The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) has adopted a long-term Tampa Bay seagrass restoration goal of 15,400ha, which is approximately 95% of the estimated Tampa Bay seagrass cover present in 1950. Protection of the 10,400ha existing in 1994 and the restoration of an additional 5,000ha will be accomplished primarily through management of external nitrogen loadings and bay water quality (Johansson and Greening 2000).

Estimates of the 1950 seagrass depth distribution were used to develop bay segment specific seagrass target depths, expressed as mean tidal level (MTL), for Tampa Bay. The adopted approximate target depths were: -1.0m for Hillsborough Bay, -1.9m for Old Tampa Bay, -1.6 to -2.4m for Middle Tampa Bay (depending on sub-segment), and -2.5m for Lower Tampa Bay.

The estimated 1950 Tampa Bay seagrass depth distribution was important for the development of the TBEP seagrass restoration and protection goal. Likewise, information on today=s seagrass depth distribution is needed to evaluate the progress of the seagrass restoration process. Further, the present seagrass depth information combined with light attenuation data from routinely conducted water quality monitoring programs, could be used to calculate the percentage subsurface irradiance available for different seagrass species found in the different bay segments and potentially also be used to estimate specific seagrass species light requirements.

Finally, these elevation measurements would also complement the cooperative Tampa Bay permanent seagrass monitoring program by providing detailed seagrass elevations and transect profiles (see Avery et al. this poster session).