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9/19/2024

FWC Commissioners approve amendment making derelict vessel removals easier for local governments

FWC logo

At its September meeting in Duck Key, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule amendments creating a block grant option within the already established FWC derelict vessel and public nuisance vessel removal grant program.

In collaboration with city and county partners, the FWC Boating and Waterways Section proposed the block grant funding option within the existing program to allow an additional reimbursement option for ongoing vessel removals in areas that remove a substantial number of DVs annually.

The amendment to the guidelines and application will allow block grant funding to be awarded to eligible governments based on the removal data from prior years. Local municipalities will be paid from those funds upon submission of documentation of the removal of eligible vessels. Busy governments will no longer have to wait to apply in advance for each vessel removal project, which should result in less red tape and a quicker removal process.

“Our goal is to keep improving our waterways by removing as many DVs as possible,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader. “This amendment will allow local governments that have DV removal experience and are familiar with the process an option to remove these vessels more efficiently. They can remove eligible DVs and submit for reimbursement from their awarded block grant.”

The new rule will streamline the DV removal process, reducing the potential environmental impact and overall removal costs associated with derelict vessels that remain deteriorating in the state's waters.

9/17/2024

Florida LAKEWATCH Volunteer Appreciation BBQ Dinner is Oct. 9th

Lakewatch logo

Florida LAKEWATCH invites its volunteers in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties to an evening of food, sharing, and a presentation by the LAKEWATCH team.

The barbecue dinner will be held on October 9th beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Lutz Community Center, 98 1st Street NW, Lutz, FL 33548.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Dan Willis by October 7th by email or by leaving a voicemail at 1-800-525-3928. Include your name, the water body that you monitor, and the number of attendees in your party.

 

9/17/2024

Florida’s freshwater supplies can’t keep up with population growth

The Sunshine State could be facing a significant water shortage as early as next year, according to a report from the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

According to the EDR report which was published in June – to maintain the status quo, Florida would need to invest almost $1.7 billion into critical infrastructure projects through 2040, to avoid a significant water supply shortage.

The report notes that EDR examined projects that implemented recovery and prevention strategies for minimum flows and water levels of water bodies and aquifers and projects that benefit natural systems.

EDR found that the expenditures for these projects — which exclude Everglades conservation and restoration costs — are estimated to be around $1.58 billion, with a state share of $234.77 million. According to the report, addressing supply shortages and natural systems would need an investment of $3.27 billion between 2020 and 2040, with a state share of $561 million.

Florida TaxWatch released commentary on EDR’s report, stating Florida is “disjointed and inconsistent” with its selection process for funding water projects. The commentary also points out the 281 water-related member projects identified as budget “turkeys” which totaled $410.3 million in the fiscal year 2024-25 General Appropriations Act.

9/17/2024

Myakka wetlands showcase a filtration system at work

By removing impurities, filtration by wetlands improves downstream water quality.

After a short closure due to flooding associated with Hurricane Debby, Myakka River State Park reopened to the public.

As is typical during the rainy season, Myakka's many wetlands continue to act as holding areas for large quantities of surface water. With countless wading birds and American alligators greatly enjoying their expanded wetland habitats, it's an especially magical time to visit the park.

In addition to containing water and supporting biodiversity, wetlands provide another important function. By slowing down the flow of floodwaters, they filter out impurities.

Especially during heavy rain events, many pollutants, such as soil particles, fertilizers and pesticides, are washed from developed areas and carried overland in watersheds to water bodies. Importantly, floodwaters contained by wetlands get filtered as nutrients are stored and absorbed by plants or microorganisms, while sediment has time to settle. Wetlands are therefore often referred to as "nature's kidneys".

9/17/2024

DOH-Hillsborough again cautions about blue-green algae at Lake Thonotosassa

FDOH logo

September 11, 2024

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough) is cautioning the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Thonotosassa on September 11, 2024. Water sample testing is underway. Blue-green algae have the potential to produce toxins. Since environmental conditions can change at any time, it is important to exercise caution, even if presence of toxins has not yet been confirmed.

  • A blue-green algae Health Caution is issued when DEP sampling results show that a bloom has been visually detected and/or when sampling results indicate the dominant algal species to be cyanobacteria.
  • A blue-green algae Health Alert is issued when cyanotoxin is present.
  • A blue-green algae Health Alert is lifted once toxins are not detected according to the analyses obtained from DEP-coordinated resampling of the bloom or if 30 days have elapsed since the last sampling date.

See prior notice below

August 14, 2024

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough) is cautioning the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Thonotosassa on August 14, 2024. Water sample testing is underway. Blue-green algae have the potential to produce toxins. Since environmental conditions can change at any time, it is important to exercise caution, even if presence of toxins has not yet been confirmed.

DOH-Hillsborough advises residents and visitors to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae, or discolored or water that smells unpleasant.
  • Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish thoroughly.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and partners collect algae samples from reported bloom locations. After samples are analyzed at their laboratory, the toxin results can be viewed on Protecting Florida Together or on DEP’s Algal Bloom Dashboard.

