ppt). Temperatures of 25° to 26°C and sa-linities of

4
GULF

OF

MEXICO

CLEARWATER

LARGO

Legend: [J] Approved shellfish harvest areas

~conditionallY approved shellfish harvest areas

Figure 2. Approved shellfish harvest areas in Tampa Bay (Florida

Department of Natural Resources 1984).

5
25 ppt promote optimal growth. Oysters in Florida attain marketable size in

about 3 years. Oysters are filter feeders, sorting food by size during

ingestion. Phytoplankton, bacteria, and detritus are important foods (McNulty

et a1. 1972).

In the Tampa Bay study area, this species grows on nearly any suitable

substrate such as seawalls and ridge-shaped reefs. The large, naturally

occurring aggregations of oysters are depicted on the atlas maps as public

oyster beds (Oys-l).

In selected areas, portions of submerged lands within estuaries have been

leased by private interests from the State of Florida to grow oysters. These

areas appear on the atlas maps as private oyster beds (Oys-2). Certain areas

acquired for oyster growing were subsequently closed to shellfish harvesting by

the FDNR due to water quality below approved criteria.

Because they are fi lter feeders, oysters can concentrate mi cro-organisms

and heavy metals as much as several thousandfold; this poses a potential health

hazard si nce oysters are often found in shall ow estuari es whi ch may be

contaminated with effluent containing pathogenic bacteria and viruses. For

this reason, oyster harvesting is regulated according to strict water quality

standards. Because estuarine water quality is subject to rapid change, oyster

areas must be monitored frequently and may be only conditionally approved.

State law prohibits taking oysters between June 1 and August 31. The minimum

allowable size for taking oysters is 3 inches as determined by State law.

Oysters are not a commercially important shellfish in the Tampa Bay study area;

only 132 lb brought in $167 in 1982 (Snell 1984).

2.3 CLAMS

Three species of clams occur in significant abundance in the Tampa Bay

study area: the northern quahog (Mercenari a mercenari a), the southern quahog

(Mercenaria campechiensis), and the sunray venus clam (Macrocallista nimposa).

All are found in estuaries and coastal waters from the mean high tide level to

depths of 50 ft and in salinities of 20-35 ppt. Generalized areas of known

clam concentrations as determined by Sims and Stokes 1967, Godcharles and Jaap

1973, Tracy 1983, and Sprague 1984 are shown as closed polygons on the

individual atlas maps (please see Section 6.1.3).

Clams prefer sandy bottoms in areas of low turbidity (clear water). Too

much silt in the water can smother the animals. In bays, clams tend to occur

in seagrasses and algal assemblages. The northern quahog did not historically

occur on the west coast of Florida, but recent introductions appear to have

established successful populations in Tampa Bay. Quahogs spawn between April

and August, and sunray venus clams from July through December. Planktonic

larvae remain in the water column for about 2 weeks before settling and

burrowing into the sediments. Juveniles are subject to predation by the blue

crab (Callinectes sapidus). Southern quahogs grow to commercial siz~ rapidly,

reaching minimum size in 1 to 1.5 years, while northern quahogs requlre 2 to 3

years, and sunray venus clams 5 to 6 years. The life expectancy of quahogs can

be more than 15 years.

6
Clams are suspension feeders, filtering detritus and micro-organisms from

the water column. Thus, they may accumulate toxins and pathogens associated

with red tides or polluted water. Areas of Tampa Bay support clam fisheries on

a sporadic basis. State law regulates clam harvesting according to water

quality standards; also, certain kinds of harvesting equipment (dredges) are

prohibited because they cause excessive damage to sensitive areas such as

seagrass meadows (Godcharles and Jaap 1973).

Clams are harvested in the Tampa Bay area in waters mostly less than 5 ft

by the use of handheld clam rakes which cause little increase in water

turbi dity (McNulty et a1. 1972 ; Pal i k and Lewi s 1984). Cl ams are not a

commercially important shellfish with only 70 lb bringing in $158 in 1982

(Snell 1984). However, they represent a commercially valuable recreational

fishery.

2.4 FINFISH SPAWNING, NURSERY, AND HARVEST AREAS

The sheltered embayments of the estuaries in and around Tampa Bay provide

vital habitat for adult and nursery stocks of the commercial and recreational

finfish found in the Tampa Bay study area.

Finfish spawning, nursery, and harvest areas are keyed to a species data

matrix in the supplemental legend of each biological resource map.

2.4.1 Estuarine-Dependent Fishes

The fo 11 owi ng fi nfi sh descri ptions were taken from Pal i k and Lewis 1984.

Landings by fish species can be found in Appendix B.

2.4.1.1 Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Red drum inhabit estuarine and

nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters. Spawning occurs in nearshore coastal areas

beginning in September and continuing through February. Larvae are transported

to estuari ne nursery areas by currents, where they remai n duri ng the summer,

developing into juveniles which leave the estuary with the onset of cold

weather. As the fish mature, they apparently prefer to spend more time in the

shallow nearshore gulf. Red drum are primarily bottom feeders with a

preference for crabs and shrimp. They exhibit secondary midwater and surface

feeding. There is a 12-inch minimum size limit on red drum.

2.4.1.2 Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). The spotted seatrout is

very closely tied to the estuary. Spawning occurs within the estuary and

possibly in those waters immediately adjacent to the mouth of the estuary.

South Florida stocks apparently spawn year round with a major peak in the

spring and a minor peak in the fall. Essentially nonmigratory, seatrout

exhibit a random residential range within the estuary. Tagging studies have

shown that most fish move less than 30 mi. Seagrass meadows are the primary

habitat for the spotted seatrout.

Each estuary appears to have a uni que breedi ng stock, each stock havi ng

slightly different morphological traits. Habitat preference appears to be

seagrass beds. Spotted seatrout feed on fi sh, shrimp, and other crustaceans

7
and become more pisci vorous as they mature. A 12- inch mi ni mum size 1i mit is

imposed throughout the study area.

2.4.1. 3 Snook (Centropomus undecimalis). Snook are essentially tropical

fish and sensitive to cold-induced mortality. Spawning, possibly

lunar-induced, occurs at and near tidal passes from late May through July.

Eggs and 1arvae are transported to estuari ne and bracki sh nursery areas by

currents. Juveniles live in the upper reaches of the estuary, primarily in

brackish streams, ditches, and tidal freshwater creeks. Snook are essentially

nonmigratory, but do exhibit a residential range within the estuary and a net

movement to the passes duri ng the spawni ng season. Snoo k feed on fi sh and

crustaceans. A closed season on snook exists between June 1 and July 31 and

between January 1 and February 28. A possession limit of two fish and a

minimum size limit of 18 inches have also been imposed. This judicious action

has been imposed in an effort to promote recovery of a declining population.

2.4.1.4 Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). The sheepshead is a

popular sport fish caught along piers, bridges and seawalls of the Tampa Bay

area. It is considered an advanced member of the family Sparidae, which is a

group of deep bodied perciform fishes that primarily have a tropical

distribution. Spawning takes place from March to May along the sandy beaches

in the early evening. Juveniles migrate to seagrass areas after hatching.

Adult sheepshead generally inhabit areas of rocks, piling, and seawalls in the

bays and usually school before spawning just offshore of the major bays. The

chief foods for adults are hard mollusks and crustaceans (Mook 1971).

2.4.1.5 Southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma). Spawning occurs

offshore in fall and winter when adults migrate from estuarine and coastal

nearshore waters. The buoyant eggs usually hatch within 2 days, and larvae

move to inshore and estuarine nursery areas. During this time, the symmetric

larvae undergo a metamorphosis in which the skull contorts and the right eye

moves around to the left of the body. Juveniles typically inhabit shallow

estuarine grass beds where they feed largely on marine worms, crustaceans, and

fish. Adults are capable of protective coloration changes to blend with the

surrounding bottom and feed almost exclusively on fish and crustaceans. The

State has imposed an II-inch minimum size limit on flounders.

2.4.1.6 Flori da pompano (Trachi notus caro 1i nus). Although the exact

spawning location is unknown, pompano are considered to spawn offshore,

evidenced by the appearance of very early larval forms in offshore gulf waters.

The peak of an extended spawning season is from April through June. Rapidly

growing juveniles prefer open beach areas where they forage for crustaceans and

mollusks. Florida supplies nearly 90% of the U.S. population of pompano, which

commands the highest price per pound of any fish in the Southern United States.

Florida law prohibits the harvest of pompano less than 9.5 inches long.

2.4.1.7 Striped mullet (Mugil cephalus). Spawning occurs between October

and January in offshore waters. Floating eggs typically hatch within 2 days,

and the deve1opi ng p1anktoni c 1arvae move into estuari ne nursery areas where

they remain until sexual maturity, approximately 2 to 3 years. Larvae and

small juveniles feed on zooplankton, while juveniles and adults are

herbivorous, feeding on diatOOls, algae, and benthic detritus. With the

8
exception of the seaward spawning migration in the fall, mullet remain in and

are directly dependent on the estuary.

2.4.1.8 Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus). The gulf menhaden is

abundant in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and commercial harvesting efforts are

concentrated in that region. Spawning probably takes place in coastal inshore

areas. Planktonic larvae are selective carnivores and migrate inshore and

enter the estuarine nursery areas as juveniles. Juveniles develop a

specialized gill raker-alimentary tract complex with which they feed by

nonselective omnivorous filtering. Movement into and established residence in

the estuary are an integral part of the menhaden life cycle.

2.4.1.9 Black drum (Pogonias cromis). Black drum, although not

commercially important, are a popular fish among sports fishermen in Tampa Bay.

Black drum use Tampa Bay as a nursery in the summer and fall.

2.4.2 Reef Fishes

Groupers and snappers are important to both the recreational and

commercial fisheries of the region. Generally, they spawn offshore over the

Conti nenta1 Shelf. Pel agi c 1arvae are transported great di stances by oceani c

currents. Upon their arrival at inshore, coastal, and estuarine nursery areas,

juveniles seek cover and forage for fishes and crustaceans. Typically, as

these fish develop, they move offshore. Although inhabitants of other areas,

these fish generally seek out structures with some vertical relief, such as

wrecks, artificial and coral reefs, rocky areas, holes, and ledges. Most

groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites, beginning life as females and

transforming into males at around age 5 to 7 years. The State of Florida

imposes a 12-inch minimum size on groupers.

2.4.2.1 Red grouper (Epinephelus morio). Commonly offshore of Tampa Bay,

the red grouper spawns in the spri ng over the Conti nenta1 Shelf. Juvenil es

develop in coastal areas and tend to move offshore with age. This is an

economically important species in the Tampa Bay study area.

2.4.2.2 Jewfish (Epinephelus itajara). The jewfish is the largest of the

groupers and can attain lengths in excess of 8 ft and weigh over 700 lb.

Spawni ng happens in offshore waters duri ng July and August. Juveni 1es and

young adults inhabit coastal and estuarine seagrass beds and mangroves.

Although occasionally occurring inshore, marine jewfish tend to frequent

offshore habitats.

2.4.2.3 Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis). The gag and the red are

the major groupers contributing to the commercial and recreational fishery.

The gag is the most frequently caught inshore grouper on the peni nsul ar gul f

coast. Spawni ng is between January and March in the offshore waters of the

Continental Shelf. Juveniles inhabit nearshore and estuarine nursery areas.

Though found offshore, adult gag groupers also reside in nearshore habitats.

2.4.2.4 Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax). More common offshore, the adult

scamp is not relatively abundant in coastal waters. Scamp spawn offshore

9
during March and April. Adults are more common over hard, broken bottoms such

as rock and coral.

2.4.2.5 Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). Although the specific

spawning location is not known, red snapper probably spawn in offshore waters

of the Continental Shelf from late June until October. Larvae are transported

or move to coastal and estuarine waters. Juveniles prefer inshore areas of mud

or sand bottoms and exercise an offshore movement as a function of size.

Primarily found offshore, adult red snapper are not harvested in coastal and

nearshore waters, but are an economically important species in the region.

2.4.2.6 Mangrove snapper (Lutjanus griseus). Although occurri ng in

offshore habitats, the mangrove snapper is the most common inshore snapper in

the Tampa Bay study area. Adults are commonly found around structures,

grass beds , and mangroves in the estuary. However, spawning takes place

offshore from April through October. Larvae are transported inshore, and

j uvenil es are common in estuari ne seagrass beds and mangrove-fri nged

shorelines. This species is also referred to as the gray snapper.

2.4.3 Coastal Pelagic Fishes

The mackerels are fast-swimming, oceanic fishes that make extensive

seasonal migrations.

2.4.3.1 King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla). The king mackerel is one

of the most economically important finfish, both commercially and

recreationa11y, 1n Florida. Spawning occurs in waters over the Outer

Continental Shelf and in adjacent offshore currents between May and September.

Little is known of juvenile forms; most inshore collections have been

incidental in shrimp trawls. Adults undertake mass migrations. Evidently

there are several populations of kingfish in Florida, and there is some

intermixing. The gulf stock is apparently composed mostly of fish which winter

between Cape Canaveral and Key West. These fi sh move into the gulf in the

spring, move north, and spend the summer in the northern gulf as far west as

Texas. A return migration to southeast Florida is demonstrated during the fall

and winter. Another population of king mackerel, which is present off the

southeast coast of Florida in the spring, apparently moves down the Atlantic

coast to spawn. Adults feed on small schooling jacks, menhaden and other

schooling herring-like fish, shrimp, and squid.

2.4.3.2 Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus). The Spanish mackerel

also supports a large recreational and commercial fishery in Florida. Whereas

king mackerel are not commonly associated with nearshore areas, the Spanish

mackerel frequently enters saline embayments during migration. Spanish

mackerel spawn over the Inner Continental Shelf from May through September.

Juvenile movements are poorly known, although they are captured inshore in

shrimp trawls. Separate stocks are presumed for each coast of Florida. Fish

wintering in Florida Bay migrate into the northeastern gulf in the spring and

return by the fo 11 owi ng wi nter. Spanish mackerel feed heavily on menhaden and

commonly eat anchovies, small jacks, squid, and shrimp. There is a 12-inch

minimum size limit imposed by the State of Florida.

