City scientist: bacteria monitoring shows inland sites lag; phosphorus remains a stubborn problem

Dr. Nancy Gassman, a city environmental scientist, told the Marine Advisory Board on Nov. 8 that Fort Lauderdale’s bacteria monitoring shows stronger compliance at coastal recreation sites and poorer results farther inland, including the North Fork.

Gassman summarized four years of Miami Waterkeeper weekly enterococci sampling and Broward County quarterly chemical monitoring. "The further inland you go, the more likely you are to have challenges with bacteria," she said, explaining that the monitoring program focuses on locations where people enter the water for recreation. The city’s designated water-sport areas generally meet state recreational-bathing…