9/17/2024

SWFWMD closing Hillsborough River due to high flow

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September 13, 2024

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is closing navigation on the Hillsborough River at Structure S-155 to meet safety standards.

Due to the high velocity of water from recent above-average rainfall, boat barriers will be put in place where I-75 crosses the Hillsborough River, restricting navigation in that area. The S-155 structure is part of the Tampa Bypass Canal System and located north of Morris Bridge Road and east of I-75. It can be seen from I-75 as you cross the Hillsborough River.

The Hillsborough River is approximately 3 inches below the water level that would result in the closing of S-155, which would begin to fill the Hillsborough Flood Detention Area. The District will continue to monitor water levels in the area.

The Tampa Bypass Canal System, constructed in response to massive flooding caused by Hurricane Donna in 1960, and is made up of three elements: the Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA) or Reservoir, the Tampa Bypass Canal and the Harney Canal. Flood waters from the Hillsborough River are impounded into the 16,000-acre HFDA. As the reservoir fills with water from the river and the surrounding 450-square mile watershed, the flows then enter the 15.7-mile Tampa Bypass Canal, which is made up of five flood control structures located along the canal. The flows are then safely diverted to McKay Bay, protecting the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa from river flooding.

For more information on the Tampa Bypass Canal System, visit WaterMatters.org/projects/tampa-bypass-canal-system.

9/17/2024

Conservation efforts continue as Tampa Bay region exits Stage 1 Drought Alert

Tampa Bay Watch logo

CLEARWATER – Under Tampa Bay Water’s Water Shortage Mitigation Plan the region has returned to Normal Conditions, indicating river flows are adequate and rainfall is in surplus.

However, it’s important that residents continue to conserve water to help Tampa Bay Water replenish the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir for the next dry season. As of Sept. 4, the reservoir sits at 10.57 billion gallons, 68% of its 15.5-billion-gallon capacity. The utility aims to have the reservoir full by Oct. 1, 2024, or when summer rains end and river flows decline.

Regional Water Facts as of September 1, 2024:

  • Tampa Bay Water lowered its Water Shortage Stage 1 Drought Alert to Normal Conditions.
  • Regional rainfall is at a 0.8-inch surplus for the past 12 months.
  • Rainfall in August averaged about 12.1 inches, 4.2 inches above normal.
  • River flows are at a 4.0 mgd surplus averaged over the past 12 months.
  • Regional water demands in August averaged 188.16 mgd, 12.89 mgd lower than August 2023 and 2.36 mgd higher than July 2024.
  • Tampa Bay Water is adding 200 million gallons to the regional reservoir each day following Tropical Storm Debby.

Tampa Bay Water’s Water Shortage Stages are defined under the utility’s Water Shortage Mitigation Plan. Stages are triggered by three indicators: rainfall, river flows and reservoir levels to proactively mitigate water supply shortages driven by prolonged, below-normal hydrologic conditions.

The utility declared a Stage 1 Drought Alert on Oct. 1, 2023, due to below-average regional rainfall on a 12-month rolling average. The following month, the Southwest Florida Water Management District issued once-per-week watering restriction for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The District has since extended that water shortage order through Dec. 31, 2024, to help Tampa Bay Water refill its regional reservoir prior to the region's next dry season. Watering restrictions, combined with County enforcement and cooler temperatures and normal rainfall in the winter and spring months, helped save up to 33 million gallons of water per day (mgd).

Residents should continue to skip water cycles when it rains, or when rain is in the forecast. If watering is needed, make sure it’s only on your designated day, which you can find at MyWaterDay.org.

At its August meeting, Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors approved a resolution supporting year-round one-day-per-week watering restrictions throughout the Tampa Bay area. Currently, Pasco County and the City of Tampa have year-round, once-weekly watering restrictions for their drinking water systems.

“The one-day-per-week schedule made a significant and tremendous difference in our ability to deal with the recent drought and we know that going from two-day to one-day-per-week watering can result in significant savings of potable water,” said Tampa Bay Water Chairman Harry Cohen. “The purpose of this resolution is simply to encourage other local governments in our jurisdiction to consider moving to once-weekly watering.”

9/13/2024

Planning Commission recommends density increase despite flood concerns

BRADENTON — At Thursday's Manatee Planning Commission meeting, commissioners voted 3-2 to recommend approval of a map and text amendment/rezone from RES-6 to RES-9, limited to a maximum density of 17.0 dwelling units per acre for a controversial development proposal.

The recommendation came despite fierce opposition from residents in the Center Lake community, who are concerned that they will experience worse flooding than they already suffer should even more density be added to another higher-elevation development surrounding them.

The development site is located at the southwest corner of Prospect Road and Saunders Road (63rd Avenue East). Commissioners also recommended approving a Preliminary Site Plan for 312 multifamily units with at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the units designated as Affordable Housing, subject to a proposed Land Use Restriction Agreement.