10
2.5 COLONIAL BIRD NESTING SITES

Habitat diversity, mild winter climate, and geographic location allow

Tampa Bay to support one of the ri chest assemblages of avi fauna in the

continental United States. The vast expanses of coastal mudflats, saline

marsh, and the mangrove-sheltered embayments, as well as the marshes, wooded

swamps, and cypress stands of the interior provide the forage areas and nesting

substrate essential to the survival of vast populations of seabirds, shore

birds, wading birds, and waterfowl which predominate in the region. Nesting

colonies are depicted on the atlas by numbered symbols. Species composition of

each colony is listed in Appendix D. Information pertaining to the following

species was provided by the National Audubon Society, Florida Audubon Society,

and Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Volume 2, Birds (Pritchard 1978).

2.5.1 Shore birds

Shorebirds include gulls, terns, sandpipers, plovers, stilts, skimmers,

and oystercatchers. Resident nesting species use coastal mudflats, saline and

brackish marshes, sheltered embayments, and estuarine and coastal open water as

forage areas. Nesting usually occurs on undisturbed beaches, islands, and sand

spits where vegetation is sparse of absent. Tampa Bay is host to a wi de

variety of migrant and wintering shore birds including plovers, sandpipers,

turnstones , yell owl egs, godwits, and avocets. Gull s and terns capture small

fish by hovering and diving.

2.5.1.1 American oystercatcher (Hematopus palliatus). Resident

populations are estimated at between 100 and 200 pairs. This local population

is augmented by wi nter mi grants from mi d-At1anti c States each year.

Noncolonial nesting occurs on islands in tidal bays on unvegetated sand or

she 11 well above the hi gh water mark. Two or three eggs are usually 1ai d.

Oyster beds and mudfl ats are the primary forage areas where oystercatchers

secure their diet of mollusks and crustaceans. Tampa Bay appears to be an area

of concentration for this species. The American oystercatcher is listed as a

species of special concern by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission

(FGFWFC).

2.5.1.2 Snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrius tenuirostris). The Cuban

snowy plover is listed as an endangered species by the FGFWFC, and is currently lI under reviewll by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Conservative

estimates place the gulf coast population at 100 pairs. Nesting habitat

requirements are isolated, expansive, dry, sandy beaches where breeding takes

place from April to June. Eggs, usually three, are laid in a shallow

depression which is sometimes lined with shell fragments. Snowy plovers

forage in search of insects, worms, moll usks, and crustaceans on dry and

tidally influenced sand flats. No other bird species in Florida is so

dependent on sandy beaches for nesting and foraging habitat. In general,

site-specific nesting colony data are sparse for this species due to either

the small numbers of individuals which constitute a colony or the transitory

nature of the colony location.

2.5.1.3 Wilson's plover (Charadrius wilsonia). The Wilson's plover

breeds sporadically from the Tampa Bay area southward through the Keys.

11
(Sterna caspi a). Thi s uncommon tern nests on

The fi rst nesti ng pai r was found in 1961 on a

Ciega Bay. In 1978, 30 nesting pairs were located

Nesting habitat diversity ranges from interior marshes to dredged spoil

islands.

2.5.1.4 Laughing gull (Larus articilla). The laughing gull is the most

common breeding gull in the study area. Nests are on both natural and dredged

material islands where low vegetation covers sandy soil. Typically one to

three eggs are laid in late April and early May, and young birds fledge by late

August. The largest laughing gull nesting colony in Florida, composed of about

20,000 individuals, was on a dredged material island in Boca Ciega Bay (Tampa

Bay) until it was recently destroyed for a condominium development. The

largest current colony is on dredged material disposal islands in Hillsborough

Bay (Paul 1984).

2.5.1.5 Least tern (Sterna albifrons). This easily disturbed species

requires sandy, unvegetated nesting substrate such as sand spits, islands,

dunes, and gravel-covered rooftops. Two eggs are usually laid in shallow

scraps in the sand. Nesting begins in late April. The least tern is listed as

a threatened species by the FGFWFC. It has recently been found breeding on

new dredged material islands in Hillsborough Bay.

2.5.1.6 Royal tern (Sterna maxima). This uncommon tern nests

periodically in small numbers in the study area and occasionally within

colonies of laughing gulls.

2.5.1.7 Caspian tern

sparsely vegetated islets.

dredge spoil island in Boca

in Hillsborough Bay.

2.5.1.8 Gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica). This relatively rare

tern nests in low numbers with colonies of laughing gulls and black skimmers in

the Tampa Bay area.

2.5.1.9 Black skimmer (Rynchops nigra). Black skimmers nest from May

through August on bare or sparsely vegetated beaches, dunes, spits, or dredged

spoil islands.

2.5.2 Wading Birds

Vast expanses of coastal and i nteri or wetland habitat support a great

number of colonial nesting wading birds including herons, egrets, and ibises.

The following wading bird descriptions were taken from Palik and Lewis (1984).

2.5.2.1 Great blue heron (Ardea herodius). The great blue heron begins

nesting in early January in small numbers with other colonial waders, or in

small specific colonies. Major forage areas consist of interior marshes,

shallow areas of sheltered saline embayments, and inland bodies of water.

Major prey are fish and crustaceans, although the di et may be augmented by

small reptiles and mammals. The great blue heron is a common breeding resident

in the entire study area.

12
2.5.2.2 Little blue heron (Florida caerulea). The little blue heron

inhabits fresh or brackish marshes. The nesting season begins in February and

lasts through August or September. The average clutch size consists of three

eggs. Little blue herons prefer freshwater and brackish habitats in which to

forage for fish, crustaceans, insects, and small reptiles and amphibians. This

species is listed by the state as a species of special concern.

2.5.2.3 Tricolored heron (Hydranassa tricolor). The tricolored heron is

common in estuarine habitats where it forages for small fish and crustaceans.

Typically the breeding season extends from March to July during which time

three or four eggs are laid in mixed or single species colonies. The

tricolored heron is listed as a species of special concern by the FGFWFC.

2.5.2.4 Green heron (Butorides striatus). This common species is

typically a solitary nester but will sometimes nest in small numbers on the

edge of other wading bird colonies.

2.5.2.5 Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). Feeding

occurs in all shallow water habitats, but breeding concentrations appear to be

associated with estuarine habitats where nesting is usually in mangroves or

Brazilian pepper trees (Schinus terebinthifolius). The species breeds from

March to July, and clutch size ranges from two to five eggs. A diet composed

largely of fish may be supplemented by mollusks, crustaceans, and small

reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. This is the most nocturnal foraging heron,

often preying on nestlings of ibis and other herons.

2.5.2.6 Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea). More diurnal

in nature than the black-crowned night heron, the yellow-crowned night heron

forages on coastal mudfl ats for fi ddl er crabs and other crustaceans whi ch

constitute a major portion of the diet. Typically forming small colonies with

other yellow-crowned night herons, this bird only occasionally nests with other

waders.

2.5.2.7 Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis). Since its first appearance in

1952, the cattle egret, an Old World species, has become the most abundant bird

in mixed-species heronries in Florida. Although it occupies coastal colonies,

it rarely forages in marine and estuarine areas.

2.5.2.8 Great egret (Casmerodius albus). The great egret uses a variety

of forage habitats, from open pasture and interior impoundments to coastlines

and saline marshes. The diet consists of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds,

small mammals, and various invertebrates. The great egret exhibits a

preference for more isolated heronries, where two to six eggs are laid per

clutch from March through July.

2.5.2.9 Snowy egret (Egretta thula). Snowy egrets typically nest in

mixed-species colonies. Although widely distributed in coastal as well as

interior wetlands, larger breeding colonies appear near estuarine habitats.

Eggs may be laid as early as December, although most nesting is between March

and August. The snowy egret is an active predator, often runni ng through

shallow water or along the shoreline in pursuit of small fish. The diet is

13
also supported by insects and crustaceans. The snowy egret is listed as a

species of special concern by the FGFWFC.

2.5.2.10 Reddish egret (Dichromanassa rufescens). Primarily a coastal

speci es, the reddish egret nests on mangrove is 1ands and feeds by actively

pursuing fish in the surrounding shallows. Nesting is initiated in April in

Tampa Bay. Individual pairs may nest alone, or in small groups associated with

mixed-species colonies. Clutch size ranges between two and five eggs. The

reddish egret is listed as a species of special concern by the FGFWFC, and is

currently lI under reviewll with the USFWS.

2.3.2.11 White ibis (Eudocimus albus). This is an abundant species which

flies and feeds in tight flocks. The diet consists largely of crayfish and

other crustaceans, but the whi te i bisalso eats insects, moll us ks, and small

fish which are secured from shallow water areas. The white ibis inhabits both

freshwater and estuarine wetlands where it nests on islands, marshes, or in

mangroves.

2.5.2.12 Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). This species inhabits

fresh, brackish, and saltwater wetlands, nesting colonially with other wading

bird species. Major foraging areas are grasslands, prairies, and high marsh

areas which are exposed to seasonal inundation by rainfall. Preferred food

items include crayfish and other crustaceans, and insects. Typically three or

four eggs are laid in the spring with breeding continuing through the summer.

2.5.2.13 Wood stork (Mycteria americana). The wood stork inhabits

freshwater and brackish marshes, where it forms large rookeries, nesting

primarily in cypress swamps and protected mangrove embayments. Breeding occurs

from November through January with clutch sizes ranging from two to four eggs.

Primary feeding areas are pools and depressions in marshes where small fish

concentrate. Feeding is accomplished by tacto-location probing. This species

is listed as endangered by both the FGFWFC and the USFWS.

2.5.2.14 Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga). Although the anhinga does nest in

some coastal wading bird colonies and is mapped with this group of species, it

is chiefly a resident of interior and brackish wetlands. Fish constitute the

bulk of the diet and are pursued and captured underwater.

2.5.2.15 Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). The doublecrested cormorant usually 1ays three or four eggs with most nesti ng in April

through June; however, nesting has been reported throughout the year.

Cormorants di ve after and pursue prey underwater, returni ng to the surface to

swallow the food item, usually fish. Double-crested cormorants nest often with

colonial wading birds, and for this reason nesting sites are mapped under the

heading of wading bird colonies in this atlas.

2.5.3 Eastern brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis)

The eastern brown pelican is listed by FGFWFC as a species of special

concern. Aerial surveys estimate the Florida breeding population to be around

8,000 pairs, of which approximately 50% are in the study area. Nesting occurs

in mangroves (Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans), usually on small coastal

14
islands, from early spring through summer. Two to three eggs are usually laid,

and food availability determines fledgling success. The diet consists

exclusively of fish, which are secured by plunge diving. Menhaden, mullet,

sardi nes, and pi nfi sh are the major prey. The hi gh i nci dence of fi rst year

mortality (approximately 70%) from starvation may be due to the inefficiency of

the young to secure prey.

2.5.4 Other Migrant Bird Species

Other' mi grant spec i es wi nteri ng throughout the study area inc 1ude common

loons (Gavia immer), white pelicans (Pe1ecanus erythrorhynchos), lesser scaups

(Arythya affi nis), r'uddy duck (Oxyura jamai censis), red-breasted mergansers

(Mergus serrator) , and roseate spoonbi 11 s (Aja i a ajaja). Mi grant bi rd

populations reach their peak between November and January.

2.6 MANATEE HABITAT

The location of all State manatee sanctuaries are shown on the individual

biological resource maps and are administered by the Florida Marine Patrol,

whi ch is a branch of the Flori da Department of Natural Resources. Detail ed

information on these sanctuaries can be found in the Boater's Guide to

Manatees, the Gentle Giants (Florida Marine Patrol 1980). The manatee is

considered an endangered species by both the USFWS and the FGFWFC.

2.7 SEAGRASS BEDS

Seagrass meadows have received much attention and are acknowledged to

provide sediment stabilization, habitat diver'sity, nursery habitat for finfish

and shellfish, and direct and indirect (detrital) food sources for many marine

species. (Phillips 1960, 1978; Taylor and Sa10man 1969; Zieman 1982; lewis et

a1. 1982).

As a di rect food source, seagrasses are consumed by sea urchi ns, a few

fish species, the green turtle and the manatee (Zieman 1982). As habitat,

seagrass meadows are particularly important as nursery grounds for juveniles of

pink shrimp, several species of grunts and snappers, snook, spotted seatrout,

red drum, and sheepshead. The adult form of some of these species may be more

commonly associated with other habitats (such as the association of snook with

mangroves), but the seagrass nursery habitat is probably vital in providing for

adults to be available to commercial and recreational fisheries.

Lewi s et a1. (1984) reported the occurrence of fi ve speci es of seagrasses

in Tampa Bay:

1. Thalassia testudinum (turt1egrass)

2. Ha10dule wrightii (shoal grass)

3. Syri ngodi urn fil iforme (manateegrass)

4. Ruppia maritima (widgeongrass)

5. Halophila engelmannii

15
Lewis et ale (1984) estimates that there are 14,202 acres of seagrass in

Tampa Bay.

Seagrass beds are portrayed by a habitat screen on the individual

biological resource maps. They were delineated from seagrass maps from Lewis

(1980) and from 1982 color photography, at a 1:24,000 scale.

2.8 MACROALGAE

Several hundred macroal gae speci es are found wi thin the Tampa Bay study

region (Humm 1973). Macroalgae are frequently the most conspicuous flora in

shallow water and proliferate below depths tolerated by seagrasses.

The Tampa Bay study area is the boundary area between tropical and

temperate species of brown algae (McNulty et ale 1972). Fifty-one percent of

the rnacroalgae found in the study area are red algae (RhOdOPhfta), 18% are

brown algae (Phaeophyta), and 31% are green algae (Chlorophyta (Humm 1973).

Unfortunately, the faunal assemblages associated with algal communities in

the study area and their ecological roles as habitat and food sources are

almost entirely unknown (Palik and Lewis 1984).

