News - Pinellas.WaterAtlas.orghttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/Recent news items for Pinellas County Water Atlas60Free film screening recounts the Tampa Bay &lsquo;water wars&rsquo; of the 1990shttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22845<p> <img alt="Tampa Bay Water logo" src="https://cdn.wateratlas.org/img/logos/TBW.jpg" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;width:150px;" /></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> Florida Humanities and the St. Petersburg Museum of History are hosting a screening of &ldquo;Lightning in a Bottle,&rdquo; a documentary on Tampa Bay Water, followed by a panel discussion.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"> <strong>When:</strong> World Water Day, March 22, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> St. Petersburg Museum of History<br /> <strong>This event is FREE.</strong></p> <p> The film explores the &ldquo;water wars&rdquo; that plagued the Tampa Bay region in the 1990s, and how local leaders came together to find a solution. A panel discussion will immediately follow the film.</p> <p> Moderated by Dr. Christopher Meindl, Director of the Florida Studies Program at the University of South Florida, panelists Steve Seibert (former Pinellas County Commissioner and Tampa Bay Water board member), Ed Turanchik (former Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa Bay Water board member), and Council Member Lisset Hanewicz (City of St. Petersburg Council Member, current Vice Chair of Tampa Bay Water) will discuss the past, present, and future of Tampa Bay&rsquo;s water.</p> <p> The documentary explores the problem, the pressures and the people who worked together to create a regional solution and write Tampa Bay&#39;s greatest environmental success story that has benefited our region for the past 25 years.</p> <p> <em>Watch the trailer and register for the event by visiting the link below.</em></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>WaterAtlas.orgFri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTState seeks to speed up decision in wetlands permitting casehttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22843<p> TALLAHASSEE &ndash; Florida is asking a federal judge to speed up a final ruling in a high-stakes case about permitting authority for projects that affect wetlands, as the state sets the stage for a likely appeal.</p> <p> U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss on Feb. 15 ruled that federal officials did not follow required steps in 2020 before transferring wetlands-related permitting authority from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the state. Moss vacated the shift but said the state and the federal government could seek a stay of his ruling. He also did not decide certain legal issues in the case.</p> <p> In a filing Monday, attorneys for the state urged Moss to issue a final judgment, which would help clear the way for an appeal. The filing said Moss&rsquo; Feb. 15 decision has effectively resolved the case&rsquo;s key issues in favor of environmental groups that challenged the shift.</p> <p> &ldquo;This single judicial ruling, which gave complete relief to plaintiffs, immediately placed over 1,000 projects across Florida (including permit applications for environmental restoration, roads and bridges, hospitals, schools, affordable housing, senior living facilities, and grid reliability, among many others) in regulatory limbo with no clear timeline or expectation for a permit decision,&rdquo; the state&rsquo;s 21-page filing said. &ldquo;The situation was immediately urgent and becomes more so with each passing day.&rdquo;</p> <p> The state on Feb. 26 also filed a motion for a stay of Moss&rsquo; decision. The judge has not ruled on the motion and has scheduled an April 4 conference in Washington, D.C. The plaintiffs have opposed a stay.</p> <p> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the transfer of the permitting authority to the state in December 2020, about a month before former President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration ended. Florida became the third state, after Michigan and New Jersey, to receive the permitting authority.</p> WaterAtlas.orgWed, 13 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTFlorida Waters Stewardship to be offered in fully online versionhttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22838<p> <img alt="FWSP logo" src="https://cdn.wateratlas.org/img/news/FWSP-logo.jpg" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;width:150px;" /></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> <em><strong>Now you can become a Florida Water Steward without leaving home!</strong></em></p> <p> The Florida Waters Stewardship Program will be taught in a fully online format beginning on April 16th. The classes will be online Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. until noon.</p> <p> During this 11-session course, participants will explore state and local water resources, learn about emerging water issues, and hear from local experts. The program uses expert presentations, online explorations, experiential learning, and communication skills training to foster a greater understanding of these interactions and provide the tools necessary to become stewards of our water resources.