One by one, residents from surrounding neighborhoods plead with commissioners not to recommend approval, citing their experience with worsening flooding, particularly during Hurricane Debby (see video at link below).

9/13/2024

Study looks at how many ‘forever chemicals’ are found in fish and sediment in Tampa Bay

Scientists are researching toxins, including what are known as "forever chemicals," in the bay and they could create warnings based on what they find.

How much fish from Tampa Bay should you eat? A study that includes a look at what are called "forever chemicals" in the bay might provide answers.

The toxins go by the acronym PFAS, and are found in industrial chemicals used to fight fires and coat nonstick cookware.

They may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.

Steve Murawski is with the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science. He gave an update on the study to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

“It's more of a surveillance project. What is the level of contamination?,” he said. “And when we do the seafood safety risk assessments, that'll tell us whether we should be eating eight meals a week or three meals a week or 50 meals a week.”

PFAS have been used in consumer products since around the 1950s.

And they're being found in fish caught in Tampa Bay and around outfalls from wastewater treatment plants.

“The recreational species are spot and sea trout, sheepshead, red drum or redfish and snook,” he told planning council members. “And so what we wanted to do is focus the larger study on those species because those are the species people are going to interact with most in terms of the consumption of the fishes.”

The study looks at how chemicals — including PFAS — are concentrated in sediments in the estuary and how that harms humans and wildlife. It's expected to end in 2028.

9/12/2024

City of Tampa crews addressing hundreds of miles of stormwater drainage in South Tampa

SOUTH TAMPA — The rainy season has already dumped record amounts of rain onto Tampa Bay.

In preparation for the rest of the season, the City of Tampa's Stormwater Operations crew is working to address hundreds of miles of stormwater infrastructure.

The project consists of the city's approximately 600 miles of stormwater pipe, 180 miles of ditches, and more than 150 retention and detention ponds.

Workers are already in neighborhoods.

Additionally, the City of Tampa is working on the planning, design, and construction of new and improved stormwater infrastructure in critical areas.

These include the SE Seminole Heights Stormwater Project, the North Tampa Closed Basin, the Manhattan Ave. Stormwater Project, the Golfview Project, the Lower Peninsula Project and others.

9/11/2024

Manatee County commissioners give back former wetland buffers

Commissioner Jason Bearden said he made a mistake when he made a motion in August 2023 to reduce wetland buffers in Manatee County.

So on Sept. 10, he made a motion to instruct staff to bring back the appropriate Comprehensive Plan amendments needed for the county to once again require 50-foot wetland buffers.

The vote in August had moved the buffer requirement from 50 feet down to the state standard of between 15 and 25 feet.

“The citizens spoke,” Bearden said. “God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud, so if I made a mistake, I'll be the first to admit that I made a mistake.”

9/9/2024

Plumbing the depths and remembering the history of St. Petersburg’s Round Lake

Working with the City, the Historic Uptown Neighborhood Association, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, and a local nonprofit called Stewards of our Urban Lakes (SoUL), Arabitg and his neighbors staged dozens of clean-up days and ended the spraying. They installed a native aquatic plant plot, designed to provide habitat while naturally filtering nutrients from the lake’s water, which has since doubled in size...

I wonder if I could swim there?

It’s a simmering August morning in St. Petersburg. The sun’s still-slanted light plays through the jigsaw branches of the ancient banyan onto the grassy bank leading down to Round Lake. This tiny oasis, a hidden gem just west of the busy Fourth Street North corridor, shines like a polished tiger eye under the brilliant summer sky. The steady splash of the aeration fountain cools my soul exactly two degrees as perspiration pools along my hairline and creeps down my back. Watching a tricolored heron thread its way through the spikeweed and pickerel along the water’s edge, I feel I’m about ready to give up on my mission—learning more about a decade-long effort to restore the lake’s habitat—and just dive in. Those refreshing depths are calling my name.

But how deep is Round Lake, really? As it turns out, it depends on the year.

Days earlier, in the mercifully cool rooms of the St. Petersburg Museum of History’s archives, I’d seen an 1888 plat of the neighborhood that identified the pool as Deep Water Lake. Just how deep remained unclear. But the presence of two other bodies nearby—“Long Pond” and “Grass Pond”—seemed to suggest it was a deep spot in a chain of marshy lakes that once stretched just north of town. Possibly a sinkhole fed by groundwater. And while this watery triad stuck around for at least another 18 years, appearing again on city plats in 1902 and 1906, by the time St. Pete celebrated its sweet 16 in 1908, there was just one lake with a whole new name: Park Lake.

9/9/2024

As Florida faces water shortage, watchdog group urges state to use a more long-term planning process

To avoid a projected water shortage that state data indicates could start as soon as next year, Florida must adopt a more coordinated, comprehensive system for vetting, choosing and managing water projects, per a new Florida TaxWatch report.

The new report doubles down on the government watchdog group’s ongoing plea for the state to use a longer-term planning process for projects meant to improve water quality and supply. Right now, Florida’s way of approving such projects is largely “catch-as-can,” lacking consistency and accountability, according to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro.