Ouri ng macroal gae bl OOO1S, the al gae compete wi th seagrasses for 1ight.

These blooms are caused by eutrophication in Tampa Bay.

~1acroalgae beds are not mapped on the atlas.

2.9 ARTIFICIAL REEFS

The artificial reefs program of the State of Florida is administered by

the Bureau of t~arine Science and Technology under Section 370.013 of the

Florida Statutes. Approximately $110,000 in grants were awarded in 1979 and

1980, which were the first 2 years of the newly adopted program (Florida

Department of Natural Resources 1981). The principal types of fish inhabiting

artificial reefs in the study area's coastal waters are grouper, snapper,

Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and amberjack. A list of artificial reefs

keyed by number on the atlas overlays is shown in Table 1.

Florida's coastal waters contain more artificial reefs than any other

state (Seaman 1982). Scientific development and deployment of artificial reefs

have been slow, with little research and little funding. Without considerable

volunteer effort to secure materials and free labor, many of the present

artificial reefs in the Tampa Bay study area would not exist. The largest

group of organizations which have put together an artificial reef program is

in Pinellas County. The cities of Clearwater, Madeira Beach, St. Petersburg,

St. Petersburg Beach, and Treasure Island and the Pinellas County Board of

Commissioners have built 20 reefs, 10 of which are presently maintained by

Pinellas County Mosquito Control. Its annual budget supports a small crew,

barge rental, operating expenses, and equipment (Seaman 1982).

16
Tab 1e 1. Artificial reefs.

Number Distance

on Depth offshore

map Composition Latitude Longitude (ft) (mi)

1 Concrete rubble, 27°47'11" 82°35 1 3JU 34-36 1.0

32-ft steel

hull ships

2 Tires, metal junk, 27°47 10611 82°50'02" 20-22 1.0

concrete rubble

3 Tires, metal junk, 27°47 1 00" 82°49 1 0811 20-22 1.3

concrete rubble

4 Ti res, clay pipes, 27°46'32" 82°35 1

48" 16 1.3

concrete rubble

5 Tires, clay pipes, 27°40 1 56" 82°38 1 01" 11 1.3

concrete rubble

6 Autos 27°39 11JU 82°35'2811 25 2.1

7 Concrete pipe 27°36 1 00" 82°46 1 00" 9 0.4

8 Concrete, tires 27°31'4211 82°38 1

42" 15 0.1

9 Concrete, tires 27°30'24" 82°35 1 0011 12 0.1

10 Tires, broken 27°23 15111 82°35'49" 12 1.0

concrete, sewer

tile

Virtually all artificial reefs in Florida are composed of either ships,

automobiles, tires, or concrete. New prefabricated artificial reefs are being

introduced in Florida (off Fort Lauderdale, Panama City, and Jacksonville) by

the Japanese under contract with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

17
3. WATER RESOURCES

3.1 SALINITY

Salinities have been routinely measured in Tampa Bay since 1954. Since

Tampa Bay is a stream-fed estuary, salinities are lowest at the time of

maximum stream discharge (normally during the late summer and early fall) and

highest at the time of minimum stream discharge (early winter). Historical

salinities have ranged from 0.9 to 30.3 parts per thousand (ppt) in Old Tampa

Bay (23.5 ppt mean), from 7.4 to 31.9 ppt in Hillsborough Bay (21.8 ppt mean),

from 14.0 to 36.8 ppt in Tampa Bay (28.4 ppt mean), from 22.7 to 37.3 ppt in

Boca Ci ega Bay (32.6 ppt mean), from 1. 0 to 33.7 ppt in the lower Manatee

River (24.5 ppt mean), and 33.9 to 36.4 ppt in Sarasota Bay (35.4 ppt mean).

These salinities are based on observations from 1954 to 1965 by Carl Saloman

(McNulty et al. 1972).

Specific conductivity has been measured in Tampa Bay since 1972 by the

Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (HCEPC). Salinity is

still measured, but the continuity of its data record is not as good as the

conductivity data. Specific conductivity or "electrical conductance" is a

measure of the ability of water to conduct an electrical current. It is

defined as the reciprocal of the resistance in ohms measured between opposite

faces of a centimeter cube of an aqueous solution and is expressed in

micromhos per centimeter (~mhos/cm) (Slack and Kaufman 1973).

The relationship of salinity to specific conductivity is well defined,

and salinity can be estimated accurately from conductivity data alone. The

1981 mean salinity for all 81 HCEPC water quality stations was 20.5 ppt;

average conductivity was 32,200 jJmhos/cm. To convert conductivity (f.,lmhos/cm)

to salinity (ppt), divide the conductivity data by 1, 570.

3.2 POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES

3.2.1 Industrial Point Source Discharges

The Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (FDER) in Tallahassee

keeps an updated computer data base on all i ndustri a1 poi nt source di scharges

in the study area. Individual point source discharges are numbered and

plotted on the individual atlas maps. A list describing each individual point

source is found in Table 2 (Florida Department of Environmental Regulation

1983a).

18
Table 2. Industrial point source discharges (Florida Department of Environmental Regulation 1983a).

Number

on

map

Name Latitude

DwnerLongitude ship

Receiving

body Capacity County

Process or

treatment

1

2

3

4

Amoco oil separator

Chevron USA 1,2,3

Del Monte Corp.

Fleet Transport Co.

27°56 1 00'1 82°27 1 00 11 Pri vate Sparkman

Channel

27°57 1 3011 82°32 1 3011 Private Tampa Bay

27°57 1 3011 82°25'3011 Private Drainage

ditch

27°56' 27" 82°26 126 11 Pri vate McKay Bay

N/Aa Hills.

N/A Hills.

N/A Hills.

80TGD Hi 11 s.

Evap. perc.

lagoon

Unknown

Surface

drainage

Tank truck

wash

N/A Hills.

.....

1.0

5

6

Gardinier, Inc.

Gibsonton Speedwash

27°51 13811 82°23'27" Private Alafia River

27°51 1 13'1 82°22' 5911 Pri vate Hill sborough

Bay

N/A Hills.

Unknown

Trickling

fil ter,

chlorination

7 IMC Port Sutton #1 27°54'1011 82°24 1 26 11 Private Port Sutton

Canal

8 Nitram Chemical #1 27°54 1 4011 82°23 1 5011 Private Delaney

Creek

9 Ruskin Laundromat 27°43'1311 82°25 1 5811 Private Little

Manatee Rd.

10 Seaboard Coastline RR 27°57 12111 82°23 14411 Private Palm River

11 TECD Big Bend 27°47 142 11 82°24 1 1611 Private Tampa Bay

coal runoff

(continued)

864TGD Hills.

N/A Hi 11 s.

10TGD Hills.

N/A Hi 11 s.

33MGD Hi 11 s.

IMC - Port

Sutton

Unknown

Trickling

filter

Unknown

Unknown
e

,"""". "

r

on Owftet- 'ling Process 01'

map Name Lat tude tude ship hodv Can8citv County tl'eatment

._~_._----_.

12 TECO Big Bend PI' vate Hil sDorouaD Hills. Unknown

cooiingwater

13 TEeO Big Bend 27°47'37" 82°24'35" Private Hi i lsborouQh Hi 11 s. Unknown

slag

14 TECO Gannon 27°54'21" 82°25'21" Private Hi 11 1268MGD Hi 11 $. Unknown

discharge

15 TECO Gannon 27°54'28" 82°25'24 H Private Hi 11 sbOl'ough N/A Hills. Unknown

saltwater pond Bay

N

0 16 TECO Hookers Point 27°56'18" 82°26'35" Private Sparkman N/A Hi 11 s. Unknown

Channel

17 TEeD Hookers Point 27°56 1 11" 82°26 1 35" Pri vate Sparkman N/A Hi n s. Unknown

outfa 11 Channel

18 W.R. Grace 27°54' 10" 82°25 1 30" Private Port Sutton N/A Hi 11 s. Unknown

NH3 terminal Canal

19 AMAX Piney Point 27°37 1 3911 82°31 1 21" Private Bishop N/A Manatee Unknown

Harbor

20 AMAX Piney Point 27°37'39" 82°31 1

21" Private Bishop N/A Manatee Unknown

Harbor

21 AMAX Piney Point 27°37 1

3911 82°31'21" Private Piney Point N/A Manatee Unknown

(continued)
Table 2 (continued)

Number

on Owner- Receiving Process or

map Name Latitude Longitude ship body Capacity County treatment

22 Beker Rock terminal 27°35 1 5911 82°33'4]1' Private Tampa Bay N/A Manatee Unknown

23 Nord Southern 27°30 1 5011 82°33'2011 Private Manatee N/A Manatee Unknown

River

24 Dixie Plating, Inc 27°48'4811 82°40 13211 Private Joe1s Creek N/A Pinellas Unknown

25 Florida Power 27°51 1

4011 82°36 1

0911 Private Tampa Bay N/A Pinellas Cooling Bartow discharge water

co11 ection

&storage N

I-' Florida Power 28°00 1

0411 82°39 14511 26 Private Tampa Bay N/A Pi ne11 as Cooling

Higgins discharge water

discharge

27 Modern Plating Corp. 27°52 1

1511 83°42 1 1511 Private Cross Bayou N/A Pinellas Rinse water

Canal discharge

28 PSC Industries 27°49 1 0011 82°41 1 3011 Private Joe1s Creek N/A Pinellas Unknown

29 Pinellas Industries 27°54 1

03 11 82°46 1

09 11 Private Gulf of N/A Pinellas Unknown

Mexico

30 Sand Key Condos 27°56 1

4011 82°50 1

0811 Private Clearwater N/A Pinellas Unknown

Harbor

31 MRI Corporation 27°52 1 3611 82°21 11811 Private Six Mile N/A Hills. Unknown

Creek

(continued)
Table 2 (concluded)

Number

on Owner- Receiving Process or

map Name Latitude Longitude ship body Capacity County treatment

32 Trademark Nitrogen 27°57'14" 82°20'5811 Private Six Mile 300TGO Hi 11 s. Unknown

Creek

33 Belcher oil/water 27°38 1

1911 82°33 1

2811 Private Tampa Bay N/A Manatee Unknown

separator

34 Amcon Concrete~ Inc. (56th St., north of Private Ditch N/A Hills. Unknown

Hills Ave.)

35 Shell Oil Co. (Port of Tampa) Private Tampa Bay N/A Hi 11 s. Oil/water

N separation N

36 Beker Plant outfall 27°30'00" 82°38 1 2011 Private Wingate N/A Manatee Unknown

Creek

37 Tropicana 27°31 1

05" 82°32 10011 Private Robinson's N/A Manatee Aeration &

Ditch sprayfield

38 Tropicana 27°31' 05" 82°32'00" Private Manatee N/A Manatee Aeration &

River sprayfield

a N/A = Not available.
3.2.2 Municipal Point Sources Discharges

The FDER keeps an updated computer data base on all i ndustri a1 poi nt

source discharges in the study area. Individual municipal point source

discharges are numbered and plotted on the individual atlas maps. A list

describing each individual point source is found in Table 3 (Florida Department

of Environmental Regulation 1983b).

3.2.3 Municipal Point Source Discharges Processing Hazardous Wastes

All municipal point source discharges located in the study area process

hazardous waste according to Moon (personal communication 1984). Hazardous

waste i ncl udes any taxi c substance whi ch caul d poison the envi ronment if not

disposed of properly. Examples include petroleum products, pesticides,

herbicides, nuclear wastes, and most chemicals.

3.3 DREDGE SPOIL DISPOSAL AREAS

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the Federal agency responsible for

all dredge and fill activity in the State. A permit must be obtained from the

Corps before any dredge and fill activity will be allowed. The FDER is the

State agency responsible for permitting all dredge spoil disposal sites in the

State. They maintain location maps and site data on all dredge spoil disposal

sites in the study area. Individual public or private dredge spoil sites have

been plotted on the atlas overlays and represent all dredge spoi 1 disposal

sites permitted by the FDER.

3.4 TIDE STATIONS

3.4.1 Tide Station Locations

The National Ocean Service (NOS) has collected tidal data at 104

station locations in the study area. The Clearwater and St. Petersburg

Municpal Pier tide stations are the only permanent NOS tide stations in the

study area. Individual sites at which data have been collected are numbered

and plotted on the individual atlas overlays. Table 4 describes the station

and its data record (NOS 1983). Tidal data may be ordered from these stations

from the following address:

Tidal Acquisition

National Ocean Service

6001 Executive Boulevard

Rockville, MD 20852

Attn: N/OMS 121.

3.4.2 Tidal Datums

The latest tidal datums for the permanent NOS tide stations located in

Clearwater and St. Petersburg are listed in Table 5.

