Primary Goal of the TBEP CCMP (1996)
Restore and protect water quality and bay habitats as the foundation for healthy and diverse populations of fish and wildlife.
Water and Sediment Quality Goals
- Cap nitrogen loadings to Tampa Bay at existing (1992-1994) average levels to encourage growth of seagrass. Gain a better understanding of the role air pollution plays in bay water quality and address sources of pollution.
- Protect relatively clean areas of the bay from increases in toxic contamination, and minimize risks to marine life and humans associated with toxic contaminants in impacted areas.
- Reduce bacterial contamination in impacted areas of the bay to levels safe for swimming and shellfish harvesting.
Bay Habitat Goals
- TBEP Master Plan for Habitat Restoration and Protection seeks to restore the historic balance of habitats in Tampa Bay.
- Increase and preserve the quality, quantity, and diversity of seagrass communities.
- Restore and optimize the balance of wetland and associated upland habitats for fish and wildlife, while protecting and enhancing existing habitats.
Fish and Wildlife Goals
- Increase the number, diversity, and health of the bay’s fish and shellfish populations, and restore a self-sustaining bay scallop population.
- Restore and protect wildlife habitats and food sources, and promote regional wildlife habitat planning.
- Minimize physical impacts to bay wildlife habitats.
Dredging and Dredged Material Management Goals
- Improve planning and coordination for dredging and long-term spoil disposal.
- Minimize environmental impacts associated with dredging and spoil disposal.
- Maximize beneficial uses of dredged material for purposes such as habitat restoration.
Spill Prevention and Response Goals
- Prevent castrophic spills of oil and other hazardous materials.
- Reduce chronic smaller discharges from boats, ships, marinas, and other sources.
- Minimize the environmental impact of spills through planning and response.
Public Education and Involvement Goals
- Foster continued community support for bay restoration and CCMP implementation by continuing to educate residents about bay issues, and publicize the bay’s progress and needs.
- Improve public faith in the ability of bay managers and organizations dedicated to its restoration to “work smart” to leverage resources, avoid duplication, and focus on priorities.
- Maximize direct opportunities for public involvement in bay restoration and protection.
CCMP Monitoring Components
1. Water Quality
2. Benthos, sediment quality and composition
3. Atmoshperic deposition
4. Bay habitats
5. Bay fisheries and wildlife
Specific Monitoring Objectives
- Estimate the areal extent of the bay that does not provide adequate water quality conditions to support seagrasses and other living resources.
- Assess the abundance and health of bay fish populations over time.
- Estimate the areal extent of degraded benthic habitat in the bay and within each bay segment.
- Estimate the areal extent and quality of seagrasses, mangroves and emergent bay wetlands.
- Estimate the areal extent of oligohaline (low-salinity) habitat in the bay and its tributaries.
Tampa Bay Seagrass Management Ranked Priority Issues (Greening and Treat, 2000)
1. Identify causes of seagrass recovery slowdown or seagrass loss in “problem areas”.
2. Initiate and support work to better understand seagrass ecology and biology.
3. Scan and provide easy electronic access for historic and existing seagrass maps and photos. Develop a photo archive to catalog where photos and maps are stored.
4. Enhance boater impacts management, including public education/outreach and stakeholder involvement.
5. Assess seagrass requirements, including epiphyte attenuation, light requirements for all species, seasonal effects, and impacts of macroalgae and microfauna.
6. Examine effects of changes in offshore bars, ship wakes, and wave energy.
7. Evaluate seagrass planting techniques.
8. Formalize the transect monitoring program.
9. Establish permanent intensive “sentinel sites” within seagrass beds for research and monitoring.
10. Examine and monitor the effects of extreme events on seagrass recovery.
11. Further investigate Labyrinthula impacts and implications for seagrass recovery.
12. Obtain more accurate bathymetry.
13. Provide more emphasis on shallow water monitoring.
14. Consider ecological implications of seagrass fragmentation.
15. Develop a structured synthesis/storyline of information about Tampa Bay.
16. Investigate seagrass “halos” near discharges.
17. Map deep edges of seagrass.
18. Determine the accuracy and precision of historic and current maps.
19. Develop a definition of the “deep edge” of seagrass beds.
TBEP Groundwater Workshop High Priority Objectives (2001)
1. Quantify of constant leakage of upper Floridan water (residual and unaffected by precipitation and water withdrawn from groundwater sources) into Tampa Bay for water mass balance purposes.
Quantify surficial aquifer run-off (shallow aquifers with direct response to agricultural and other contamination) along the coastlines.
TBEP Data Management Goal (Cairns et al. 1992)
Identify and develop the plans for a data management system that meets the needs of potential users who can benefit from improved access to information that is pertinent to resource management.
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