“Yeah, you get the project funded, but really, does it make a difference? Does it really have the intended impact?” Calabro said. “Can you hold the organization or the entity that gets the $5-$6 million accountable, for getting the job done on time, within budget?”

It’s difficult to impossible to answer such questions without having an objective, standardized plan of work to refer back to, Calabro said.

“You can't do that if you just go: ‘Hey, I got a good project here. Hey, I got a good project there. Hey, I've got a powerful legislator who's chairing this committee now, and may not be next year,’” Calabro said. “The easy way out is generally not the best way out.”

9/9/2024

Pass-a-Grille beach nourishment advances to next phase

Pinellas County logo

Pass-a-Grille beach nourishment has been mostly completed south of Paradise Grille and will move to the north end of the beach early next week. The south end of the beach from the 3rd Avenue access to Paradise Grille will reopen as early as Monday, Sept. 9.

The jetty pier and access points at 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue will remain closed for the duration of the project. Fencing is being installed around Paradise Grille today, and the beach behind the Grille will be closed. The Grille remains open. Beginning early next week, the beach will be closed from the Grille to just past the 15th Avenue access until late September.

The final phase of nourishment will take place after that between 16th Avenue and 22nd Avenue, and the beach from Paradise Grille to 16th Avenue will reopen.

The entire project is expected to be completed by late November.

Dunes are fragile, especially when newly planted with vegetation. It’s important for beachgoers to stay off the dunes and only access the beach through the designated access points.

Pass-a-Grille is on a 10-year nourishment cycle and was due for sand this year. Nourishment projects like this replace sand lost to storms and normal erosion. They restore white sandy beaches that boost the County’s $10 billion annual tourism industry and provide a buffer against storm surge. Because federal nourishment projects along the Pinellas County coast are stalled, the County is funding this project through hotel bed tax dollars and state grant funding.

9/9/2024

Florida Dept. of Health warning of mosquito-borne illness in many Florida counties

FDOH logo

The Florida Department of Health is informing residents of an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity in Pinellas County, Pasco County, Hillsborough County, and Sarasota County.

Mosquito-borne diseases can be spread through the bite of mosquitoes. These diseases may be caused by a virus, also known as arboviruses, or can be caused by parasites. Several of the mosquito species found in Florida are capable of transmitting diseases to humans, horses, and other animals. Symptoms of these illnesses can range from mild to very severe.

Mosquito-borne diseases found in Florida include West Nile virus disease, Eastern equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis. Many other mosquito-borne diseases are found in different parts of the world, and can be brought back to Florida if infected people or animals are bitten by mosquitoes while in Florida. Some examples of these diseases include chikungunya fever, dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, and Rift Valley fever.

Drain and Cover

  • Drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
  • Cover your skin with clothing and use mosquito repellent.
  • Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out.

Stop mosquitoes from living and multiplying around your home or business. Protect yourself from mosquito's bites and the diseases they carry.

9/6/2024

Conservation efforts continue as Tampa Bay region exits Stage 1 Drought Alert

Tampa Bay Water logo

CLEARWATER — Under Tampa Bay Water’s Water Shortage Mitigation Plan the region has returned to Normal Conditions, indicating river flows are adequate and rainfall is in surplus.

However, it’s important that residents continue to conserve water to help Tampa Bay Water replenish the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir for the next dry season. As of Sept. 4, the reservoir sits at 10.57 billion gallons, 68% of its 15.5-billion-gallon capacity. The utility aims to have the reservoir full by Oct. 1, 2024, or when summer rains end and river flows decline.

Regional Water Facts as of September 1, 2024:

  • Tampa Bay Water lowered its Water Shortage Stage 1 Drought Alert to Normal Conditions.
  • Regional rainfall is at a 0.8-inch surplus for the past 12 months.
  • Rainfall in August averaged about 12.1 inches, 4.2 inches above normal.
  • River flows are at a 4.0 mgd surplus averaged over the past 12 months.
  • Regional water demands in August averaged 188.16 mgd, 12.89 mgd lower than August 2023 and 2.36 mgd higher than July 2024.
  • Tampa Bay Water is adding 200 million gallons to the regional reservoir each day following Tropical Storm Debby.

Tampa Bay Water’s Water Shortage Stages are defined under the utility’s Water Shortage Mitigation Plan. Stages are triggered by three indicators: rainfall, river flows and reservoir levels to proactively mitigate water supply shortages driven by prolonged, below-normal hydrologic conditions.

The utility declared a Stage 1 Drought Alert on Oct. 1, 2023, due to below-average regional rainfall on a 12-month rolling average. The following month, the Southwest Florida Water Management District issued once-per-week watering restriction for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The District has since extended that water shortage order through Dec. 31, 2024, to help Tampa Bay Water refill its regional reservoir prior to the region's next dry season. Watering restrictions, combined with County enforcement and cooler temperatures and normal rainfall in the winter and spring months, helped save up to 33 million gallons of water per day (mgd).

