PALMETTO Tampa Bay was flooded with 215 million gallons worth of wastewater. It was like a shot in liquid fertilizer.
Scientists say that scientists were not surprised by what happened next. Scientists believe that algae grew, probably due to the contaminated water released from Piney Point’s old fertilizer plant property last year.
It was bad for Tampa Bay. However, it is difficult to determine how bad. One reason is that the water is often contaminated with other pollution, making it difficult for Piney Points to be identified.
The estuary has been a model for environmental restoration for decades. 2021 brought about renewed concern. The toxic Red Tide bloom that decimated many marine species and killed countless fish in Tampa Bay caused a panic. Manatees and other animals. Scientists suspect that Piney Point’s wastewater made it worse.
Peter Clark, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Watch, stated that we have made significant progress in Tampa Bay. But we also have the ability to take huge steps backwards.
The state allowed the polluted waters to be dumped in the bay between March 30th and April 9, amid concerns about a worse disaster, a Piney Point reservoir bursting and releasing a flood into nearby homes.
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program monitors the bay’s health and advocates for maintaining its cleanliness. It estimates that the release may have added more nitrogen to the lower section of the estuary over a period of 10 days than it typically sees in a typical year.
It doesn’t help with healing, that’s for sure,” said Ed Sherwood (executive director, Estuary Programs).
You are trying to find the signal
Scientists may never agree on the extent of Piney Point to blame. Multiple algae blooms were exacerbated or caused by this virus last year.
Algae need nitrogen to grow. However runoff from heavily fertilized lawns or leaking sewer systems can cause problems.
Steve Murawski, a University of South Florida fisheries biologist, said that we were talking about compounds that are currently present in the environment at some degree. It is always difficult to find the signal.
Researchers are trying to find connections between the release of nutrients and the blooms. They have been following the signatures of nutrients from Piney Point that could be found in the algae, such as fingerprints. Elise Morrison from the University of Floridas Department of Environmental Engineering Services said that the work is still incomplete.
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Scientists have created a timeline suggesting that Piney Point pollution may have circulated through the environment for most last spring and summer. It is shown in A Marine Pollution Bulletin paper that was recently published.
Non-toxic algae called diatoms first bloomed in April around Port Manatee. The wastewater was pumped into the bay by Piney Points owner. Within weeks, the diatoms were gone.
A different type of algae appeared off Anna Maria Island, south Piney Point, shortly after the first bloom. Lyngbya is a popular name for the algae. It drifted in thick, smelly mats, which choked canals.
Red Tide also moved into Tampa Bay around the same period. The bloom floated in the bay and gulf, reaching its peak in July.
The Red Tide toxins caused untold deaths of fish and left many people with scratchy throats and a sore throat. Pinellas County accumulated more than 1,800 tonnes of dead sea life and other debris. The carcasses of goliath grouper and gray tarpon bloated at the city’s edge sat in the sand. Maggots crawled through the flesh from dead sheepshead.
Scientists are convinced that the Red Tide did not originate from the Piney Point discharge.
Karenia brevis, Red Tide, an organism that is responsible for creating the bloom, was created by wind and currents blowing into Tampa Bay. This allowed the algae to grow in conditions such as warm seawater and salty seawater. Researchers say that contamination from the spillage could have contributed to the bloom’s worsening.
They believe that Piney Point’s nitrogen was taken up by diatoms in the beginning. Some of the nitrogen from the bay would have been released after the organisms died. It is possible that the Red Tide and mat-like algae may have fed on it at that time.
We know this. Karenia brevisYou can use many different types of nutrients, even recycled nutrients,” said Kate Hubbard (director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions Center for Red Tide Research).
A University of South Florida model shows that pollution from Piney Point moved with the tides and currents around Tampa Bay. However, it remained at high levels for months.
Long-term concerns
The release was quickly followed by a troubling announcement from environmental managers: Tampa Bay had lost several thousands acres of seagrass in the past two year. Seagrass beds are vital nurseries for fish and an indicator of the health of the entire estuary.
Although the release did not cause these declines, environmentalists were concerned that Piney Point could lead to further losses. The bay’s seagrass problem is located far north of the discharge area in an area of Old Tampa Bay that has been plagued by repeated algae blooms. The algae are believed to be blocking sunlight, which is what seagrasses require to survive.
Sherwood stated that initial surveys suggest that Piney Point did no harm to seagrasses. The next round of long term monitoring results will be available later in the year.
Capt. Scott Moore, a Manatee County fishing guide, said that he is still concerned. He said that he has already seen more algae tangled with seagrass this season.
Moore stated that these nutrients didn’t help.
It is unclear if contaminants from Piney Point are still being reabsorbed by the ecosystem.
Clark of Tampa Bay Watch said that water quality has been quite poor around Tierra Verde. He said that he cannot recall blooms of macroalgae stringy, or leafy mucus that can be easily seen with the naked eyes as bad as the 1980s.
The old property was used to fertilizer plants. It still contains hundreds of millions of gallons worth of wastewater that could leach or spill. Clark stated that Clark isn’t convinced that the nutrients were released. Crews are working fast to drain the Piney Point ponds.
Dave Tomasko, executive Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program said the crisis raised awareness about the larger issue regarding water quality in Florida. The unprecedented manatee die-off on the East Coast brought attention to the Indian River Lagoon, where algal blooms are believed that have wiped out thousands of acres.
Environmental advocates argue that elected officials should spend more on reducing waste flowing to the bay. However, homeowners can make lifestyle changes to reduce their own pollution. footprints.
Tomasko said that the Indian River Lagoon and (Piney Point), starving manatees are like a message to get across. This is your chance to make a difference.