Circular 1348
PrefaceTampa Bay is recognized internationally for its remarkable progress towards recovery since it was pronounced “dead” in the late 1970s. Due to significant efforts by local governments, industries and private citizens throughout the watershed, water clarity in Tampa Bay is now equal to what it was in 1950, when population in the watershed was less than one-quarter of what it is today. Seagrass extent has increased by more than 8,000 acres since the mid-1980s, and fish and wildlife populations are increasing. Central to this successful turn-around has been the Tampa Bay resource management community’s long-term commitment to development and implementation of strong science-based management strategies. Research institutions and agencies, including Eckerd College, the Florida Wildlife Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Mote Marine Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, University of South Florida, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, local and State governments, and private companies contribute significantly to the scientific basis of our understanding of Tampa Bay’s structure and ecological function. Resource management agencies, including the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s Agency on Bay Management, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management Program, and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, depend upon this scientific basis to develop and implement regional adaptive management programs. The importance of integrating science with management has become fully recognized by scientists and managers throughout the region, State and Nation. Scientific studies conducted in Tampa Bay over the past 10–15 years are increasingly diverse and complex, and resource management programs reflect our increased knowledge of geology, hydrology and hydrodynamics, ecology and restoration techniques. However, a synthesis of this research and its integration into resource management has not been prepared for Tampa Bay since the mid-1980s. The need for an up-to-date synthesis of Tampa Bay science and management has resulted in the production of this document. The U.S. Geological Survey recently completed a 5-year Tampa Bay Integrated Science Study, and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program updated the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay in 2006. These efforts build upon results of the many research and management studies and programs summarized here. |
First posted November 15, 2011
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Yates, K.K., Greening, Holly, and Morrison, Gerold, eds., 2011, Integrating Science and Resource Management in Tampa Bay, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1348, 280 p., available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1348/.
ContentsChapter 1. An Introduction to Tampa BayTampa Bay Study—Integrating Science and Management References Cited Chapter 2. Environmental SettingLand Use Climate and Weather Tributaries and Freshwater Inflow Tides Circulation Coming Challenges—Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise References Cited Chapter 3. Origin and Evolution of Tampa BayGeologic History Stratigraphy Paleoenvironments Anthropogenic Changes to the Bay and its Watershed References Cited Chapter 4. SeagrassSeagrass Species Found in Tampa Bay Seagrass Habitat Requirements Types of Seagrass Beds in Tampa Bay Factors Affecting Seagrass Cover in Tampa Bay Water and Sediment Quality Dredge and Fill Currents and Wave Energy Propeller Scarring Planting and Transplanting Sea-Level Rise and Other Components of Global Climate Change Status and Trends in Seagrass Cover Seagrass Management Strategy Anticipated Challenges References Cited Chapter 5. Water QualityConnectivity between the Bay and its Watershed and Airshed Eutrophication in Tampa Bay—Past Problems, Recent Successes, and Ongoing Challenges Water-Quality Monitoring Estimating Pollutant Loads and Bay Responses Adaptive Management Current and Anticipated Water-Quality Management Issues Nutrient Inputs and Eutrophication Factors Affecting Phytoplankton Productivity in Tampa Bay External Nitrogen Sources and Estimated Annual Loadings Internal Nutrient Cycling and its Implications for Bay Management Setting Water-Quality Goals and Nitrogen Loading Goals Based on the Light Requirements of Seagrasses Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium Toxins and Harmful Algal Blooms Mercury in Fish Tissue Harmful Algal Blooms Florida Red Tide Other Harmful Algal Blooms Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products, and other Emerging Contaminants Pathogen-Related Water-Quality Impairments Anticipated Future Challenges from Ongoing Population Growth References Cited Chapter 6. Freshwater InflowsAnthropogenic Hydrologic Modifications Urban Development and Increased Imperviousness Changes to Surface-Water Conveyance Systems Coastal Old Tampa Bay Basin Hillsborough River Basin Coastal Hillsborough Bay Basin Alafia River Basin Coastal Middle Tampa Bay Basin Little Manatee River Basin Coastal Lower Tampa Bay and Terra Ceia Bay Basins Manatee River Basin Boca Ciega Bay Basin Changes in Groundwater Systems Northern Groundwater Basins Southern Groundwater Basin Rainfall and Streamflow Patterns Long-Term Trends in Spring Discharge and Instream Flows Management Responses to Anthropogenic Alterations Stormwater Management Water Withdrawals for Human Use Discharges of Treated Effluent and Irrigation Water Future Challenges References Cited Chapter 7. Sediment Contaminants and Benthic Habitat QualityContaminant Concentrations and Disbribution Identification of Contaminants of Concern Risk-Based Assessment of Contaminant Concentrations Contaminants of Concern Sources and Estimated Inputs The Tampa Bay Sediment Quality Management Strategy Benthic Diversity and Abundance Next Steps and Future Challenges References Cited Chapter 8. Habitat Protection and RestorationEmergent Tidal Wetlands Mangrove Forest Salt Marsh Salt Barrens Oyster Bars Hard Bottom Tidal Rivers and Tributaries Artificial Habitats Coastal Uplands Freshwater Wetlands Hatitat Threats Dredge and Fill Urbanization Water and Sediment Quality Consumptive Water Use Climate Change Sea-Level Rise Increasing Temperature Increasing Acidification of Coastal Waters Management Responses Paradigms for Habitat Restoration and Protection "Restoring the Balance" The "Habitat Mosaic" Approach Habitat Restoration and Protection Targets Emergent Tidal Wetlands Other Habitat Types References Cited |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/1348/index.html
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