This document describes the procedure used to quantify the presence of red tide cells in water samples collected for analysis by the Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management.

This is an interactive dashboard featuring information and real-time sampling updates for harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Florida.

Fertilizer runoff has a detrimental effect on our waterways. This video outlines the rules in Pinellas County's fertilizer ordinance to help residences comply with the rules.

This digital guide to getting outside in Tampa Bay was created by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program in partnership with the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. It includes boating and fishing map with piers, clean marinas, artificial reefs, slow zones, as well as info on boating & fishing regulations, seagrass safe boating, ethical angling, paddling, diving, snorkeling, and how to report hazards and wildlife issues.

Diagrams for constructing a built-in downspout stormwater biofiltration system, with installation notes.

While sampling has been conducted since 1992 in Pinellas County waters, the sampling routine was redesigned and many sites were relocated in 2003. This report provides analytical results of statistical timeseries trend analysis for data collected from 2003-2013 for all routine ambient monitoring data collected by the Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure?s Watershed Management Division.

Shellfish harvesting area classifications are used to determine where shellfish harvesting is allowed. Approved and Conditionally Approved are areas where harvesting is allowed when the area is in open status. Restricted/Conditionally Restricted, Prohibited and Unclassified are areas where harvesting is not permitted. This page has maps showing which areas fall into each of these classifications, and the current open/closed status of Approved and Conditionally Approved areas.

Buffer zones, also known as no mow zones, are vegetated lands that are either natural or created to separate a waterbody from negative human impacts. Buffer zones are a key feature for securing shorelines from erosion. This fact sheet has photo examples and information about why and how to create and maintain them.

This guide provides a clear and concise toolbox for increasing community engagement in stormwater pond management. Property, condo, and homeowner associations (collectively referred to in this manual as HOAs) will benefit from expert step-by-step guidance on incorporating best management practices for maintaining their stormwater ponds? function to store and treat stormwater, while improving aquatic habitat for Florida?s wildlife and enhancing neighborhood aesthetics.

The Ozona Management Area is in the Ozona area of unincorporated Pinellas County. Aerial photographs from the 1920s suggest the management area once supported a freshwater marsh wetland and was surrounded by flatwoods and sandhill communities. Prior to 1942, a ditch connected this area to the Gulf of Mexico. This provided a conduit for saltwater to enter the formerly freshwater system. Later, roads were improved, the natural coastline was altered and mangrove-dominated swamps were filled.

The Long Branch Management Area is located between the cities of Largo and Clearwater in unincorporated Pinellas County. Historic aerial photographs show the area once supported an extensive tidal creek. The wetlands have remained largely natural with the exception of minor ditching for mosquito control and dredging to straighten the channel. In contrast, the surrounding uplands have undergone major changes since the 1980s related to extensive urban development.

The Alligator Lake Management Area is near the cities of Clearwater and Safety Harbor, adjacent to Old Tampa Bay. The area has experienced dramatic changes over the years, including the flooding of Alligator Creek to form Alligator Lake. With the addition of a weir near the mouth of the creek, this system changed from a bayou regulated by the tide to a freshwater lake. The area to the north was historically used for citrus farming.

The Allen?s Creek Management Area, near the city of Largo, is divided into two sections. The 14-acre eastern section is at the end of Lancaster Drive, while the 19-acre western portion is near Rosery Road. Historically, an equestrian riding and training stable was located on the eastern side, which caused a Bahia-dominated pasture to overtake and replaced native plants. In contrast, the western section has remained largely undisturbed.

The Travatine Island Management Area is near the city of Seminole, adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway and Boca Ciega Bay. Urbanization has caused dramatic changes over the years to this part of the county. The dumping of soil from channel maintenance has expanded the western edge of this island, but historic aerial photographs show the tidal swamps to the south and the salterns (saltwater pools that create salt when the seawater evaporates) were there before those disturbances.

The East Lake Management Area is in the East Lake area of unincorporated Pinellas County. The property was originally part of a large, continuous and forested wetland system that spanned from Lake Tarpon to the main channel of Brooker Creek. The management area is nestled within several subdivisions but remains connected to a large wetland system to the northwest that spans from Lake Tarpon to John Chesnut Sr. Park.

The Cabbage Key Management Area is in the Tierra Verde area of unincorporated Pinellas County. In addition to uplands found along the Pinellas Bayway, it contains several mangrove islands and 260 acres of Tampa Bay. Urbanization has caused major changes over the years to this part of the county. Historic aerial photographs show the islands of this region had very little development before being connected to the mainland and were primarily estuarine and coastal hammock natural communities.