Residents should continue to skip water cycles when it rains, or when rain is in the forecast. If watering is needed, make sure it’s only on your designated day, which you can find at MyWaterDay.org.

At its August meeting, Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors approved a resolution supporting year-round one-day-per-week watering restrictions throughout the Tampa Bay area. Currently, Pasco County and the City of Tampa have year-round, once-weekly watering restrictions for their drinking water systems.

“The one-day-per-week schedule made a significant and tremendous difference in our ability to deal with the recent drought and we know that going from two-day to one-day-per-week watering can result in significant savings of potable water,” said Tampa Bay Water Chairman Harry Cohen. “The purpose of this resolution is simply to encourage other local governments in our jurisdiction to consider moving to once-weekly watering.”

9/5/2024

Manatee County: Water released from Lake Manatee dam not to blame for flooding along Braden River

MANATEE COUNTY — More than a month after Tropical Storm Debby came through the area, Manatee County officials are trying to educate the community on how the Lake Manatee Dam works – and why they say it was not to blame for severe flooding that ruined so many homes.

Tropical Storm Debby dropped as much as 17 inches of rain in parts of the county, requiring the rescue of more than a couple hundred residents from their homes or vehicles.

Many in the community have blamed county officials for how water was released from the dam during Debby, forcing county commissioners to order an independent investigation.

“When you’re searching for answers if you’ve gone through this calamity in y our own home, you want to find answers that just make sense to you,” Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker said on Wednesday morning. “But I can tell with 100 percent certainty, the Manatee River basin and the discharge from the dam did not move through the Braden River basin and creating the flooding there.”

County officials have remained steadfast that the dam worked as designed during Debby. On Wednesday, local members of the media were invited to tour the dam and question leaders about operations.

9/4/2024

Coastal flooding is getting more common, even on sunny days

Coastal flooding from high tides is getting more common in most parts of the United States, as climate change causes sea levels to rise.

Millions of people are affected by so-called sunny day flooding each year, according to a new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). On average, the U.S. now experiences five extra days of high-tide flooding each year compared to the year 2000.

“Over the past year we’ve seen record coastal flooding,” says Nicole LeBoeuf, the director of the NOAA National Ocean Service.

In the last year, St. Petersburg, Fla., Atlantic City, N.J., Charleston, S.C. and more than 30 other places tied or broke their records for the number of high-tide flood days. Galveston, Texas, which consistently sees some of the most severe and frequent high-tide flooding of any city in the U.S., experienced 23 days of high-tide flooding last year.

The costs of high-tide flooding are enormous. Even a few inches of water can make neighborhoods inaccessible to some residents, including those who use wheelchairs or rely on strollers to transport young children. And standing water can also snarl commutes, block emergency vehicles and cause secondary flooding if sewers back up into buildings or overflow into natural bodies of water.

9/3/2024

How a park and pond could solve South Tampa’s flooding problem

By combining man-made structures and the natural environment, city officials are working on a project that will hopefully alleviate flooding there.

Tampa officials are speeding up construction of one of the largest stormwater ponds in the city as flooding continues to affect residents.

The Mobility Department focuses on improving city infrastructure and chose what is currently known as the MacDill 48 park for the project. The 48-acre park, which the city purchased in 2002, is located off MacDill Avenue just south of Interbay Boulevard.

The pond is built to hold around 25 million gallons of water, or 1,650 swimming pools, and will be surrounded by a nature trail.

City officials say the plan combines several approaches to solve the flooding problems in the area.

“Concrete-based solutions alone are not going to get us there,” said Mobility Director Vik Bhide.

“We also need green infrastructure and generally create sponge-like surfaces, or sponge-like cities, so that we absorb rainwater more as part of our flood management solutions.”

9/3/2024

St. Petersburg water treatment facilities to host open houses

St. Petersburg logo

ST. PETERSBURG – The public is invited to get a behind-the-scenes look at the City of St. Petersburg’s water treatment facilities during a series of open houses this fall. City employees work hard every day to provide consistent, quality service so that every time you turn on the tap or flush the toilet, things work how they should. The open houses give the public an opportunity to take a peek at the work that goes into keeping St. Pete flowing.

Attendees can expect to learn about how wastewater is collected, processed into reclaimed water, and distributed at one of three Water Reclamation Facility facilities in St. Pete, or learn about potable (drinking) water sourcing, processing, and distribution at the Cosme Water Treatment Plant, which is located in Odessa. Plant operators and City staff will lead tours to show the flow of water from beginning to end and answer questions. Tours will begin hourly at 9 a.m. with the last tour starting at 11 a.m.

OPEN HOUSE DATES

Saturday, October 19 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Cosme Water Treatment Plant
16015 Race Track Rd.
Odessa, FL 33556

Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Northwest Water Reclamation Facility
7500 26th Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33710

Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Northeast Water Reclamation Facility
1160 62nd Ave. NE.
St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Saturday, November 16 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Southwest Water Reclamation Facility
3800 54th Ave. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

The majority of the tour is outdoors and is a walking tour. Attendees should plan to be in the sun and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Photo ID is required for entry and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Facilities are not ADA accessible by default, but reasonable accommodations can be made by calling the Water Resources Department at 727-893-7261.

