Tampa Bay Estuary - USGS Geology Leadership Conference

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USGS Managers Tour the Tampa Bay Estuary in Florida

January 30, 2002

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Pete Swarzenski (USGS/GD) gives presentation on groundwater sampling

Peter Swarzenski (USGS/GD) and Dan Yobbi (USGS/WRD) presented their discoveries about processes at the sediment water interface.

Dan Yobbi (USGS/BRD) talks to management group about groundwater sampling

They demonstrated how piezometers are an integral tool for groundwater sampling. This is part of a collaborative experiment to understand estuarine processes at the ocean mixing zone.

Terry Edgar (USGS/Geological Discipline) gives presentation on historical geologic record of Tampa Bay.

Noah Silverman (USGS/GD) and Gregg Brooks (Eckerd College) collect a core sample from the Tampa Bay.

Terry Edgar (USGS/GD) and Greg Brooks (Eckerd College) introduced their analysis of historical geologic record of Tampa Bay.

Vibracore set up in bay collects sediment cores

Vibracore set up inland collects sediment cores

They demonstrated how a vibracore was an essential piece of equipment for gathering sediment cores throughout the estuary.

Core samples collected at Terra Ceia Aquatic Buffer Preserve

These cores are necessary for dating various sediment layers across the bay.

Wendy Weaver (UGA), an archeologist, has analyzed several Indian shell middens that are located throughout the Mariposa Key area. She displayed several artifacts to the group. Understanding these prehistoric deposits is an important aspect in the history of the bay area.

The SHARQ - Submersible Habitat for Analyzing Reef Quality

Some of the instruments that are used to monitor the water trapped within the SHARQ tent

Kim Yates (USGS/GD) displayed her Submersible Habitat for Analyzing Reef Quality (S.H.A.R.Q.). This submersible tent traps water over sea floor habitats. Measuring changes in water chemistry inside of the tent allows researchers to measure growth rates of sea floor communities.

The SHARQ tent has been used extensively on seagrass beds throughout the Tampa Bay area, and it was a great opportunity for management to see it at work.

Managers walking in Tampa Bay to next demonstration site (Sunshine Skyway Bridge in background)

After visiting Mariposa Key the group returned to the catamaran for a boat ride into Cockroach Bay. Cockroach Bay has already undergone major restoration and is now one of the most beautiful habitats in the estuary.

Agenda/Summary | Photos1 | Photos2 | Photos3 | Contacts