The TBRPC convenes coordinates planning for the Tampa Bay Region's future, providing a forum for analyzing issues, resolving problems, and sharing solutions Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties.

In this webinar, presented by Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, follow the flow of rainwater to see where it goes and what happens to it. Explore how we play a critical role in the big picture of stormwater and the impacts of this water to our local ecosystems and learn what you can do to help improve water quality right in your own yard or neighborhood!

A study conducted in the late 1990s showed that the land on the west side of Sawgrass Lake contained elevated levels of lead and arsenic, a result of shooting from a nearby gun range. Contaminated materials cleanup and restoration construction began in February 2011 and was completed in Spring 2015. As part of the project, the Southwest Fla. Water Mgmt. District removed spent lead shot and contaminants from the system and conducted water quality monitoring through March 2016.

The Southwest Fla. Water Mgmt. District and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program developed this project to determine the primary factors leading to declining water quality and habitat conditions observed in Old Tampa Bay, developing an Old Tampa Bay model, an integrated set of computer models that estimate the amount of water and nitrogen flowing from the Old Tampa Bay watershed to the bay, simulate changes, estimate water quality improvements, and evaluate management actions.

The flip crew heads to St. Petersburg where our homeowner, Beth Reynolds, has been battling weeds and sandspurs in her front yard. Our team of landscape professionals work in unison to flip her corner lot to serve as an example for her friends and neighbors to follow. The Flip My Florida Yard program is sponsored by the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection to promote Florida Friendly landscaping principles.

This playlist of 9 YouTube videos covers various topics related to residential landscape irrigation. Each video is between 45 minutes and an hour. They can be watched individually or sequentially.

In the wake of historic rainfall and flooding associated with Hurricane Hermine, Pinellas County joined with municipal and private partners in October 2016 to create the Wastewater/Stormwater Partnership to prevent future wastewater overflows. The results of the Partnership are numerous, with the goal to continue protecting our most precious resource. For more information Partnership, visit pinellas.gov/boards-councils-and-committees/wastewater-stormwater-partnership.

In this document, researchers review the theoretical and empirical framework on which the percent-of-flow approach is based and describe how it is applied in the water management setting. Analyses supporting this approach have emphasized hydrobiological relationships within tidal-river zones of larger estuarine systems in southwest Florida. Representative findings from tidal rivers are reviewed to illustrate key ecological relationships and applications to the management of freshwater inflow

This best practices guide was created to assist Floridians living, recreating, and working around stormwater ponds to know what do if a blue-green algal bloom occurs. This guide will fill in the regulatory gap for stormwater ponds because these waterbodies do not fall under the responsibility of state regulating agencies, and therefore, do not have any associated monitoring or public notice protocol.

Update on water quality and seagrass resources in the Tampa Bay Estuary, in compliance with FDEP's Reasonable Assurance determination and EPA TMDL for Tampa Bay.

Update on water quality and seagrass resources in the Tampa Bay Estuary, in compliance with FDEP's Reasonable Assurance determination and EPA TMDL for Tampa Bay.

Update on water quality and seagrass resources in the Tampa Bay Estuary, in compliance with FDEP's Reasonable Assurance determination and EPA TMDL for Tampa Bay.

Update on water quality and seagrass resources in the Tampa Bay Estuary, in compliance with FDEP's Reasonable Assurance determination and EPA TMDL for Tampa Bay.

Update on water quality and seagrass resources in the Tampa Bay Estuary, in compliance with FDEP's Reasonable Assurance determination and EPA TMDL for Tampa Bay.

A fertilizer-free zone is an area where you may not fertilize at any time of the year. These designated zones are near seawalls, wetlands, ponds, lakes or any body of water. When fertilizer reaches the water, it causes poor water quality and algae blooms, which in turn reduce oxygen and cause fish kills. Pinellas County?s Fertilizer Ordinance Fertilizer shall NOT be applied within 10 feet from the top bank of any surface water, landward edge of the top of a seawall, or wetland. The ?top of

Weedon Island Preserve is an expansive 3,000-acre natural area on Tampa Bay in north St. Petersburg. It is comprised mostly of marine ecosystems with some uplands. Indigenous peoples, including those during the ?Weeden? (alternate spelling) Island Cultural Period, lived at this site for thousands of years.