Questions can be directed to the Water Resources Department at 727-893-7261.
8/30/2024

Pasco Health officials renew Blue-Green Algae Bloom Alert for Blanton Lake 

FDOH logo

August 28, 2024

PASCO COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Blanton Lake. This is in response to a water sample taken on August 27, 2024. The public should exercise caution in and around Blanton Lake.

Previous notice follows:

August 13, 2024

PASCO COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Blanton Lake. This is in response to a water sample taken on August 8, 2024. The public should exercise caution in and around Blanton Lake.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae, or discolored or water that smells unpleasant.
  • Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish thoroughly.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and partners collect algae samples from reported bloom locations. After samples are analyzed at their laboratory, the toxin results can be viewed on Protecting Florida Together or on

8/27/2024

Hurricane Debby added to erosion at Tampa’s Ben T. Davis Beach

The storm continued a long history of erosion at the popular beach. The bay is now only several yards from the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Hurricane Debby did more than just eat away at the already thin Pinellas beaches. It tore up Tampa's most popular beach.

The brunt of Debby's waves came directly up the mouth of Tampa Bay and went northeast into the Courtney Campbell Causeway. There, it tore away at tree roots and upended concrete barriers.

Ping Wang, a professor specializing in coastal research at the University of South Florida, has been monitoring Ben T. Davis Beach for several years. He said the loss of sand is compounding the problem.

"When you have a sandy beach, they help slow down the erosion. Once the sandy beach is gone, then the erosion comes in, starts to attack the vegetation and attack the road," he said. "And there is actually a migration of erosion from east to west over the past 30 years."

He says the water has gotten close to the popular Courtney Campbell Trail and the guard rail for the highway.

"The Ben T. Davis Park is quite popular, it has lots of parking spots. People are just standing on the sea wall and looking to the sea," Wang said. "If we would create a beach and a little sand dune, that would really improve the recreation area."

Wang said he will propose an artificial reef be established just offshore that would help stop future storms from eating away at the beach and the causeway. Funding could possibly come from the city of Tampa and the state Department of Transportation.

8/27/2024

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program announces projects at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton

BRADENTON – GT Bray Park in Bradenton, FL hosts two new, large-scale environmental restoration projects costing a total of $900,000. Both projects retrofit substantial stormwater treatment areas to optimize their benefits to the public, water, and wildlife.

At the western portion of the park, 130,000 cubic yards of dirt were excavated and invasive plant species were removed from a stream conveyance to make way for created wetlands. Native wetland and upland plants are currently being installed to stabilize the banks and provide wetland habitats for aquatic birds and wildlife. The project is slated to be fully completed within the next month. “GT Bray Park is a fantastic place to view wildlife. Last year, I saw a family of otters playing in the stream adjacent to the project site,” said Megan Barry, Public Outreach Manager for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP).

The second site, bordering 59th Street West, is complete and features a large stormwater pond previously inundated with invasive aquatic and terrestrial vegetation. The clearing of undesirable species, and planting of over $100,000 worth of native plants, has made the pond more aesthetically pleasing, publicly accessible, and environmentally sound. Both projects were led by SBEP in partnership with Manatee County, the City of Bradenton, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Together, the sites mark the third large-scale restoration project completed by SBEP via funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Seven more projects are slated to be completed by 2026. “The SBEP is using all of the funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to undertake a variety of large-scale restoration projects to benefit Sarasota Bay habitats and water quality,” said outgoing Staff Biologist Dr. Jay Leverone.

A ribbon-cutting event will be hosted at GT Bray Park on Thursday, September 19 to celebrate the new projects. The event will include remarks from local elected officials and partner agencies including Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, City of Bradenton Councilwoman Jayne Kocher, and EPA Chief of the Ocean, Wetlands & Streams Protection Branch, Thomas McGill. The event is open to the public and will begin at 9:30 AM under the park pavilions adjacent to 51st Street West. “The EPA is pleased to support continuing efforts of the SBEP to preserve and protect critical water resources in Manatee and Sarasota Counties," said Becky Allenbach, Senior Advisor for Everglades and South Florida Issues and SBEP Policy Board Co-chair at U.S. EPA.

8/27/2024

Tampa’s ‘Litter Skimmer’ has collected more than 72K pounds of trash in 2 years

That's more than the weight of a fully loaded 20-foot shipping container, the city said.

TAMPA — Two years and more than 72,000 pounds of trash later, Tampa city leaders are still celebrating the success of its "Litter Skimmer."

Launched in 2022, the Litter Skimmer has been collecting trash that has made its way into Tampa's waterways, including the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay. According to the city, in those two years since its launch, the Litter Skimmer has collected more than 72,500 pounds of trash.

That amount of trash surpasses the weight of a fully loaded 20-foot shipping container, the city said.

