Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Tampa Bay seagrass shows net gain, but Old Tampa Bay still losing ground, experts say
Summary
Tampa Bay Estuary Program reported a 2024 seagrass assessment showing about 1,400 more acres than 2022, but Old Tampa Bay continues to lose seagrass. The program urged more stormwater projects, septic-to-sewer work and habitat restoration; the EPC received the report 6-0.
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program reported April 17 that the latest regional assessment showed roughly 1,400 more acres of seagrass in Tampa Bay compared with the prior survey, but panelists warned the upper Old Tampa Bay segment continues to decline and needs targeted action.
Ed Sherwood, executive director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, told the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, “We did receive some good news ... we've had, about 1,400 more acres of seagrass coverage in Tampa Bay relative to the prior assessment back in 2022.” He said the gain is encouraging but not uniform across the bay.
Sherwood said seagrass is a foundational estuarine habitat that needs sunlight, and declines can accelerate harmful algal blooms and affect fisheries and species such as manatees and sea turtles. He described progress since mid-20th-century pollution reductions — noting a…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
