Pinellas County Water Atlas


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Lower Tampa Bay Watershed

Lower Tampa Bay Watershed

Map

Description

This section includes information about the geography and land use within the watershed, including the historical and current forms of land use.

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Map Legend

Water Quality sampling site
Hydrology sampling site
Closest Rainfall site
Rainfall sampling site
Multi-type sampling site
Other sampling site
 

Population

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Source(s): U.S. Department of Commerce


The following information illustrates the change in population within the watershed during the past few decades. Statistics shown are only for the watershed area within the boundary of this Water Atlas.

Total Population within each Watershed from 1970-2020
Watershed 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020  
Boca Ciega Bay Watershed 68,243 76,800 79,817 82,629 80,951 78,430 Graph
Clearwater Harbor Watershed 46,278 56,862 57,655 58,780 64,245 66,358 Graph
Lake Tarpon Watershed 4,201 11,651 38,319 59,623 58,927 65,468 Graph
Long Bayou Watershed 107,186 149,639 172,366 179,492 177,007 183,647 Graph
Lower Tampa Bay Watershed 74,679 75,129 70,593 69,781 67,133 67,429 Graph
Narrows Watershed 28,324 56,273 58,610 60,991 59,036 59,801 Graph
Old Tampa Bay Watershed 51,510 103,751 136,711 157,137 162,992 160,585 Graph
Riviera Bay, Middle Tampa Bay Watershed 64,701 78,169 87,582 89,718 89,880 96,224 Graph
St. Joseph Sound Watershed 30,429 60,258 91,450 102,653 103,442 91,967 Graph
Totals for All Watershed Areas 475,551 668,532 793,103 860,804 863,613 869,909  

Source(s): U.S. Department of Commerce

     
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    Land Acquisition and Protection

    The Florida Natural Areas Inventory is the primary source for information on Florida's conservation lands. The Inventory database includes boundaries and statistics for more than 1,400 federal, state, local, and private managed areas, all provided directly by the managing agencies. National parks, state forests, wildlife management areas, local and private preserves are examples of the managed areas included.

    Statistics shown are only for the watershed area within the boundary of this Water Atlas.

    4% of the land area within the Lower Tampa Bay Watershed is under protection.

    The amount of protected land under federal, state, local, and private ownership
    Ownership Area (square miles)
    Local 0.59
    Source: Florida Natural Areas Inventory
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      Land Use / Land Cover

      Land Cover categorizes the land in terms of the observed physical surface characteristics. For example, while the land use may be classified as agricultural, the land cover may be classified as upland or wetland. Learn more about land use and land cover »

      Interactive Land Use Viewer

      The interactive map shown below demonstrates how the use of land within and around Lower Tampa Bay Watershed has changed over time. Use the slider control at the top left of the map to change the year displayed. Use the visibility slider at the top right to change the opacity of the land use layer.

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      Land Use Legend

      • Urban & Built-up
      • Agriculture
      • Rangeland
      • Upland Forests
      • Water
      • Wetlands
      • Barren Land
      • Utilities
      •  
      • Watershed Boundary
      Acreage and Percentage within each Land Use / Land Cover Category for Lower Tampa Bay Watershed
      Year Urban & Built-up Agriculture Rangeland Upland Forests Water Wetlands Barren Land Transportation and Utilities
      Acres% Acres% Acres% Acres% Acres% Acres% Acres% Acres%
      202011,342860000319281761962004964
      20178,849860000249268571061003874
      20148,836860000268368771041003784
      20118,840860000256268771041003874
      20108,840860000256268671051003874
      20098,840860000256268671051003874
      20088,845860000256268671041003834
      20078,845860000256268671031003834
      20068,845860000257267161181003834
      20058,819860000278368471091003834
      20048,819860000278368271121003834
      19998,7848616< 162< 1196268371481203814
      19958,7698516< 162< 1196267871522203974
      19908,7438517< 16< 1235264262012004094

      Source(s): Southwest Florida Water Management District

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