</p> <p> Cost for the course is $79 and online registration is now open. The course is taught by UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension.</p> <p> For more information, contact Lara Milligan: <a href="mailto:lmilligan@pinellascounty.org">lmilligan@pinellascounty.org</a>. To sign up, follow the link below.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>WaterAtlas.orgTue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTEnvironmental groups oppose a stay in the fight over wetlands permitting in Floridahttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22829<p> Environmental groups Thursday pushed back against a request by Florida for a partial stay of a ruling in a legal battle about a 2020 decision that shifted permitting authority from the federal government to the state for projects that affect wetlands.</p> <p> U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss on Feb. 15 ruled that actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in approving the shift violated the Endangered Species Act.</p> <p> Moss issued an order vacating the approval of the shift.</p> <p> Such permitting authority is usually held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.</p> <p> Saying permits were in &ldquo;regulatory limbo,&rdquo; the state filed a motion for a limited stay of Moss&rsquo; ruling to keep the &ldquo;bulk&rdquo; of Florida&rsquo;s permitting program in place until a new plan can be put in place or until further court decisions.</p> <p> But in a 22-page filing Thursday, environmental groups argued the state&rsquo;s request would &ldquo;create confusion and perpetuate violations&rdquo; of the Endangered Species Act.</p> <p> &ldquo;The least disruptive path forward, which would also serve developers&rsquo; interest in clarity &hellip; is therefore to deny a limited stay, leave permitting authority with the (Army) Corps, and allow Florida to propose a new program subject to EPA approval,&rdquo; Thursday&rsquo;s filing said.</p> <p> The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Florida Wildlife Federation, Miami Waterkeeper and St. Johns Riverkeeper filed the lawsuit in January 2021 against the federal government.</p> <p> The state later intervened.</p> <p> The U.S. Department of Justice has opposed the state&rsquo;s request for a partial stay of Moss&rsquo; ruling, but Florida business groups have supported the request.</p> WaterAtlas.orgMon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTSeagrasses in the Gulf of Mexico could be overgrazed by migrating herbivores due to warming watershttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22831<h4> &quot;If we don&#39;t manage them properly, then those seagrasses will be less resilient, and we could potentially degrade a very, very valuable habitat,&quot; said Tom Frazer of USF.</h4> <p> As oceans warm and organisms that feed on seagrasses move north, they could overgraze parts of the Gulf of Mexico, including areas in the greater Tampa Bay region.</p> <p> This finding comes from a peer-reviewed study recently published in the journal Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution.</p> <p> Tom Frazer, the dean of the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, was one of dozens of other scientists who researched areas off Florida&#39;s Gulf Coast, the Florida Keys, the Cayman Islands, and parts of Panama.</p> <p> They focused on turtle grass, which is the predominant structural habitat in the Gulf and the broader Caribbean region. It provides foraging areas for many animals that are important both ecologically and economically.</p> <p> &quot;In Florida, for example, probably about 85% of the fishes that we exploit either recreationally or commercially spend some part of their life history in seagrass beds,&quot; Frazer said.</p> <p> The researchers observed the effects on how grazing and nutrient pollution might alter the growth characteristics or the productivity of seagrass beds.</p> WaterAtlas.orgMon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTSWFWMD launches &ldquo;Water 101&rdquo; campaignhttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22820<p> <img alt="SWFWMD logo" src="https://cdn.wateratlas.org/img/logos/SWFWMD_logo.jpg" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;width:150px;" /></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> <em><strong>March 6, 2024</strong></em></p> <p> With more than 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has developed the Water 101 campaign, a program to educate new and existing residents as well as communities about how they can help protect local water resources and save water and money.</p> <p> Water is a limited resource in Florida that we all play a role in protecting, which makes it important to understand your personal impact. The choices you make as a homeowner or community, from the plants in your landscape to how you water your lawn, can make a big difference on your overall water use. The District encourages everyone to do their part in protecting and conserving our shared water resources.</p> <p> Water 101 connects homeowners and community managers with helpful water conservation and water quality tips and resources. Residents can visit the Water 101 for Homeowners webpage to access a one-stop shop of tips and educational resources that can help reduce at-home water use, save money and protect nearby waterways. This includes information about the basics of irrigation, local water restrictions and Florida-Friendly Landscaping&trade; as well as instructional videos and an overview on stormwater ponds. Homeowners can also sign up for District newsletters via the webpage or learn where to follow along on social media for more information.