23
Tab le 3. Municipal point source discharges (Florida Department of Environmental Regulations 1983b).

Number

on O",ner~ Receiving Process or

map Name latitude longitude strip body C . a apaclty County treatment

1 Apo 11 0 Beach 27°45'50" 82°24'31" County Tampa Bay I.OHGD Hills. Extended aeration

2 Bahia Beach 27°43'45" 82°28'30" Private Tampa Bay lOOTGO Hills. Extended aeration

3 Bayshore Palms Apts. 27°52'00" 82°29'22" ~lunicipal Hillsborough 10TGO Hi 11 s. Extended aeration

Bay

4 City of Palmetto 27°31'40" 82°35'40" Municipal Terra Ceia 1. 4MGD Manatee Expanded Bardenpho

Bay process

5 Iidevue Estates 27°31' 33" 82°31'47" County Drainage IODTGO Manatee AWT

ditch

N

..l:>o 6 Aerosonics Corp. 27°58'54" 82°45'20" Private An igator 7.5TGD Pinellas Extended aeration

Creek

7 Town of Belleair 27°56' 04" 82°48'03" Municipal Clearwater 900TGO Pinellas Activated slUdge

Harbor &tertiary

8 Boulevard TP 27°57'45" 82°44'38" Private Tampa Bay 16.5TGD Pinellas Extended aeration

9 Clearwater - East 27°57'32" 82°42'28" Municipal Tampa Bay 5.0MGO Pinellas Activated sludge

10 Clearwater - 27°58 ' 50" 82°47 1 13" Municipal Stevenson's 10.0MGD Pinellas Activated sludge

Marshall St. Creek

11 Clearwater - NE 28°01'15" 82°42'00" Municipal Tampa Bay 8.0MGD Pinellas Contact

stabilization

12 Dyna-Flo Services 28°02 1

05" 82°44 ' 25" Private Curlew 1. OMGO Pinellas Extended aeration

Creek

(continued)
Table 3 (continued)

Number

on Owner- Receiving C . a Process or

map Name Latitude Longitude ship body apaclty County treatment

13 Ft. DeSoto Park #1 (North beach) County Tampa Bay 30TGD Pinellas Extended aeration

14 Ft. DeSoto Park #2 (Fort area) County Tampa Bay 12TGD Pinellas Extended aeration

15 Ft. DeSota Park #3 (East area) County Tampa Bay 12TGD Pinellas Extended aeration

16 Ft. DeSota Park #4 (Camping area) County Tampa Bay 80TGD Pinellas Extended aeration

17 Town of Indian Shores 27°50'50" 82°50'5311 Municipal The Narrows 750TGD Pinellas Activated sludge

18 Kakusha MHP 27°56'08" 82°47'5611 Private Clearwater 16.6TGD Pinellas Extended aeration

Harbor

N 19 City of Largo 27°54'2811 82°42'1611 Municipal Feather 15.0MGO Pinellas Unknown

U1 Sound

20 McKay Creek 27°52'4011 82°51'0011 County Boca Ciega 6.0MGD Pinellas Activated sludge

Bay

21 City of Oldsmar 28°01'40" 82°39'3011 Municipal Mobbly Bay 1. ot1GD Pi ne 11 as Extended aeration

22 Ranch Mobile 27°54'22" 82°43'56" Private Long Branch 150TGD Pinellas Trickling filter

23 South Cross Bayou 27°49'38" 82°44'30" County Joel s Creek 28.5MGD Pinellas Contact

stabilization

24 South Gate Park 27°57'13" 82°43'55" Private Tampa Bay 50.0TGO Pinellas Trickling filter

25 Southern Comfort TP 27°59'20" 82°43'40" Private Tampa Bay 6.0TGO Pi ne 11 as Extended aeration

26 City of St. Pete - 27°45 1

5211 82°37 1 39" Municipal Tampa Bay 20.0MGD Pinellas Contact

Albert Whitted stabilization

(continued)
Ie 3 (concl

Number

on Owner- Receiving

Capacitl

Process or

map Name lati tude longitude ship body County treatment

27 City of St. Pete-NW 27°47'40" 82°44'30" Municipal Boca Ciega 20.0MGD Pinellas Activated sludge Bay

28 City of St. Pete-SW 27°43'05" 82°41'0911 Municipal Tampa Bay 20.0MGD Pinellas Tertiary

29 City of St. Pete-NE (62nd Ave. &16th St. NE) Municipal Tampa Bay 16.0MGO Pinellas Activated sludge

30 Eastside Water Co 27°59'16" 82°22'27" Private Harney 250TGD Hills. Trickling filter

Canal

31 Progress Vi 11 age 27°52'36" 82°22'18" Private Archie's 260TGD Hills. Activated sludge Creek

N 32 River Oaks 28°01 1

3711 82°34 1

55" County Rocky Creek 4.6MGO Hills. Advanced waste 0"1

treatment

33 City of Bradenton 27°27 1

32" 82°32 136" Municipal Manatee 6.0MGD Manatee Contact

River stabilization

34 Tillman Elementary (Palmetto) County Manatee 10TGO Manatee Extended aeration

School River

35 Dolomite Utilities 27°23 1 30" 82°32 1 25" Private Whitaker 450TGD Sarasota Rotating Bayou biological

contact

36 City of Tampa (Hookers Poi nt) Municipal Hillsborough 55MGD Hills. Tertiary Bay

a MGD =million gal/day.

TGD =thousand gal/day.
Table 4. National Ocean Service (NOS) tide station data (NOS 1983).

Number

on Date Date

map NOS 1. D. Station name Latitude Longitude i nsta11 ed removed

1 2726247 Bradenton, Manatee 27°30.0' 82°34.4' 10/06/75 04/23/79

River

2 8726249 Palma Sola Bay North 27°30.2' 82°38.9 1 03/30/77 11/04/77

3 8726273 De Soto Point 27°31.4 1 82°39.0 1 03/30/77 10/27/77

4 8726282 Anna Maria 27°32.0 1 82°43.8 1 03/24/76 10/04/76

5 8726311 Belville Point 27°33.8' 82°35.2' 03/28/77 10/25/77

6 8726318 Boots Point 27°34.1' 82°35.8' 03/28/77 10/25/77

7 8726319 Seabreeze Point 27°34.2' 82°34.2 03/28/77 10/25/77

8 8726347 Egmont Key 27°36.0' 82°45.6' 07/20/76 11/04/76

9 8726348 Two Bros. Island 27°35.8' 82°35.0' 04/07/77 04/19/79

10 8726353 Bishop Harbor 27°36.1' 82°33.2' 03/23/77 11/09/77

11 8726364 Mullet Key 27°36.9' 82°43.6' 03/24/76 04/06/77

12 8726367 Mullet Key Bayou 27°37.3' 82°43.6 1 07/21/76 12/10/76

13 8726384 Port Manatee 27°38.1' 82°33.6 1 03/24/76 12/05/77

14 8726385 Mullet Key Bayou 27°38.8' 82°43.0' 06/03/76 11/04/76

15 8726425 Cockroach Bay 27°40.9 1 82°30.2' 04/19/77 04/18/79

16 8726428 Tierra Verde 27°41.3' 82°43.0' 06/22/76 11/04/76,

17 8726430 St. Peterburg Beach 27°41.0' 82°44.3' 06/24/76 11/01/76

18 8726436 Little Manatee River 27°42.3' 82°26.9 1 01/13/77 04/25/79

19 8726437 Big Cockroach Mound 27°41. 2' 82°31. 3' 05/19/76 08/18/76

20 8726441 Pass-A-Grille Ch.East 27°41.5 1 82°43.8' 03/24/76 10/12/76

21 8726442 Pass-A-Grille Ch., 27°41. 41 82°44.2' 10/13/49 08/18/52

B.C.B.

22 8726454 Point Pinellas 27°42.1' 82°38.4' 09/24/75 04/07/77

23 8726467 Marsh Branch, Ruskin 27°43.1' 82°27.2 1 01/13/77 05/03/77

24 8726468 Shell Point 27°43.1' 82°28.8 1 01/12/77 05/03/77

25 8726474 Little Bayou 27°43.6' 82°38.1' 08/19/76 01/04/77

26 8726479 Bahia Beach 27°43.8' 82°28.6' 01/13/77 05/04/77

27 8726485 Big Bayou 27°44.1 1 82°38.3' 08/19/76 01/04/77

28 8726486 Gulfport 27°44.2' 82°42.4 1 10/08/75 07/08/77

29 8726492 Mangrove Point 27°44.5' 82°28.0' 03/14/77 10/26/77

30 8726494 Long Key 27°45.1 1 82°45.1 1 06/04/76 11/05/76

31 8726505 Treasure Island 27°45.4 1 82°45.6 1 05/14/76 11/10/76

32 8726520 St. Petersburg 27°46.4' 82°37.3 1 12/14/46 In Operation

33 8720521 St. Petersburg (B) 27°46.4' 82°37.3' 10/01/76 In Operation

34 8726533 Johns Pass 27°47.1 1 82°49.9 1 05/14/76 08/06/76

35 8726537 Apollo Beach 27°47.2 1 82°25.6' 03/24/76 02/01/78

36 8726538 Jungle Estates 27°47.3' 82°45.3 1 06/01/76 09/24/76

37 8726539 Newman Branch 27°47.0 1 82°24.4 1 03/08/77 10/08/77

38 8726557 Welch Causeway 27°48.4' 82°47.7 1 08/01/51 01/30/52

39 8726562 Hillsborough Bay E. 27°48.4 1 27°24.7 1 03/09/77 10/06/77

40 8726568 Bay Pines, Long Bayou 27°48.9 1 82°45.9' 06/01/76 09/24/76

41 8726571 Mermaid Point 27°49.2' 82°35.5 1 08/18/76 01/04/77

(continued)

27
Table 4. (continued)

Number

on Date Date

map NOS 1. D. Station name Latitude Longitude i nsta 11 ed removed

42 8726572 The Kitchen 27°49.2 1 82°23.2' 03/07/77 04/18/79

43 8726573 Gadsden Point 27°49.3 1 82°29.1' 11/05/75 01/06/76

44 8726574 Boca Ci ega Bay 27°48.5' 82°47.7' 06/30/76 09/24/76

45 8726581 Sand Key 27°50.2' 82°50.2 1 03/25/76 08/10/76

46 8726587 Bullfrog Creek 27°50.2' 82°23.2 1 01/12/77 05/03/77

47 8726588 Long Bayou North 27°50.1' 82°46.4 1 06/01/76 09/24/76

48 8726589 Cross Bayou South 27°50.1 82°45.2 07/14/76 11/03/76

49 8726594 Bayou Grande North 27°50.6' 82°36.6' 08/17/76 01/07/77

50 8726601 Indian Rocks Beach 27°52.4 82°51.1' 11/25/72 01106/73

51 8726602 Gibsonton 27°50.6' 82°23.7 1 03/17/77 11/02/77

52 8726603 Ri vera Bay 27°51. 2' 82°37.3 1 08/17/76 01/07/77

53 8726604 Long Shoal 27°51. 3' 82°28.8' 11/05/75 01/06/76

54 8726605 Tinney Creek 27051.1 ' 82°37.9' 08/18/76 01/18/77

55 8726606 The Narrows 27°51. 5' 82°50.7 1 03/25/76 07/17/76

56 8726609 Alafia River 27°51. 6' 82°23.0 1 12/07/76 05/02/77

57 8726612 Shug Harbor 27°51. 7' 82°37.2 1 08/17/76 03/02/77

58 8726621 Port Tampa 27°52.0 1 82°23.3 1 09/17/76 02/09/77

59 8726623 Indian Rocks Pier 27°53.7 1 82°51.1' 04/27/76 11/09/76

60 8726625 Indian Rocks Beach 27°52.6' 82°51. 0' 03/25/76 09/08/76

61 8726632 Arch; e Creek 27°52.9' 82°23.8' 12/09/76 05/02/77

62 8726639 Tampa, Ballast Point 27°53.4 1 82°28.8' 10/30/75 04/25/79

63 8726641 Gandy Bri dge 27°53.6 1 82°32.3' 10/01/75 07/07/77

64 8126643 Anona 27°53.2 1 82°50.4' 03/30/76 08/09/76

65 8726648 Frankland Bridge 27°53.7' 82°38.3' 08/25/76 01/06/77

66 8726651 Pendola Point 27°54.0' 82°25.4 1 02/23/77 08/03/77

67 8726657 Dan's Island 27°54.5' 82°27.1 1 11/30/76 04/07/77

68 8726661 Tampa, Knight AP 27°27.0 1 82°27.0 1 01122/47 03/24/48

69 8726662 Cross Bayou Canal 27°54.8' 82°41.9' 10/22/75 01/09/76

70 8726666 Bell eai r 27°55.1' 82°49.6' 03.25/76 08/09/76

71 8726667 McKay Bay 27°54.9' 82°25.4' 03/24/76 04/07/77

72 8"126668 Tampa, Hookers Pt. 27°55.1 1 82°26.7' 11/30/76 04/16/79

73 8"126685 22 St. Causeway 27°56.3 1 82°25.9' 01/14/77 01/18/78

74 8726686 Belleair Beach 27°56.1' 82°50.4' 03/25/76 06/29/76

75 8726687 Allen Creek 27°56.2' 82°43.8 1 08/26/76 01/11/77

76 8726688 Seddon Island 27°56.0' 82°26.8' 11/30/76 03/29/79

77 8726689 Bay Arist. Village 27°56.5 1 82°43.2' 10/30/75 07/06/77

78 8726692 Tampa, Seddon Is. 27°56.4' 82°27.0 1 04/01/26 06/30/26

79 8"126693 Hi 11 s. River Inlet 27°56.8' 82°27.7 1 10/29/76 03/03/77

80 8"126696 Palm Ri ver fnt. 27°56.8 1 82°24.1' 12/06/76 04/06/77

81 8"126699 Palm River, FL 27°56.9' 82°23.1' 12/06/76 04/06/77

82 8726706 Clearwater 27°57.3 1 82°48.4 1 10/07/75 12/06/77

83 8726707 Bayview 27°57.4' 82°42.7 1 03/18/58 OS/26/58

84 8726711 West Tampa 27°57.6' 82°28.1 1 10/29/76 02/09/77

(continued)

28
Table 4. (concluded)

Number

on Date Date

map NOS 1. D. Station name Latitude Longitude installed removed

85 8726714 Rocky Poi nt 27°57.9 1 82°33.9 1 10/15/76 03/03/77

86 8726721 Courtney Campbell 27°58.2 1 82°37.5' 06/09/47 09/17/47

87 8726724 Clearwater Beach 27°58.6 1 82°49.9 1 04/19/73 01/12/81

88 8726725 Clearwater Bay 27°58.5 1 82°48.1' 10/16/75 12/10/75

89 8726726 Clearwater Beach (B) 27°58.6 1 82°49.9 1 10/01/76 In Operation

90 8726727 Sweet Water Creek 27°58.7 1 82°33.7' 09/28/76 03/02/77

91 8726737 Rocky Creek Ent. 27°59.3 1 82°35.8 1 11/18/76 05/02/77

92 8726738 Safety Harbor 27°59.3' 82°41.1' 12/19/75 12/06/77

93 8726739 Dick Creek 27°59.3' 82°36.5' 02/10/77 08/01/77

94 8726748 Rocky Creek 27°59.8 1 82°35.3 1 09/27/76 04/05/77

95 8726768 Double Branch 28°01. 7' 82°38.0 1 09/30/76 02/08/77

96 8726769 Mobbly Bayou 28°01. 3' 82°39.3 1 10/18/76 04/18/77

97 8726778 Oldsmar 28°02.1 1 82°40.7 1 09/28/76 02/08/77

98 8726789 Possum Branch 28°02.3' 82°41. 9' 11/11/76 04/05/77

99 8726759 Double Branch Bay 28°00.3 1 82°37.2 1 02/08/77 08/01/77

100 8726614 Alafia River North 27°52.2' 82°19.7 1 12/09/76 05/02/77

101 8726278 Redfish Point 27°31. 6' 82°28.9' 03/24/77 10/20/77

102 8726277 Fort Hamer 27°31. 5' 82°25.8' 03/24/77 04/16/79

103 8726238 Braden Point 27°29.2' 82°30.3' 04/04/77 10/26/77

104 8726159 Whitfield Estates 27°24.5' 82°34.8' 04/25/77 11/09/77

Table 5. National Ocean Service (NOS) 1983 tidal datums for the NOS Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Florida, tide stations (NOS personal communication

1984) .

