Red Tide continues to move north, Pinellas officials say

June 22nd, 2021

With Red Tide continuing to impact our beaches and waterways, Pinellas County will provide updates twice weekly about the conditions and our response. Here is the update for Tuesday, June 22:

Pinellas County water quality testing on Tuesday showed that Red Tide is continuing to move north. Most test locations south of Clearwater had low to very low concentrations of K brevis. Fort De Soto Park Gulf Pier had medium concentrations, which may be due to higher levels coming out of lower Tampa bay. In the north county, Clearwater Beach, Honeymoon Island and Fred Howard Park had medium concentrations.

The County's contractor had crews working the southern shoreline of Dunedin Causeway and Fred Howard Park this morning and again after 1 p.m.

County staff made the following observations during a helicopter flight provided by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office:

• Tampa Bay had multiple blooms throughout.
• There was visible water discoloration about 50 to 100 feet off the shoreline from the Redington beaches to Belleair.
• The water off Clearwater Beach was slightly discolored, but has improved from previous flights. The discoloration continued north to Anclote Key and back south to the Intracoastal Waterway in Clearwater.
• The Intracoastal Waterway from Clearwater to Madeira Beah has some spotty blooms and discolored streaking, mostly along the eastern side.

Beachesupdate.com provides the latest reported conditions at the county's beaches. Clicking on a yellow triangle brings up window with wind direction and speed, Red Tide levels and more. The Red Tide Respiratory Forecast Tool provides the risk level for respiratory irritation at a given beach.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission (FWC) is conducting water quality testing on Mondays, including within Tampa Bay. Pinellas County is testing Tuesday through Friday along the beaches. A combined GIS map can be viewed here.