</p> <p> The Water 101 for Communities webpage provides resources to help communities lead by example, reducing their water use and encouraging residents to do the same. This includes free online classes hosted by the District with continuing education units for community association managers. It also includes educational materials that can be downloaded and easily shared in newsletters, websites and other community platforms, as well as funding opportunities for water conservation projects.</p> <p> In addition to the website, the District has created a Water 101 for Communities Facebook group that will provide up-to-date information on water conservation classes, water restriction reminders and helpful resources to share with community residents.</p> <p> To learn more about how to save water and money, visit <a href="https://WaterMatters.org/Water101" target="_blank" title="SWFWMD website">WaterMatters.org/Water101</a>.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> WaterAtlas.orgFri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTResidents in low-lying Pinellas mobile home park told to elevate houses or leavehttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22822<p> &ldquo;It can&rsquo;t be lifted that far up and still have integrity,&rdquo; one resident said. &ldquo;The home is going to collapse on itself.&rdquo;</p> <p> Pinellas County has ordered dozens of residents in a frequently flooded mobile home park to elevate their homes to nearly 11 feet or leave by the start of hurricane season in June.</p> <p> Residents of Twin City park, which is in the Gandy area, say it makes no sense to spend as much as $50,000 to elevate homes that are valued at half that amount &mdash; or less. Some have nowhere to go and plan to stay as the summer deadline approaches. Others say they intend to move out of Florida because of hurricanes, sea-level rise and flooding.</p> <p> &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve done it for 10 years,&rdquo; said Douglas McVey, who replaced the floors in his home five times after storms. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m done.&rdquo;</p> <p> In October, Pinellas County sent letters to residents of 82 Twin City homes, including McVey, requiring that they elevate or evacuate their homes by June 1. It&rsquo;s the first time in at least five years that the county has issued the &ldquo;notices of temporary occupancy,&rdquo; county officials said. Twin City residents were the only people to receive the letter from the county after Hurricane Idalia.</p> <p> The county participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which means it has adopted federal floodplain regulations in exchange for having flood insurance available to the community.</p> <p> The elevation notices sent to Twin City help keep the county in line with those federal guidelines so it doesn&rsquo;t lose this source of disaster assistance funds, county officials said. They say residents of the park, which was built before Pinellas County put those requirements in place, need to comply with changing floodplain maps consistent with projected sea-level rise.</p> <p> The county&rsquo;s floodplain manager, Lisa Foster, said it&rsquo;s in residents&rsquo; &ldquo;best interest to elevate or relocate before next hurricane season.&rdquo;</p> <p> &ldquo;The premise of the requirements are logical,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to protect people &mdash; ultimately that&rsquo;s the end goal &mdash; because we don&rsquo;t want them to repetitively flood. Especially these individuals. They have more trouble than others, in some cases, to be able to get back up on their feet after a flood.&rdquo;</p> WaterAtlas.orgFri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTSpring break beachgoers should know about the dangers of rip currentshttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22823<p> After a 17-year-old Canadian swimmer was swept out to sea and later found dead, the National Weather Service is warning visitors and residents about the hazards.</p> <p> William Zhang, a 17-year-old Canadian swimmer, was swept out to sea off Indian Shores on Wednesday. Pinellas County deputies later located his body.</p> <p> While it&rsquo;s not exactly clear how he drowned, one possibility is rip currents.</p> <p> They form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. They can increase to dangerous speeds, dragging swimmers out to sea.</p> <p> According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, rip currents are the greatest surf-zone hazard to all beachgoers.</p> <p> As the Tampa Bay area prepares for a record-breaking spring break, the National Weather Service is warning both visitors and residents about the dangers of rip currents.</p> <p> Jennifer Hubbard is a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service Tampa office.</p> <p> She said it&#39;s important not to panic if you ever get caught in a rip current.