City leaders say the Litter Skimmer is an "effective tool" used to preserve "the natural beauty" of Tampa's waterways and help protect marine wildlife.

The Litter Skimmer is a 43-foot boat that operates ten hours a day, four days a week. The trash-collecting boat skims the Hillsborough River, Davis Islands and Tampa Bay and collects floating debris "before it can harm the environment."

Over the first year of its operation, the city says the Litter Skimmer collected more than 26,500 pounds of garbage. Over the last year, the skimmer has nearly doubled the amount of trash taken from the Bay area's waterways.

The Litter Skimmer has found a lot of trash since it began operating, from common litter including plastic bags and bottles to more "unusual" objects. One of those more "surprising" finds was a 12-foot buoy bumper from a large ship. It was later donated to the American Victory Ship and Museum, a World War II vessel docked near the Florida Aquarium.

8/27/2024

SWFWMD: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas Counties to remain on once-per-week watering restrictions

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Current restrictions will continue at least through December.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board voted today to extend one-day-per-week watering restrictions again for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties until Dec. 31 due to ongoing efforts to refill the regional reservoir.

Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Manatee, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County will return to the District’s Year-Round Water Conservation Measures, or twice-per-week-watering, as of Sept. 2. Some local governments such as unincorporated Citrus, Hernando and Sarasota counties, and the cities of Dunedin, Tampa and Venice, have local ordinances that remain on one-day-per-week schedules.

The District Governing Board declared a Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order in November 2023 and voted to extend that order in February and again in June. At the end of July, the District had a 12-month rainfall deficit of about 5.1 inches. Provisional data indicate Districtwide rainfall through Aug. 21, which includes Tropical Storm Debby, is above average, which will help reduce the 12-month deficit. However, Tampa Bay Water’s 15.5-billion-gallon C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir is still approximately 7.5 billion gallons below its capacity.

The District also approved a request today from Tampa Bay Water to modify their existing emergency order for the Alafia River to help refill the reservoir. The modified order will temporarily increase the maximum day withdrawal limit from 60 million gallons per day to 75 million gallons per day when additional flow is available above the river’s minimum flow. The order has been extended to March 31, 2025.

Once-per-week lawn watering days and times are as follows unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours in effect:

  • If your address (house number) ends in...
    • ...0 or 1, water only on Monday
    • ...2 or 3, water only on Tuesday
    • ...4 or 5, water only on Wednesday
    • ...6 or 7, water only on Thursday
    • ...8 or 9*, water only on Friday
      * and locations without a discernible address
  • Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties under two acres in size may only water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
  • Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties two acres or larger may only water before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
  • Low-volume watering of plants and shrubs (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering) is allowed any day and any time.

The order also requires local utilities to review and implement procedures for enforcing water shortage restrictions, including reporting enforcement activity to the District.

The District’s Year-Round Water Conservation Measures, or twice-per-week watering, focuses on allowable irrigation practices, including lawn and landscape watering, that are in place when there is no drought or other declared water shortage. The District recommends practices to reduce wasteful irrigation habits and to help condition lawns for drought survival. For additional information, visit the District’s website WaterMatters.org/Restrictions. For water conserving tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.

8/26/2024

Continued flooding concerns residents near Lake Manatee

Jason Thurber spent $11,000 to repair his driveway after Hurricane Debby tore open the creek that runs underneath it.

Two weeks later on Aug. 20, a 45-minute rain storm washed away most of that work. The situation for Thurber and his neighbors on Waterline Road only worsened as the rain continued.

At the land use meeting on Aug. 22, Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski reported widespread rainfall around Lake Manatee of 3 to 4 inches and 6 to 8 inches in isolated areas, all within 36 hours.

He noted the soils were already saturated. The stormwater ponds were full, and the culverts were running at capacity.

“When we have that significant rainfall on top of a very saturated stormwater system, that water really doesn’t have anywhere to go,” Pilachowski said. “There’s been some flooding along Waterline Road and Dam Road, that’s part of the system just being saturated and overloaded.”

With recent concerns raised about the integrity of the Lake Manatee Dam, Pilachowski stressed that residents should not fear a dam breach. However, he said it would be “prudent” to lower Lake Manatee’s water level.

8/23/2024

Manatee County emergency declaration extended due to heavy rain

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MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County has extended the State of Emergency due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Debby as heavy rains continue to fall.

The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted unanimously to extend the local State of Emergency an additional week this morning. This came as staff offered an update to ongoing flooding concerns around the county.

“I do want to state unequivocally that the dam and Lake Manatee continue to function as designed,” said Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski. “They are structurally sound. There’s no risk of any sort of breach of the dam.”

Parts of the Upper Manatee River Watershed have received up to 6-8 inches of rainfall in the last 48 hours, with widespread areas of the county recording at least 3-5 inches. Manatee County Utilities is actively monitoring and managing Lake Manatee water levels and river flows. Communications will be sent directly to those who may be impacted using Alert Manatee messaging. This messaging will automatically go out once the following flow rates are predicted.

3,500 Cubic Feet per Second Notice

The Lake Manatee Dam discharge is expected to increase to over 3,500 cubic feet per second. Your property has been identified as one that may see downstream impacts on the Manatee River at this flow rate. Please take appropriate precautions. At this time, the flow rate is expected to stay below 7,000 cubic feet per second. In the event that releases will be increased above 7,000, an additional notification will be sent out.

7,000 Cubic Feet per Second Notice

The Lake Manatee Dam discharge is expected to increase to over 7,000 cubic feet per second. At this flow, parts of Rye Rd may be inundated. Please proceed with caution and do not drive through water of unknown depth. Your property has also been identified as one that may see downstream impacts on the Manatee River at this flow rate. Please take appropriate precautions.

The messaging will be in reaction to inflow increases at Lake Manatee which necessitate ongoing releases of water to maintain the proper lake levels in the primary water supply for Manatee County.

“The flow into Lake Manatee flows through and out of the reservoir,” said Pilachowski. “It’s not an active release, it’s simply flowing through.”

Sandbags are being delivered to the Rubonia, and Myakka Community Centers. Self-service sandbag locations at Tom Bennett Park, Buffalo Creek Park, and Lakewood Ranch Park have also been opened. Manatee 3-1-1 is extending hours during this period of expected precipitation. To report flooding, please contact 3-1-1 for assistance until 11 pm. After 11 pm, please call 941-290-5266.

To sign up for alerts, please visit mymanatee.org/alertmanatee. For more information, please visit weather.gov/tbw/ for the current forecast from the National Weather Service. For current road closures, check mymanatee.org/storm.

Stay safe, and remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown—never drive through flooded areas.

8/23/2024

Over 4,000 pounds of diesel, waste removed from abandoned boat near St. Petersburg

BOCA CIEGA BAY — Over 4,000 pounds of diesel and waste were removed from an abandoned boat near St. Petersburg.

On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said crews responded to a sunken boat that was leaking diesel off the coast of Boca Ciega Bay, a city 10 miles west of St. Petersburg.

The federal government took control of the spill response and used the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to cover the costs, according to the news release.

Response crews then came in to contain and clean the spill. The process took three days to complete.

By Wednesday, crews managed to remove around 130 gallons of diesel from the boat and approximately 4,000 lbs. of waste — specifically diesel-contaminated absorbent material — from the water.

8/23/2024

Manatee County Commissioners get update on more flooding near Lake Manatee

Pilachowski stressed that the dam is not a flood control structure but that the county does try to provide some relief and buffering from the Manatee River flows with the dam where it can.

BRADENTON — At Tuesday’s land use meeting, Manatee County Commissioners received an update on the status of Lake Manatee following reports of widespread flooding in the area on Wednesday evening.

Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski, who oversees Utilities, Public Works, and Financial Management, addressed commissioners and led with the following statement.

“I do want to state unequivocally that the dam and Lake Manatee continue to function as designed. They are structurally sound. There’s no risk of any sort of breach of the damn. I just want to make that clear.”

Pilachowski explained that the area experienced the second day of significant rainfall in and around the dam watershed. He said widespread areas received three to four additional inches of rain and isolated areas received six to eight inches, all in about 36 hours.

Pilachowski said that soils are saturated, stormwater ponds are full, and culverts are at capacity. With significant rain falling on an already saturated rainwater system, the water simply doesn’t have anywhere to go but to continue to run over land, and the flooding on Waterline Road and Dam Road is owed to the system being saturated and overloaded.

8/23/2024

Rising Above the Flood: Floridians lifting their homes above the surge

Lifting homes above flood zones grow in popularity

PINELLAS COUNTY — Some neighborhoods in Florida are too beautiful to leave, whether the homes are on the coast, Intracoastal, rivers, or canals. But the allure of living on the water can often lead to unfathomable destruction.

That's why many Floridians are asking themselves tough questions: Should they move out of a flood zone, risk being flooded again, or simply lift their lives above the rising water?

ABC Action News reporter Michael Paluska and photojournalist Reed Moeller have been working on this story since Dec. 2023. For the past eight months, we've shot hours of video, time lapses, and interviews to capture the realities of what people are living through and waiting months and months for permits to clear for a home lift in Shore Acres to finally get the green light.

Albert Jasuwan is the founder of JAS Builders. In January, he told Paluska he bought the home in Shore Acres to be his very first lift. He sees lifting as the future for Floridians facing hurricanes and torrential rains. Jasuwan partnered with Payne Construction Services, a family-owned and operated company that specializes in lifting homes.

"You bought this home specifically to lift it and show people what needs to be done. Do you see this moving forward as a market in Florida to protect people?" Paluska asked Jasuwan.

"Absolutely. We felt we needed to invest. So, my business partner and I invested in buying this house to show people how it's done. We invest in our community to do this. It's a big investment. But it is necessary. It's 100% necessary to stay. We all want to live here. It's a beautiful area. St. Pete is amazing. So to be able to stay, we got to lift and get us out of this whole storm surge."