Parameter

Mean higher high water

Mean high water

Mean tide level

Mean low water

Mean lower low water

29

Clearwater St. Petersburg

2.10 ft. 2.24 ft

1. 80 ft 1. 96 ft

0.90 ft. 1.17 ft

0.00 ft 0.39 ft

-0.50 ft 0.00 ft
3.5 WATER QUALITY

The Hill sborough County Envi ronmenta1 Protection Commi ssi on has collected

monthly water quality data from approximately 81 sampling stations in the study

area since 1972. The data from these stations were used exclusively to

generate the 5-year seasonally averaged water quality parameter means presented

in this atlas.

Most of the problems with water quality in Tampa Bay are found in

Hillsborough Bay where high fecal coliform, phosphorus, chlorophyll, turbidity,

and low dissolved oxygen persist. The north prong of the Alafia River exhibits

the worst water quality problem found in the Alafia River Basin. High nutrient

levels, as well as low dissolved oxygen, can probably be attributed to phosphate mining activities in this watershed. The Little Manatee River has high

phosphorus and fecal coliform levels which probably result from agricultural

and rangeland activities in the region. The Manatee River exhibits no major

water quality problems.

3.5.1 Methodology

For the purposes of thi s study, the fo 11 ow; ng fi ve water qual i ty parameters have been seasonally averaged for the most recent 5-year data peri od

available (September 1978 through August 1983):

1. Total chlorophyll (~g/l)

2. Specific conductivity (middepth; ~mhos/cm)

3. Turbidity (NTU)

4. Temperature (middepth; °C)

5. Total nitrogen (mg/l)

The locations of all the sampling stations averaged by season for this

study are numbered and plotted on the individual atlas maps. The seasonal

averages by water quality parameter for each station are 1isted in Appendi x A

and are listed by station on the supplemental map legend. For purposes of this

study, wi nter is composed of the months of December, January, and February;

spring is March, April, and May; summer is June, July, and August and fall is

September, October, and November.

3.5.2 Total Chlorophyll

Total chlorophyll is an indirect measure of the quantity of planktonic

algae present in a body of water and as such is an indicator of eutrophication.

It is measured in micro-grams per liter (lJg/l). Total chlorophyll varies

seasonally and is highest in the summer and lowest in the winter.

A complete isopleth map of the 5-year annual mean for total chlorophyll

is shown in Figure 3. Most of the water quality problems associated with high

total chlorophyll levels are in Hillsborough Bay. A lesser area of high chlorophyll levels is in extreme western Old Tampa Bay. High chlorophyll levels

are associated with algal blooms. One type of algae, the dinoflagellate

species, Ptychodiscus brevis, is a toxic red-tide organism which has plagued

Tampa Bay for many years. In 1971, Tampa Bay experienced a major red-tide

30
GULF

OF

MEXICO

CLEARWATER

~cFc:!J

2

fA~C>. ~20 0 •

0°.

o 15

Figure 3. Isopleth map of mean annual total chlorophyll (l-Ig/1)

for Tampa Bay; 5-year mean, Sept. 1978 - Aug. 1983 (data from

Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission 1983).

31
outbreak which was responsible for the death of millions of fish throughout

the bay. Another lesser outbreak was in 1974. Minor outbreaks were in 1978,

1979, 1980, 1981, and 1983 with no significant fish kills (Wilkins 1983).

3.5.3 Specific Conductivity

Specific conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to conduct an

electrical current. It is measured in micromhos per centimeter (~mhos/cm) at

standard temperature (25°C) and pressure (760 mm/Hg) (Slack and Kaufman 1973).

Specific conductivity is easily determined by a field meter, and it is a good

indicator of salinity.

Specific conductivity levels vary seasonally and correlate well with

stream discharge. During the late summer and early fall, when stream discharge normally is at its annual maximum, conductivity levels normally reach

their annual minimum as freshwater discharge mixes with bay waters. During

the early winter when stream discharge usually reaches its annual minimum conductivity levels are normally at their highest annual levels (see Figure 4).

Minimum bay conductivity levels are always at times of maximum streamflow.

Maximum conductivity levels are at the end of sustained low-flow periods.

Maximum and minimum conductivity levels are usually about two months apart.

Conductivity levels are lowest in the upper reaches of Tampa Bay nearest

the freshwater di scharge sources and progressi ve ly increase, reachi ng thei r

greatest levels near the mouth of Tampa Bay (see Figure 5).

Conductivity values on the maps are in mmhos/cm. The values in the

supplemental legend should be in ~mhos/cm and are mislabeled on the maps. To

convert conductivity (mmhos/cm) to salinity (ppt), divide the conductivity

data by 1. 57.

3.5.4 Turbidity

Turbidity is an expression of the optical quality of a water sample to

scatter and absorb light rather than transmit light in straight lines. It is

measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU's). High turbidity levels are

not always associated with poor water quality. Rather, they reflect the

material held in suspension in the water column. High-turbidity levels may be

associated with algal blooms, dredging activities, or with suspended solids

associated with high wind-driven waves in shallow areas of the bay.

The highest turbidity levels found in Tampa Bay are located in

Hillsborough Bay, extreme western Old Tampa Bay, and at the mouth of the Little

Manatee River. These three areas all exhibit moderate to heavy algal blooms

primarily during the spring months. In Tampa Bay as a whole, turbidity varies

seasonally, reaching a peak in the spring and its lowest point during the

winter. A complete isopleth map of mean annual turbidity levels for Tampa Bay

for the past 5 years is shown is Figure 6.

3.5.5 Temperature

Water temperature is cyclic in Tampa Bay and is measured in either degrees

32
2000

1800

1600

1400

VI

.... 1200

u

l.AJ 1000 <.!l

a:=

<C

:I:

<..) 800 (/)

......

Cl

600

400

200

0

,-h

I \

II ,

1\

I 1\

1\ I /"\ \

V 1\ J / \

I V- I\. \

\ J

~/ \ \ .... "'" .' '" i/o ..- .. V- ~' . . -'~\- _/ " . ~- .' ..... . L. " .' .. ..",. , , . .' ~.- . •• a • . .... ....... .... .' "",,' .. --" '. .' . . ...' . .-.- ." , . _ -........ .. -.- .-.'- . .-' " ..:':::: .' ... .""" .... ,- ........ .:.::.;:~.'..- ._."'" ......._.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

MONTH

Hillsborough River (Tampa)

Alafia River (Lithia)

Little Manatee River (Wimauma)

Manatee River (Bradenton)

Figure 4. Mean monthly stream discharge (1952-1966) for four major

rivers discharging into Tampa Bay; 5-year mean, Sept. 1978 - Aug. 1983

(data from McNulty et al. 1972).

33
CLEARWATER

GULF

OF

MEXICO

o

Figure 5. Isopleth map of annual specific conductivity (mmhos/cm)

for Tampa Bay; 5-year mean, Sept. 1978 - Aug. 1983 (data from

Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission 1983).

34
CLEARWATER

GULF

OF

MEXICO

o

Figure 6. Isopleth map of annual turbidity (NTU's) for Tampa Bay;

5-year mean, Sept. 1978 - Aug. 1983 (data from Hillsborough County

Environmental Protection Commission 1983).

35
Fahrenheit (oF) or in degrees Celsius (OC). A 16-year mean monthly plot of

water temperature for the NOS tide station at the St. Petersburg Municipal Pier

is shown in Figure 7. The maximum observed surface water temperature was 90.1

of (32.2 °C), and the minimum observed water temperature was 52.3 of (11.3 °C).

Fish kills often result from rapid temperature decreases associated with sudden

prolonged occurrences of Arctic air masses during the late fall or early

winter. During these periods, the water temperature will often drop below the

above-listed minimum in shallow water areas. A massive fish kill in January of

1977 was associated with record low bay water temperatures. An isopleth map of

mean annual mi ddepth water temperature for Tampa Bay is shown in Fi gure 8.

3.5.6 Total Nitrogen

Total nitrogen is the sum of all the nitrogen compounds found in a water

sample and is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/l). The highest

concentrations of total nitrogen are found in Hillsborough Bay. The principal

sources of total nitrogen are urban runoff, agricultural runoff, industrial and

domestic waste, and rainfall.

Maximum nitrogen levels occur in the late summer and early fall and

minimum levels in the late fall. An isopleth map of mean annual total nitrogen

levels in Tampa Bay is shown in Figure 9.

3.5.7 Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission Water Quality

Stations

Hillsborough County operates 81 water quality sampling stations with a

period of record of greater than 5 years. Sixty-five of these stations are in

the study area and are mapped on the atlas maps.

3.6 BATHYMETRY

Tampa Bay is a drowned river valley. An old submerged Pleistocene river

delta is located west of Mullet Key. The Hillsborough River became an

entrenched stream during this earlier sea-level stand, and portions of this

entrenchment are still reflected in the bathymetry south of the interbay

Peninsula and north of Egmont (see Figure 10).

Most of the bottom features in Tampa Bay represent surfi ci a1 sand wave

deposits. Major concentrations of hard rock outcroppings are south of the

interbay Peninsula where submarine limestone cliffs line an old Pleistocene

entrenched stream bed under Gandy Bridge and offshore from Bishop·s Harbor and

Rattlesnake Key.

Three main submarine physiographic regions are located in the Tampa Bay

complex. They are shallow marine grass and sand flats with average depths of

approximately 4 ft, slopes adjacent to the flats ranging in depth from 4 to 20

ft, and deep tidal channels greater than 20 ft deep. Twenty percent of the bay

complex is less than 6 ft in water depth. Fifty percent of the bay bottom lies

between 6 and 18 ft, and 30% is greater then 18 ft deep (Goodell and Gorsline

1961). The average depth of the Tampa Bay complex is 11.4 ft (McNulty et al.

36
95

'X)

85

lJ.. 00 0

w 75 :x:

::J

le:(

a::

w 70 c..

::E:

w

I- 65

60

55

50

..'" .... - ..

..... . ... -- ........... .. v \ ... .

. . / .. V /- - - , . .. / , . ....... ". ... . ....... I /' "- / I

1\ .. I \

I \

V I ,

I \

I

, \

'- I \

I \ I t.

I \ I , ." , .. " - -- ... - ." '--

JAN FEB ~iAR APR NAY JUN JU L AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

MONTH

Maximum monthly temperature .........................

Mean monthly temperature

Minimum monthly temperature - - --

Figure 7. Monthly water temperatures for St. Petersburg, Florida,

1947 - 1962 (McNulty et al. 1972).

37
I Itlll!'!' H J~,(lpldll 01,11.1 of <llllllldl mltj(lpplll water' temperature (OC)

lor lampa Bay, ~-Yl'ar mean, Sept. 1918 - Auy. 1983 (data from

IIi 1hlH)!'ougll County [ovln)nmenlal flr'otection Commission 1983).

38
CLEARWATER

GULF

OF

MEXICO

o

Figure 9. Isopleth map of annual total nitrogen (mg/l) for Tampa

Bay; 5-year mean, Sept. 1978 - Aug. 1983 (data from Hi 11 sborough

County Environmental Protection Commission 1983).

39
CLEARWATER

TAMPA

Figure 10. Example of a bathymetric map of Tampa Bay.(1:250,000 scale);

2-m contour interval (NOS 1976).

40
1972). The total surface area at mean high water is 346.0 mi 2 (Lewis and

Wh itman 1954).

A 2.0-m bathymetric contour interval is used on the individual atlas maps

with an initial l.O-m supplemental contour line used to denote shoals. The

bathymetry was compiled by the author and represents an update on the 1976 NOS

map for the region.

Boca Ciega Bay lies just north of the Tampa Bay complex and represents a

small, shallow lagoon behind the coastal barrier islands. Its average water

depth is only 6.6 ft (mhw) (McNulty et a1. 1972). Immediately to the north of

Boca Ciega Bay lies St. Joseph1s Sound, which is another small, shallow lagoon

behind the coastal barrier islands. Its average water depth is 4.9 ft (mhw)

(McNulty et al. 1972). Sarasota Bay lies just south of the mouth of Tampa Bay.

It is a small, shallow lagoon lying behind the coastal barrier islands with an

average water depth of 5.5 ft (mhw) (McNulty et al. 1972).

3. 7 INTERTIDAL ZONE

The intertidal zone is a region of saltwater marshes and tidal flats that

surround Tampa Bay. It is demarcated on the individual atlas overlay maps and

was determined from the latest NOS nautical charts for the region.

The intertidal zone is a important buffer zone for marine organisms and

biota in Tampa Bay.

3.8 SEDIMENTS

During the early Holocene, Tampa Bay was a drowned river valley with very

little sediment accumulation and an average depth of 30 ft. Sediment

accumulation since that time has reduced the average depth of Tampa Bay of 11.4

ft (McNulty et al. 1971).

The Tampa Bay complex is composed of a number of interconnected bays. The

three principal bays which make up the /IylI-shaped bay complex are Old Tampa Bay

to the northwest, Hi 11 sborough Bay to the northeast, and Tampa Bay to the

south.

The sediments in the Tampa Bay complex are uniform in character. They are

generally composed of reworked terrace quartz and nearshore sand and biogenic

carbonate detritus. The mean size of the sediments increases from the upper to

the lower reaches of the bay complex. Organic sediments and clays are

promi nent, primarilyin the upper portions of Hill sborough Bay and in other

isolated portions of the bay complex (Goodell and Gorsline 1961).

The coastal littoral drift of sand is to the south in Boca Ciega Bay and

to the north, south of the mouth of Tampa Bay. North of Tampa Bay, offshore

shoa1i ng is occurri ng to the southwest of the major passes. South of Tampa

Bay, shoaling and accretion are taking place to the northwest of the major

passes (Goodell and Gorsline 1961).

41
L

In the sand and grass fl ats whi ch make up about 15% of the Tampa Bay

complex the sediments are almost entirely quartz sand. The sediments along

the slo~e environments, which make up more than 60% of Tampa Bay, are composed

primari ly of coarse sand and moll usk shell fragments. The channel sedim:nts

are composed almost entirely of very coarse sand and mullusk shell detrltus

(Goodell and Gorsline 1961).

A sma ll-sca1e versi on of the general i zed sedi ment zones i ncl uded on the

individual atlas maps is shown in Figure 11. The generalized sediment zones

portrayed on the i·ndividual atlas maps were adapted from Taylor and Saloman

(1969). The six major sediment types listed are portrayed by a series of

graphic screens.

3.9 TIDAL CURRENTS

Tidal exchange is the major flushing agent in the Tampa Bay complex.

River discharge, rainwater runoff, and sewage effluent discharge also

contribute to localized flushing.

Daily tides in Tampa Bay are primarily semidiurnal (two high tides and two

low tides). Tides follow the moon more closely than the sun, and each lunar or

tidal day is about 50 min longer than the solar day. On certain days of the

month, the tide becomes diurnal, and only one high and low tide occur during

the period of a lunar day. Changes in wind and barometric pressure

fl uctuat ions cause vari ations in sea 1eve1 from day to day. Strong southwesterly winds associated with low barometric pressure cause tide levels to

increase above normal. Strong northeasterly wi nds, associ ated with high

pressure, cause tide levels to decrease below normal.

Monthly mean sea level exhibits an annual cyclic pattern (see Figure 12).

During February, sea level reaches its average annual minimum of 4.02 ft.

During September, sea level reaches its average annual maximum of 4.67 ft. The

numerical values of each tide height are referenced to the level of the primary

bench mark for the St. Petersburg Municipal Pier NOS tide station (Hicks et al.

1983).

Sea 1eve 1 has been i ncreasi ng slowly in Tampa Bay. The average increase

in sea level in Tampa Bay is approximately 0.2 ft in a 34-year period or about

0.005 ft/yr (Hicks et al. 1983). A 34-year plot of the annual yearly means of '

sea level for the St. Petersburg Municipal Pier NOS tide station is shown in

Figure 13. This trend in increasing sea level has been experienced at most NOS

tide stations in the United States. Sea level has been increasing in San

Francisco since 1855, when tidal records first began. National Ocean Service

has fo~nd that sea levels hav: been increasing 0.009 ft/year in the northeast

Atl~n~lc coast, 0.005 ft/ye~r ln the gulf coast, 0.003 ft/year in the southwest

Paclflc coast, and decreaslng 0.001 ft/year in the Pacific Northwest coast.

The overall U.S. trend is for sea level to increase 0.004 ft/year (Hicks et al.

1983). Because of camp 1ex meteoro 1ogi ca1 and oceani c interactions future

sea-level changes are not easily predicted. '

Tidal currents result. from wat~r moving into Tampa Bay during flood tide

and out of the bay dunng ebb tlde. Slack tide occurs during periods of

42
MEXICO

[2] SAND

o SHELL Y SAND

[2] SILTY SAND

CLAVE Y SAND

o SANDY CLAY

o SILT

Figure 11. Generalized sediment map of the Tampa Bay area (adapted

from Taylor and Sal oman 1969).

43
4.7

4.6

4.5

4- 4.4

roo

:J: 4.3 .....

l.LJ

:J:

4.2

4.1

4.0

V\

V 1\

/ \

V 1\

/ \ V ,

/ 1\

/

V \

V

J

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC ~IO NT H

Figure 12. Mean monthly St. Petersburg mean sea level, 1947 - 1980 (Hicks

et al. 1983).

4.6

4.5

-I..l 4.4

4-

4.3

roo

:J:

(.!) 4.2 .-

t.LJ

:::c

4.1

4.0

195) 1955 1%0 1%5

YEAR

1970 1975 1980

Figure 13. Mean annual St. Petersburg mean sea level, 1947 - 1980

(Hicks et al. 1983).

44
reduced currents between fl ood and ebb tides. Resi dua 1 t ida1 currents are

produced by interactions between t ida1 currents and the bay bottom confi guration. Residual currents create long-term water circulation patterns that

control or significantly effect the distribution of dissolved and suspended

constituents.

Flood, ebb, and ci rcul ati on patterns computed using a hydrodynami c model

developed by the U.S. Geological Survey are shown in Figures 14,15, and 16

(Goodwin 1984). Figure 15 depicts about 20 large and small circulation

features (gyres) within Tampa Bay that are thought to control the rate of

constituent flushing.

Residual tidal currents from this model are plotted on the individual

1:24,000-scale atlas maps. A detailed model study of computed particle

dispersion done at the University of South Florida indicates that it takes 6

months to affect a 90% reduction in release particles within Tampa Bay.

Particles dispersed in northern Old Tampa Bay may take as long as 20 months to

be flushed from the bay (Wilkins 1983).

The resultant flows from the U.S. Geological Survey hydrodynamic model are

plotted on the individual 1:24,000-scale atlas maps.

3.10 FRESHWATER-SALTWATER INTERFACE

Increased ground-water withdrawals from industrial, agricultural, and

municipal ground water production fields have lowered the potentiometric

surface (the level to which water will rise in a tightly cased well) in the

Floridan aquifer. The Floridan aquifer is the principal ground-water source in

the Tampa Bay study area.

Since freshwater is less dense than saltwater, freshwater from the

Floridan aquifer floats on a saltwater wedge which underlies the Florida

peninsula. In coastal portions of the Tampa Bay region, chloride concentrations range from less than 25 mg/l to 19,000 mg/l, forming a diffuse

transition zone between saltwater and freshwater. Chloride (salt) ions are

deposited from seawater moving inland from the neighboring Gulf of Mexico.

Potential for saltwater intrusion is the greatest in the late spring (May).

Water table levels and the potentiometric surface reach their annual lowest

levels at this time, and the potential for saltwalter intrusion is greatest

(Causseaux and Fretwell 1982).

For the purposes of thi s report, the 250 mg/l ch1ori de concentration

isopleth (line of equal chloride concentration) has been used to depict the

1979 position of the freshwater-saltwater interface in the Floridan aquifer on

the individual atlas maps. A smaller scale version of this map is included in

Figure 17.

45
OF

MEXICO

CLEARWATER

Fi gure 14. Typi ca1 flood tide current flow in Tampa Bay (adapted

from Goodwin 1984).

46
GULF

OF

MEXICO

CLEARWATER

'lI

"1 OLD TAMPA

LARGO ~)f

Figure 15. Typical ebb tide current flow in Tampa Bay (adapted from

Goodwi n 1984).

47
GULF

OF

MEXICO

CLEARWATER

Figure 16. Resultant current flow for one tidal cycle in Tampa Bay

(adapted from Goodwin 1984).

48
GULF

OF

MEXICO

Figure 17. Generalized position of the freshwater-saltwater interface in the upper portion of the Floridan aquifer across the Tampa

Bay area (1979); 250 mg/l-chloride concentration isopleth, or contour

line (Causseaux and Fretwell 1982).

49
4. APPENDIXES

4.1 APPENDIX A - TAMPA BAY WATER QUALITY STATIONS (5-YR SEASON MEANS),

PLOTTED FOR THE ATLAS MAPS.

STATION *.1-

STATION 1.1-

PARMETER SPRING (3-5 SUMK:R (6-8 FAlL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAl (1-12)

IIAL fLL \lJq/1 '+1 .::1 ::JJ .1 41.1 '+'+ .u .b .b

NOU TI rr IJIlIhos) 36.700 36.967 34.600 41.283 3 .388

I I 5) ~.~ b .l: .1 .b .b

...... ,... ) a.4 ~~ .1 "to':J .1 11 .u ~.j.b

TOTAL NITROGEN (mgtl) 1.29 1.21 1.17 0.82 1.12

STATION ,J!...

50
STATION'_!!.

PARA~ETER SPRING t3-!> I SUM~'ER 16-B fALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL (1-12)

""UTACl..trmROPHYLC1~g/1) qt.." tl~ .L 3tl .1 18.1 38.U

C t~ ) 1 Y (umhOS) 39,133 39,383 '-"3b ,633 43,63 39,696

I IK J. INIU 51 ,"0 ij .1I 0.4 I.U , .t.

I .~ JHI I -~} d:l •., 29.11 2.'.0 Ib.~ t.J .t.

TOTIll. NlllHlGEN (mg/!l 1. "HI A. A~, 1.32 o.tn 1.17

STATION 113

51
PARAfoETER SPRING (3-5 SUMfoER (6-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL (1-13)

IUIIU. ItJQ/I t4+.O "lj.~ to.ts H.b tJ .0

CONDUCTIVIT f.Illhos) 47,333 44,044 41,633 47,958 45,242

_IUKIHUIIJ II IT 51 .1 4.b 3.l:S J .t 4.t

I '~I "".ts "!:I.~ ttl.4 lb .7 tJ .b

TOTAL NITROGEN {mgtl} 0.53 0.65 0.76 0.51 0.61

STATION #33 LAT. 2]049'14° LONG. 82°34'15°

PARAfoETER SPRING 3-5 SUMftER (6-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2) ANNUAL (1-13 I

TnIAL .HI ,.... ltJg/I ZI. 4".U JU.4 tI .u Jl./

[)NDU~Tl' '1 y lJmhOSI 40,S; 13 39.664 37,900 43,200 4U.399 III<:K I INT 5) 4.U 4.l Z.!:I t.4 J.4

,,,' ,,1./ Z!:I.l l4.l:S l~ .~ tt.ts

TOTAl NITROGEN (mgtl) U.63 U.7l 0.84 0.46 0.66

STATION 138 LAT. 27°52'54" LONG. 82°34'40°

52
STATION #46 LAT. 2r59'22- LONG. 82°39'29 8

PARAt'ETER SPRING (3-5 SUMfoER (6-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER 112-2 ANNUAl 1-12)

IOTAL 1.11 \\.19/1 22.0 31.Z Jl.b 11.3 l!) •

...ONDUCTIVITY (umhos) 36,617 34,109 32 ;Tl:l3 33,400 35.4 r7

URBIDITY (NT lJ s) 6.4 s.!) ~.2- J .U 5.8

\ .~) a.o 29.0 24.9 14.7 22.b

TOTAl NITROGEN (mg/l) 0.70 L03 l.u4 0.71 0.87

PARMETER SPRING (3-5 SUMR To-a FALL (9-11 ) WINTER 112-2 ANNUAL (1-12)

rAI (UQ/I ZU .j -2.9.0 29.2 15.B L3.6

NO LvI Y [umhos) 39,933 38.489 36,800 42,033 39,314

IK IT INT s) J .3 J .9 2.B 2.U J .U

IUKI ( 'C) 22.2 29.1 Z!) .1 -T5.5 23.2

AL NTRIlGEN (mg/I) 0.69 0.83 0.71 0:5if 0.69

STATION #51 LAT. 2]053'30 8 LONG. 82°32'35 8

53
STATION 152

PARAI'£TER SPRING (3-5 SUMr-ER (6-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL (1-12) IUIAL nu I (J.lg/l 4b.1i 'W.J -'!:S.4 J~ .J 4~.~

CONDUCTIVITY J.lmhos) 38,125 38,183 37,067 40,817 38,548

IU UHUJ. I' (NT S) 11.~ 4.9 4.1 4.b b.~ II' .... 1'114111111' \ .", 22.1i -'U.U 2b.~ 1/.1i 24.3

TO AL NITROGEN (mg/l) 1.15 0.97 1.19 U.86 1.04

STATION 154

STATION #58

PARAI'£TER SPRING (3-5 SUMK:R (6-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL (1-12)

IUIAL :HI fLL \J.lgfl 4b.J b1.~ 42.U 4~ .2 4~.1i

CONDUCTlVI Y umhos) 33.593 35,8l:l3 32,933 39,033 35,36U

IUKtHUJ.1T lNlI S) 1:1.2 !> .~ !> .4 b .1 b .3

I UKI ( 'C) 22.1i 2~.~ 2b.U 11 .~ 24.U

TOTAL NITROGEN (mQ/l) 1.18 1.34 1.31 0.98 1.2U

STATION *§.Q...