</p> <p> &ldquo;That rip current isn&#39;t going to pull you an extreme amount offshore as long as you don&#39;t fight it,&rdquo; Hubbard said. &ldquo;You need to relax if you feel that pull. You can try to swim parallel to the coast to get out of that channel, and once you do release from the channel, you would swim to shore.&rdquo;</p> WaterAtlas.orgFri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTTampa Bay Water asks residents to curb water use by 5% during dry spring monthshttps://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22825<p> <img alt="Tampa Bay Water logo" src="https://cdn.wateratlas.org/img/logos/TBW.jpg" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;width:150px;" /></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> CLEARWATER &ndash; Despite a rainy winter, Tampa Bay Water asks residents to continue water-saving habits as the region heads into its spring dry season.</p> <p> El Ni&ntilde;o rainfall, cooler weather and watering restrictions have helped thwart overwatering in the Tampa Bay area; however, regional water demands in February averaged about 189 million gallons per day &ndash; nearly two million gallons per day higher than in January.</p> <p> The region remains in a 5.4-inch rainfall deficit averaged over the past 12 months, and average river flows are in a 4.4-million gallons per day deficit over the same period. It&rsquo;s this scenario when Tampa Bay Water relies on its water savings account &ndash; the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir, which holds 15.5 billion gallons of water when full.</p> <p> Last October, the regional utility forecasted it would have around 10 billion gallons of water stored in its reservoir at this time. Mother Nature had other plans.</p> <p> &ldquo;We hoped to have more water in our reservoir going into the driest months of year &ndash; March, April and May,&rdquo; said Warren Hogg, chief science officer for Tampa Bay Water. Instead, the reservoir sits at 7.2 billion gallons.</p> <p> &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to run out of water for residents,&rdquo; said Hogg. &ldquo;But saving water during dry times leaves more water in the environment when it needs it most.&rdquo;</p> <p> Tampa Bay Water is asking residents to cut water use by 5%. &ldquo;This is attainable considering up to 50% of water used at home during the dry season is for watering lawns,&rdquo; Hogg added.</p> <p> Outdoor watering in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties is limited to one-day-per-week per the Southwest Florida Water Management District water shortage order that runs through July 1, 2024. Residents can find their watering day by simply entering their zip codes at <a href="https://MyWaterDay.org" target="_blank" title="My Water Day website">MyWaterDay.org</a>.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>WaterAtlas.orgFri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT<strong>TBEP releases &ldquo;State of the Bay&rdquo; report</strong>https://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22826<p> First the good news: Water quality across Tampa Bay is meeting or exceeding targets for clarity, and some critical habitats &ndash; including oyster bars, mangroves, and coastal uplands &ndash; are likely to meet the aggressive goals set for 2030.</p> <p> Then the bad news: Seagrass, the single most important habitat in the estuary and the &ldquo;elephant in the room,&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t on the list of habitats expected to meet their targets. Bay managers don&rsquo;t expect it to rebound significantly but they do see a glimmer of hope. &ldquo;We saw a slight increase in the 2023 transect data,&rdquo; said Marcus Beck, program scientist at the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP). &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to say that seagrasses are on the road to recovery, but it is encouraging news.&rdquo;</p> <p> The documented loss of 11,518 acres of seagrasses in 2022, which continues a trend that began in 2016 from the high of 41,655 acres, comes from aerial images collected every other year by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The images cover all areas where seagrasses are expected to survive and the interpretations of those images are considered the official acreage estimate. SWFWMD is currently acquiring the latest imagery, with the 2024 report expected in early 2025.</p> <p> Seagrass transects, on the other hand, are monitored every summer at 62 locations across the bay in an effort led by TBEP. Trained snorkelers document the seagrass and macroalgae along each transect, including details that can&rsquo;t be compiled from the aerial surveys such as species of seagrass, stem density and a description of macroalgae.</p> <p> Most of those gains seen in the transects were shoal grass, Halodule wrightii, which is typically the species most likely to recur first, although its growth is more dynamic than other species in the bay, often responding rapidly to changing conditions. Gains were also noted for Ruppia maritima, a seagrass species that prefers lower salinity.</p> <p> For more than 30 years, the paradigm for restoring Tampa Bay has focused on attaining water clear enough for sunlight to reach the bay bottom where seagrasses need it to survive. High levels of nutrients, typically from stormwater and wastewater, fuel the growth of algae that block sunlight.</p> WaterAtlas.orgFri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT