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U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 01-390 [PDF of this report]
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View other reports in the 2001
Tampa Bay Pilot Study Series: |
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Task Leader: Carole McIvor
Co-author: Ellen Raabe
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Tampa Bay Integrated Science Pilot Study
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Wetland Characterization
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Introduction
Coastal wetlands in Tampa Bay consist of mangrove forest and tidal salt marsh. Wetlands buffer storm surges, provide fish and wildlife habitat, and enhance water quality through the removal of water-borne nutrients and contaminants. Substantial areas of both mangrove and salt marsh have been lost to agricultural, residential and industrial development in this urban estuary.
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Figure 1. Satellite image of Tampa Bay indicating demonstration study sites near the Alafia River and Terra Ceia area. Colors are near natural; healthy plants are green, agricultural fields are pink or beige.
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Wetlands restoration has been initiated in Tampa Bay. Baseline studies on the current condition of wetlands and historical and prehistorical information is needed for successful restoration planning and evaluation.
A major objective of this component of the Tampa Bay pilot program is to characterize wetlands in Tampa Bay beginning with areas that differ in their degree of human-induced disturbance (Fig. 1).
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Figure 2. A 1999 color infrared photographic image of the Terra Ceia area. Shallow karst ponds, most of them lined by mangroves, dominate the landscape.
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The Alafia River area is urbanized, industrialized and dredged, whereas the Terra Ceia area has a history of agricultural use with associated soil berms and mosquito ditches, but has not been farmed for at least 20 years (Fig. 2).
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