ARAI'£TER SPRING (3-5) SUMf.'[R (6-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL U-12)

IAI :Ll Hig/l ~1 .Ii JU.I J1.1 1b .~ 2~.2

~D 'J. umhos) 3 ,042 35,474 33,700 38,767 36,246

,Ij u. II Sl .Ii b .J 4.4 .J ~.u

1'1 1111 ( '"~ :1.1 2~ .1 24.2 L4.1:1 ia.~

AL NI ROGEN (mg!1) 0.71 0.97 1.16 .59 0.86

STATION #61

PARAI'£TER SPRING (3-5 SUMK:R (6-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL U-12)

IUIAL :H! tlJg/1 22.9 J2.1 J/.U lU.ts ll:l.4

CONDUCTIVITY umhos) 37,40U 33,471 33,650 37,800 35,58U

IIlH 1l.IY (NI S) 4.b .U 4.3 2 .~ 4.2

,-E~1'1l4 II' (

'"~ 22.U 2~ .U 24.1 1!>.1i 2l.!J

OTAL NITROGEN (mg/l) 0.78 1.09 1.13 0.92 0.98

STATION #62

54
STATION 163

STATION 165

PARAI'ETER SPRING (3-5 SUM1'ER (6-1:1 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL (1-12)

I IIAL UI ...... «(Jg/l J"I..4 .U .1 .11.3 "i.I .';, 3'/..7

C NOUCTIYlTV lIJmhos) 3/ .050 34.704 33.150 37,533 35,61J9 IWK IT (NTU sl 1.1 0.0 I) .3 .1 6.3

1:..... t.KJ\IUKt. ,",,} "1.1.1 "l.'d .1 l4.3 15.4 "I."I..~

TOTAL NITROGEN (mg/l) 0.76 1.15 1.23 0.87 1.00

STATION #66

PARMETER SPRING :3-5 SUMt-ER (0-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-Z ANNUAL (1-12 I

TOTAL fLL (U!1I1 ~J • 31.1 J4 •.1 lU.3 1I .4

;UNUUl 'I y (JiDhos) 3; ,7' ,7 35,815 33,1:11:13 38,567 36,508 HHI INT s) .b 7.l 4.';, 3.J 5.l

JKI I"C) ~l.b "I.~.U "1.4.4 J.5.1 2l.';,

rOIAL NITROGEN (mQ/l) o.bl 0.99 U.94 U.69 0.1:12

STATION 167

STATION 170

PARAt-ETER SPRING (3-5 SUMftER 16-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL (1-12)

[mAL 'WI «(Jell I 4/.';, 'dJ."l. ~J."l. Jb .4 ~~ .1

ONDUCTIVlTV lJmhosl 35.900 32.950 33,luO 39.633 35,396

IT INT 5) ~.9 ~.4 4.4 ~.J 5.2

IUKt. ('C) Z"l..Z Z'd.Y l~ .Y 1/.J l" .0

TOTAL NlTROGEN (mg/l) 1.32 1.33 1.~2 o.l:la 1.26

55
STATION #71 LONG. 82°25'UO·

56
STATION 190

PARAI1:.T R SPRING 13-5 SUMM::R (b-8 FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL [1-12)

IUIAL I (\Jg/l 11 • 1/."l ~u.o 1£ .~ lb.

CONDUCT VI Y :lJmh05 ) 43,8:13 48,33U 47,433 49,628 48,5! 6 BIll. Y INI 51 3.!I 5.Z 4.1 3.5 4.3

I IUKI ( '(; I ZL4 ~!I.~ £~.Z .1b.J lJ.4

T TAL NITROGEN (mgll) U.46 0.59 U.~B 0.39 0.51

STATION 191

STATION ,~

PARAt-ETER

IUIAL LHI rLL (\Jg/1

ONDUCTIVITY fJmhos)

Ill. .1 (Nil SI

AL NI ROGEN (mg/l)

STATION 193

SPRING (3-5

ll.j

52,5UU

4.U

0.30

SUMf-ER (6-8

l~.l

52,149

29.6

0.54

57

FALL (9-11)

Its.J

49,833

WINTER (12-2

H.U

52,4OU

Ib.4

0.37

ANNUAL (1-12)

14.Z

51,720

23.4

0.45
STATION 1101 LAT. 28°01'32-

PARAto£ R SPRING (3-5 SUMr£R {6-B' FALL {9-1U WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL <1-12)

rOlAL ,.., (!JQIl L4. .O.J lJ .1 10.7 Ib .2

,VI T {lJmhas) 16.7 fO 1 ;l.l.l 14 ~872 15.994 15.966

URBID Y NTU s) .5 .7 5.1 4.3 6.4

\ -1.1 ~z.~ ~8 .3 ~4.~ 15.6 22.8

rOTAL N.IR GEN (mg/1) 1.16 1.32 L22 1.06 1.19

STATION 1102 LAT. 28°00'32-

1'1:.11:.

'1 (!Jmhos)

II IT SI

II( ('C)

A "'Kllbt.N (mg/l)

STATION 1103

STATION 1110

SPRING (3-5

28.

30 ~6

.

~3 .5

.05

SUI' 'ER (6-8

l!:l.U

2 .514

.1

~9 .4

0.85

FALL {9-11)

41."1.

23,737

.8

~4.9

.27

WIN "ER U2-2

~2 .9

2 ,959

~3

l5.9

0.81

ANNUAL U-IZ)

IW .~

.0

~3 .4

PARAI'£ ER SPRING (3-5) SUMfJER (6-13) FAlL (9-11) WINTER t12"'Zl ANNUAl 11-121

lUI fLL l!Jg/l1 !:II .b o!:l.J JO.!:l JU.Z 47.4

CON U VI Y !Jmhos) 22.5U8 26.545 21.328 29.99ti 25.U94

[N" s) !:I .l 6.7 7.2 3.5 5.0 II' JKI 'l. ) "1.4.9 31.U 26.7 18.4 25.2

AL rRI G N {mall) 1.71 1.28 1.39 0.86 1.31

STATION 1112

58

18.613

1.04
STATION 1114

PAAAt-'ETER SPRING (3-5 SUMl>f:R (6-B FALL (9-11) WINTER (12-2 ANNUAL U-1l) TOTAL :1011 (UQ/I NO uata No Uata NO uata b.~ ---- CONDUCTIVITY llJmhos) 523 463 973 551 628

IUKIHU! I' (NTI s) .u !».!j 3 .~ ,.~ 3.~

It.fIt't.KAI UKt. \ 'I,; , £.j 2b .!» 'j.b !~ ./j U . •1

OTAL NITROGEN (mall) .61 1.91 2.62 2.29 2.36

STATION 1132

MEAN FOR ALL STATIONS:

59
4.2 APPENDIX B - 1982 COMMERCIAL LANDINGS (POUNDS) AND EXVESSEL VALUES

(DOLLARS) FOR SELECTED FINFISH SPECIES FOR PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, AND

MANATEE COUNTIES.

The following matrix was compiled from data supplied by Mr. Ernie Snell

of National Marine Fisheries Service Office, Miami, Florida, 1984.

Landings Study area Exvessel Study area Mean Price

Species (1 b) rank value ($) rank per pound

Red drum 166,789 5 93,744 6 $0.56

Spotted seatrout 145,925 6 118,943 5 $0.82

Atlantic croaker 12 14 2 14 $0.17

Flounder 18,238 10 11,507 10 $0.63

Pompano 18,920 9 47,363 8 $2.50

Striped mull et 7,184,919 1 1,602,174 2 $0.22

Menhaden 362 13 18 13 $0.05

Sardines 2,283,376 3 189,211 4 $0.08

Grouper &scamp 5,280,830 2 6,441,860 1 $1. 22

Jewfish 9,238 12 4,214 12 $0.46

Red snapper 350,135 4 760,175 3 $2.17

Mangrove snapper 72,044 7 92,687 7 $1. 29

King mackerel 14,222 11 9,653 11 $0.68

Spanish mackerel 89,206 8 27,911 9 $0.31

Totals 15,634,216 9,399,462

Average Mean $0.80

4.3 APPENDIX C - 1982 COMMERCIAL LANDING (POUNDS) AND EXVESSEL VALUES

(DOLLARS) FOR SELECTED SHELLFISH SPECIES FOR PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, AND

MANATEE COUNTIES.

The following matrix was compiled from data supplied by Mr. Ernie Snell

of the National Marine Fisheries Service Office, Miami, Florida, 1984.

Landings Study area Exvessel Study area Mean price

Species (lb) rank value ($) rank per pound

Clams 70 6 158 6 $2.26

Scallops 1,376 4 3,088 4 $3.24

Shrimp 3,988,435 1 7,975,324 1 $2.00

Blue crab 278,326 2 88,954 3 $1. 38

Stone crab 67,368 3 92,663 2 $1. 38

Oysters 132 5 167 5 $1.27

60
4.4 APPENDIX D - COLONIAL BIRD NESTING SITE MATRIX.

Key to Appendix D, Colonial Bird Nesting Site Matrix.

Colony Number - This is the colony number which appears next to the symbol

in the atlas.

Colony Type - The colonies in the atlas are type-classed:

SB = Shorebird

WB =Wading Bird

BP =Brown Pelican

FWS Number - The correspondi ng colony numbers used by the United States

Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Audubon Society for larger or less

ephemeral colonies are shown in this column. Information concerning colonies

without a corresponding FWS number was gathered largely through personal

communi cati on with the Nati ona1 Audubon Soci ety and Flori da Audubon Soci ety

members as well as other published data.

Species Composition:

SB = Shorebirds

AO - American Oystercatcher

BS - Black Skimmer

CT - Caspian Tern

GBT - Gull-Billed Tern

LG - Laughing Gull

LT - Least Tern

NOT - Noddy Tern

RST - Roseate Tern

ROT - Royal Tern

ST - Sandwich Tern

SP - Snowy Plover

SOT - Sooty Tern

W- Wi 11 et

WP - Wilson's Plover

BP = Brown Pelican

WB = Wading Birds

A - Anhinga

BCNH - Black-Crowned Night Heron

CE - Cattle Egret

DCC - Double-Crested Cormorant

GI - Glossy Ibis

GBH - Great Blue Heron

GE - Great Egret

LB - Least Bittern

LBH - Little Blue Heron

TCH - Tricolored Heron

RE - Reddish Egret

RS - Roseate Spoonbill

SE - Snowy Egret

YCNH - Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

WI - White Ibi s

WS - Wood Stork

Note:

Anhinga and Double-Crested cormorant are

not really wading birds but are included

because they sometimes nest with wading

birds.

(continued)

61
Appendix 0 (continued)

Colony Colony FWS no. Species type Species composition

1 WB, BP BP, CE, WI, GE, GBH, LBH, RE, SE

RCH, BCNH, GE, RS 615007

2 WB YCNH 615010

3 WB CE 615011

4 SB LT 615009

5 WB, BP BP, eE, GBH, GE, SE 615030

6 WB GE, GBH, SE 615029

7 WB, BP BP, GE, GBH, YCNH, WI 615031

8 WB, BP BP, CE, WI, GBH, GE, SE, LH 615027

9 WB GBH 615028

10 SB BS, AO

11 S8 LT, AO

12 SB LT, AO

13 SB LG, AO, W

14 SB, WB AO, W, GE

15 S8 W

16 WB, SB WI, DCC, YCNH, BCNH, JLH, SE, GE, LBH,

GBH, CE, GI, RS, LG, CT, ST

17 SB W

18 WB CE, SE, WI, GE

19 SB WP

20 SB LG, BS

21 SB LT

(continued)

62
Appendix D (concluded)

Colony Colony

number type Species composition FWS no.

23 SB LT, BS, LG, GBT

24 SB SO

25 SB LT, BS

26 SB BS

27 SB BS, LG, ROT, ST, LT, AO

28 SB LT

29 SB LT

30 SB LT, BS

31 SB AO

32 WB LBH, GE, LB, SE

33 SB LT, AO

63
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5. NARRATIVE REFERENCES

Bailey, R.G. 1978. Descriptions of the ecoregions of the United States. U.S.

Dep. Agric. For. Servo Misc. Publ. No. 1391. Washington, D.C.

Causseaux, K. W., and J. D. FretwelL 1982. Positi on of the freshwatersaltwater interface in the upper part of the Floridan aquifer, s.outhwest

Florida, 1979. U.S. Geo1. Surv. Water-Resour. Invest. Open-Flle Rep.

82-90. Tallahassee.

Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. 1983a. Computer printout of

industrial point source discharges in west central Florida. Tallahassee.

Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. 1983b. Computer printout of

municipal point source discharges in west central Florida. Tallahassee.

Florida Department of Natural Resources. 1981. Florida recreational guide.

Tallahassee.

Florida Department of Natural Resources. 1984. Shellfish harvest area maps

(various scales). Tallahassee.

Florida Marine Patrol. 1980. Boater's guide to manatees, the gentle giants.

Tallahassee.

Godcharles, M.G., and W.C. Jaap. 1973. Fauna and flora in hydraulic clam

dredge collections from Florida west and southeast coasts. Florida Department of Natural Resources, Mari ne Research Laboratory, St. Petersburg.

Goodell, H.G., and D.S. Gorsline. 1961. A sedimentologic study of Tampa Bay,

Florida. International Association of Sedimentology, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Goodwin, C. 1984. Changes in tidal flow, circulation, and flushing caused by

dredge and fill in Tampa Bay, Florida. U.S. Geol. Surv. Open-File Rep.

84-447. Tampa.

Hicks, S.D., H.A. Debaugh, and L.E. Hickman. 1983. Sea level variations for

the United States: 1855-1980. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Rockville, Md.

Humm, H.J. 1973. The biological environment. A summary of the eastern Gulf

of Mexico, 1973. State University System of Florida, Institute of

Oceanography, Tallahassee.

65
Lewi s, R. R., I I I. 1980. Tampa Bay cooperative seagrass project. Tampa.

Lewis, R.R., III, and R.L. Whitman, Jr. 1984. A new geographic description

of the boundaries and subdivisions of Tampa Bay. Mangrove Systems, Inc.,

Tampa.

Lewis, R.R., III. R.G. Gilmore, Jr., D.W. Crewz, and W.E. Odum. 1982. The

fishery resources of mangrove forestry in Florida. American Fisheries

Society, Bethesda, Md.

Lewis, R.R., III, M.D. Moffler, and R.C. Phillips. 1984. Seagrass meadows of

Tampa Bay-review (draft). Tampa.

McNulty, J.K., W.M. Lindall, and J.E. Sykes. 1972. Cooperative Gulf of Mexico

estuarine inventory and study, Florida: phase I, area description. National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service.

Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. 368. Seattle, Wash.

Moe, M.A. 1963. A survey of offshore fishing in Florida. Great Outdoors

Publishing Company. Prof. Pap. Sere 4. St. Petersburg.

