Water quality of Tampa Bay, Florida, June 1972 - May 1976

Water-Resources Investigations Report 80-12
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Tampa Port Authority
By:  and 

Links

Abstract

A comprehensive assessment of the water quality of Tampa Bay, Florida, was initiated in 1970 to provide background information to evaluate the effects of widening and deepening the ship channel to the port of Tampa. This report provides results of water-quality sampling in the bay from 1972 to 1976, prior to dredging. Measurements of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, specific conductance, biochemical oxygen demand, and total organic carbon were made as well as measurements for several nutrient, metal, and pesticide parameters. Many parameters were measured at as many as three points in the vertical. These data indicate that Tampa Bay is well-mixed vertically with little density stratification. Time histories of average temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, specific conductance and nutrient values within four subareas of Tampa Bay are given to reveal seasonal or other trends during the period of record. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, specific conductance, nutrient, biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, and metal data are also presented as areal distributions. Nutrient concentrations were generally higher in Hillsborough Bay than in other sub-areas of Tampa Bay. Biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, and total organic nitrogen distribution patterns show regions of highest concentrations to be along bay shorelines near population centers. Of the metals analyzed, all were present in concentrations of less than 1 milligram per liter. (USGS)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water quality of Tampa Bay, Florida, June 1972 - May 1976
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 80-12
DOI 10.3133/wri8012
Year Published 1980
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description vi, 49 p.
Country United States
State Florida
Other Geospatial Tampa Bay
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details