At the north end of Upper Tampa Bay, the preserve encompasses a wide diversity of upland and coastal plant communities. The 396-acre preserve is managed with the city of Oldsmar, which oversees two recreational areas.

War Veterans? Memorial Park is 112 acres in St. Petersburg. The focal point of this park is a landscaped Memorial Center featuring five plaques with official armed forces flags that commemorate each of the United States? military branches. This park also has a Battlefield Cross, a Sundial and an Army Tank.

Wall Springs Park is 210 acres that connects to the Pinellas Trail in Palm Harbor. This park provides a viewing area and boardwalk of the natural spring that once was used as a spa and bathing area. There is also a 35-foot observation tower to enjoy views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Sand Key Park is 95 acres with two distinct areas of beach and park in Clearwater. This park has a white sandy beach with seasonal lifeguards and sea turtles that nest from April ? October. The park also provides benches for viewing the salt marsh that sustains the native wildlife.

Philippe Park is 122 acres rich in history. This is the oldest park in Pinellas County and is in Safety Harbor. The majestic shade trees and the Native American mound welcome visitors to the park. The Temple Mound was built by Native Americans known as the Tocobaga. It is the largest remaining mound in the Tampa Bay region and is listed in the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

The mission of Heritage Village is to inspire exploration of Pinellas County's story by designing unique programs and exhibits, facilitating research, and collecting and preserving local history.

The largest park within the Pinellas County Park System, Fort De Soto park consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands (keys). These keys are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. Each of these species plays a vital role in the preservation and protection of the natural environment.

Diagrams describing improvement projects being undertaken by the City of Dunedin to improve water quality in Cedar Creek, especially bacteria pollution.

Red tide blooms can change rapidly, and occur over many miles, how do scientists know where red tide is and how to measure it? You?ll learn all about the science behind FWRI?s red tide monitoring program in this short video. Visit FWC's website for more information about red tide, including its daily sample map: MyFWC.com/redtide

Red tide is a microscopic marine algae called Karenia brevis, but what does that really mean? In this video, learn about red tide's life cycle, what causes "blooms", what areas of Florida are affected by red tide, and more. Visit FWC's website for more information about red tide, including its daily sample map: MyFWC.com/redtide

Building bridges, clearing waterways, and paving the way toward a better community ? that?s just a snapshot of what the Pinellas County Public Works team does every day. In this edition of Discovering Pinellas, get out in the field and down in the dirt with the dedicated men and women who keep our countywide infrastructure running strong.

Sarasota County Sea Grant Agent Armando Ubeda discusses marine debris: its sources, impacts on public safety and marine life, and efforts being made to reduce it and clean it up.

The first Lake Seminole Reasonable Assurance Plan (RAP) was developed by Pinellas County in 2007 to set forth actions to reduce nutrient loading to the lake and restore water quality. This document is the third update to the original RAP and includes a brief overview of progress since 2007 and a detailed description of management actions from 2014 to date. Pinellas County monitors water quality, phytoplankton, and vegetation in Lake Seminole; monitoring results and trends are included.

Los manglares proporcionan estabilizaci?n del suelo y protecci?n contra las marejadas cicl?nicas en las zonas costeras. Su gesti?n se rige por la ordenanza del condado. En 2003, la Junta del Condado Los comisionados, con la asistencia de un comit? asesor de ciudadanos, adoptaron el C?digo de Preservaci?n y Recorte de Manglares del Condado de Pinellas, que ahora proporciona la ?nica regulaci?n sobre los manglares en el Condado de Pinellas. Este folleto describe sus disposiciones.

Final report of a Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund study that used the presence of certain bacteria to track the extent of human-caused pollution in Tampa Bay. Report includes data table and metadata.

This playlist has all the presentations from the 2022 BASIS-7/Association of National Estuary Programs meeting.

This plan is intended to provide a five-year implementation plan as to how the City will address the corresponding fecal coliform TMDL. The plan will create a phased approach for the City of Dunedin to follow with action plans and long-term goals to aid in meeting the fecal coliform TMDL within Cedar Creek.

Common trash from consumer goods makes up the majority of what eventually becomes marine debris, polluting our waterways and oceans. Plastics in the aquatic environment are of increasing concern because of their persistence and effect on the environment, wildlife, and human health. EPA's Trash-Free Waters program is reducing the volume of trash entering U.S. waterways by working with communities, businesses, researchers and citizens to keep trash and litter out of the water.