Mook, D. 1971. External morphology and osteological development of the larval

and juvenile sheepshead, Archosargus probatocepahlus with notes on its

ecology and feeding. M.S. Thesis. University of South Florida, Tampa.

82 pp.

National Ocean Service. 1976. Bathymetric map of St. Petersburg 1:250,000

scale quadrangle. Rockville, Md.

National Ocean Service. 1983. Index of tide stations for the state of

Flori da. Rockvi 11 e, Md.

Palik, T.F., and R.R. Lewis. 1984.

acterization: an ecological atlas.

FWS/OBS-82/47.

Southwestern Florida ecological charMap narratives. U.S. Fish Wildl. Servo

Phillips, R.C. 1960.

Florida seagrasses.

Observations on the ecology and distribution of the

Fla. Board Conserv. Prof. Pap. Sere (2):1-72.

Phi 11 ips, R. C. 1978. Seagrasses and the coastal mari ne envi ronment. Oceanus

21(3):30-40.

Pritchard, P.C.H., ed. 1978-82. Rare and endangered biota of Florida. Vols.

1-6. Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals. Florida

Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee.

Ross, B.E. 1973. The hydrology and flushing of the bays, estuaries, and nearshore areas of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Summary of the eastern Gulf of

Mexico, 1973. State University System of Florida, Institute of

Oceanography, Tallahassee.

66
Seaman, W., Jr. 1982. Enhancement of Florida marine fisheries using

artificial reefs: a review (draft). University of Florida, Florida Sea Grant

College, Gainesville.

Slack, L.J., and M.l. Kaufman. 1973. Specific conductance of water in Florida

streams and canals. Florida Bureau of Geology, Tallahassee.

Snell, E. 1984. Florida landings - 1982. National Marine Fisheries Service,

Mi ami.

Taylor, J.L., and C.M. Saloman. 1969. Some effects of hydraulic dredging and

coastal development in Boca Ceiga Bay, Florida. U.S. Fish Wildl. Servo Bull.

67(2):213-241.

Wilkins, R.B. 1983. Environmental Quality,

Florida. Hillsborough County Environmental

1981, Hi 11 sborough County,

Protection Commission, Tampa.

Zieman, J.C. 182. The ecology of the seagrass of south Florida: a community

profile. U.S. Fish Wildl. Servo FWS/OBS-82/25.

67
6. SOURCES OF MAPPED INFORMATION

6.1 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

6.1.1 Approved Shellfish Harvest Areas

Florida Department of Natural Resources. 1984. Shellfish harvest area maps

(various scales). Tallahassee.

6.1. 2 Oyster Beds

McNulty, J.K., W.N. Lindall, and J.E. Sykes. 1972. Cooperative Gulf of Mexico

estuarine inventory and study, Florida: phase I, area description, NOAA

Tech. Rep., NMFS Circ. 368. Washington, D.C.

6.1. 3 Clams

Godcharles, M. F., and w.e. Jaap. 1973. Exploratory clam survey of Florida

nearshore and estuarine waters with commercial hydraulic dredging gear. Fla.

Dep. Nat. Resour. Mar. Res. Lab. Prof. Pap. Ser. No. 21. St. Petersburg.

Sims, N.W., Jr., and R.J. Stokes. 1967. Survey of the hard shell clam

(Mercenaria campechiensis) population in Tampa Bay, Florida. Fla. Dep. Nat.

Resour. Mar. Res. Lab. Spec. Sci. Rep. No. 17. St. Petersburg.

Sprague, M. 1984. Personal communication, discussions of distribution of

clams in Tampa Bay and adjacent waters. Florida Department of Natural

Resources, Punta Gorda.

Tracy, L. 1983. Personal communication, discussions of distribution of clams

in Tampa Bay and adjacent waters. Three Tis Clam Company, Madeira Beach.

6.1. 4 Finfish Data

Moe, M.A., Jr. 1970. Florida1s fishing grounds. Great Outdoors Publishing

Company. St. Petersburg.

6.1. 5 Shore Birds

Kale, H.W., II. 1978. Birds.

endangered biota of Florida.

Kale, H.W., II. Unpublished.

coast of Florida.

Vol. 2 in P.C.H. Pritchard, ed. Rare and

Un'iversity Presses of Florida, Gainesville.

Data on selected groups of bi rds on the gul f

68
Nesbitt, S.A., J.C. Ogden, H.W. Kale II, B.W. Patty, and L.A. Rowse. 1982.

Florida atlas of breeding sites for herons and their allies: 1976-1978. U.S.

Fish Wildl. Servo FWS/OBS-81/49.

Paul, R. T. 1984 Personal

wading birds in Tampa Bay.

communication, nesting sites of shore birds and

National Audubon Society, Tampa.

6.1. 6 Wading Birds

Kale, H.W., II. 1978. Birds. Vol. 2 in P.C.H. Pritchard, ed. Rare and endangered biota of Florida. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville.

Kale, H.W., II. Unpublished. Data on selected groups of birds on the gulf

coast of Florida.

Nesbitt, S.A., J.C. Ogden, H.W. Kale II, B.W. Patty, and L.A. Rowse.

Florida atlas of breeding sites for herons and their allies: 1976-1978.

Fish Wildl. Servo FWS/OBS-81/49.

1982.

U. S.

Paul, R. T. 1984. Personal communication, nesting sites of shore birds and

wading birds in Tampa Bay. National Audubon Society, Tampa.

6.1. 7 Manatee Habitat

Florida Marine Patrol. 1980. Boater's guide to manatees, the gentle giants.

Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee.

6.1. 8 Seagrass Beds

Mangrove Systems, Inc. 1980. Seagrass maps of Tampa Bay (scales 1:10,000 and

1:24,000). Tampa.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. 1982 Tampa Bay NWI update (scale

1:24,000). National Wetlands Inventory Office, St. Petersburg.

U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. 1:24,000 scale color photography of

Tampa Bay. National Wetlands Inventory Office, St. Petersburg.

6.1. 9 Artificial Reefs

Bureau of Land Management, New Orleans Outer Continental Shelf Office. 1981.

Gulf of Mexico permitted artificial fishing reefs (tracts 67 & 69). New

Orleans, La.

Bureau of Land Management, New Orl eans Outer Continental Shelf Offi ceo 1981.

Eastern Gulf of Mexico coastal zone offshore fisheries. New Orleans, La.

69
Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, Permit Division. 1977.

Florida artificial reefs permit notebook. Tallahassee.

Florida Sea Grant College, Marine Advisory Program. 1979. Recreational use

reefs in Florida, artificial and natural. University of Florida,

Gai nesvill e.

Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Regional

Office. 1982. Fishery resources - recreation (visual-4, scale 1:1,200,000).

New Orleans, La.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1981. Computer printout of Florida artificial

reefs. Jacksonvi 11 e.

6.2 WATER RESOURCES

6.2.1. Sal inity

Hi 11 sborough County Envi ronmenta 1 Protection Commi ssion. 1983. Conduct i vi ty

data for Tampa Bay water quality sampling stations: September 1978 - August

1983. Tampa.

6.2.2 Point Source Discharges

Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. 1983a. Computer printout of

i ndustri a 1 poi nt source di scharges in west central Flori da. Tallahassee.

Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. 1983b. Computer printout of

municipal point source discharges in west central Florida. Tallahassee.

6.2.3 Dredge Spoil Disposal Areas

Flori da Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of State Lands Management.

1983. Dredge and spoi 1 easement 1ocati on maps for the southwest Flori da

area. Tall ahassee.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service.

1983. Nautical charts: 11410, 11413, 11414, and 11425 (various scales).

Rockville, r~d.

6.2.4 Tide Stations

National Ocean Service. 1981.

Florida. Rockville, Md.

Index of tide stations for the State of

National Ocean Service. 1984. Tidal datums for St. Petersburg tide station

#8726520 and Clearwater tide station #87267261. Rockville, Md.

70
6.2.5 Water Quality

Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission. 1983. Total

chlorophyll, conductivity, turbidity, water temperature, and total nitrogen

water quality data for Tampa Bay water quality sampling stations: September

1978 - August 1983. Tampa.

6.2.6. Bathymetry

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

1976. Bathymetric map of St.

Rockvill e, Md.

Administration, National Ocean Service.

Petersburg. 1:250,000 scale quadrangle.

National

1983.

scales).

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National

Nautical charts: 11410, 11413, 11414, and

Rockvill e, Md.

Ocean

11425

Servi ceo

(various

National

1983.

scales).

6.2.7 Intertidal Zone

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National

Nautical charts: 11410, 11413, 11414, and

Rockvi 11 e, Md.

6.2.8 Sediments

Ocean

11425

Service.

(various

Goodell, H.G., and D.S. Gorsline. 1961. A sedimentologic study of Tampa Bay,

Florida. International Association of Sedimentology. Copenhagen, Denmark.

Taylor, J.L., and C.H. Saloman. 1969. Some effects of hydraulic dredging and

coastal development in Boca Ciega Bay, Florida. U.S. Fish Wildl. Servo

Bull. 67(2):213-241.

6.2.9 Tidal Currents

Goodwin, C. 1984. Changes in tidal flow, circulation, and flushing caused by

dredge and fill in Tampa Bay, Florida. U.S. Geol. Surv. Open-File Rep.

84-447. Tampa, Fla.

6.2.10 Freshwater-Saltwater Interface

Causseaux, K.W., and J.D.

freshwater-saltwater interface

southwest Florida, 1979. U.S.

Rep. 82-90. Tallahassee.

Fretwell. 1982. Position of the

in the upper part of the Flori dan aqui fer,

Geol. Surv. Water-Resour. Invest. Open-File

71
7. GLOSSARY

alimentary tract - A tubular passage functioning in digestion and absorption

of food.

brackish

ppt.

Pertaining to a body of water whose salinity is between 0.5 and 30

carnivore - A meat-eating organism.

crustacean - An aquatic arthropod of the class Crustacea characteristically

having a segmented body, a chitinous exoskeleton, and paired, jointed

limbs. Examples include lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and barnacles.

detritus - Any particulate organic material derived from the process of decomposition.

dinoflagellate - Minute, chiefly marine unicellular algae of the order Dinoflagellata, characteristically have two flagella and a cellulose outer

envelope.

diurnal - Lasting fo~ one day.

forage - To search for food.

gyre - A circular or spiral system of movement, characteristic of oceanic

currents.

ichthyofauna - Fish.

isop1eth - Contour 1i ne connecting poi nts of equal value of a gi ven factor.

invertebrate - An animal species having no backbone or spinal column.

metamorphosis - Marked change in the structure of an animal during normal

development, usually in the larval to adult stages. Examples include

caterpillars changing into butterflies and tadpoles into frogs.

morphological - The structural makeup of organisms.

omnivorous - Pertaining to an organism which eats both plants and animals.

pathogen - Any agent that causes disease. Examples include viruses, bacteria,

and fungi.

pelagic - Pertaining to organisms living in the open water.

72
phytoplankton - Minute, floating aquatic plants.

piscivorous - Pertaining to organisms that feed on fish.

planktivorous - Organisms feeding on plankton.

planktonic - Pertaining to free-floating microscopic organisms.

spawni ng - The process of re1easi ng eggs or masses of eggs into the water.

spit - A narrow point of land extending into a body of water.

toxin - A poisonous substance, usually having a protein structure, secreted by

certain organisms.

73
S0212 ·101

REPORT DOCUMENTATION 11. REPORT NO.

PAGE Biological Report 85(15) I~

&.. Title .nd Subtltla

Tampa Bay Envi rotll'lental Atlas

S. Report Date

December 1984

7. AuthOr<.)

J. Thomas Kunneke and Thomas F. Palik .. ~erfonnin. Orl.niz.tlon RePt. No.

t. ",rfonninc O....niution Name .nd Addre.. 10. ProjKt!TnklWoril Unit No.

ll. Cantr.cUC) or Grant(G) No.

Martel Laboratories, Inc.

7100 30th Avenue, North

St. Petersburg, FL 33710 (C)

t"7.1:';-";S=po=_=,=",.::'":O::... =.=n7.: lu=t::lo-=-n::N-:-:.m:-e-.-=-nd:-:-Ad:-:d:-re-ss-------------------~ CG)

National Coastal Ecosystems Team

U.S. Fish and \/ildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington, DC 20240

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

14.

15. Supplementary Not"

ilL Abstrect (LImit: 200 words)

Biological and water resource data for Tampa Bay were compiled and r:lapped at a scale of

1:24,000. This atlas consists of (1) composited information overlain on 18 biological

and 20 water resource base maps and (2) an accor.lpanying map narrative. Subjects mapped

on the water resource maps are contours of the mean r:,iddepth specific conductivity which

can be converted to salinity; bathyr,letry, sediments, tidal currents, the

freshwater/saltwater interface, dredge spoil disposal sites; locations of industrial

and municipal point source discharges, tide stations, and water quality sampling stations.

The point source discharge locations show permitted capacity and the water quality

sampling stations show 5-year averages for chlorophyll, conductivity, turbidity,

temperature, and total nitrogen. The subjects shown on the biological resource maps are

clam and oyster beds, shellfish harvest areas, colonial bird nesting sites, Manatee

habitat, seagrass beds and artificial reefs. Spawning seasons, nursery habitats, and

adult habitats are identified for major fish species. The atlas will provide useful

information for coastal planning and management in Tampa Bay.

17. Oocument An.l~i. •. Descriptors

Atlas, maps, natural resources, conductivity, water quality, habitats

b. Identifiers/Open-Ended Terms

Tampa Bay, point source discharge, shellfish areas, nesting sites

Co COSAn Field/GrollP

1& AQltettiroty Statement

Unlimited release

19. Security Class (This Report)

Uncl assifi ed

21. No. of P.an

74

20. Security CI.ss (This P.p)

Unclassified

22. Price

(See ANS1-l39.11l OPTIONAL FORM 272 (4-17)

(Formerly NTI$-35)

Oep.rtment of Commerce