Manatee County

Salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They create habitat for wildlife, protect shorelines from erosion, reduce flooding, and protect water quality by filtering runoff.

One commissioner said the well is a better option than having millions more gallons of wastewater dumped into Tampa Bay.

The red tide bloom comes within weeks of a major discharge of nutrient-rich water from the Piney Point phosphate plant into Tampa Bay.

A computer model that's been used to track red tide and Tampa Bay's response to Hurricane Irma is now being adapted to follow the dispersal of contaminated runoff from the old phosphate plant.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that the state will come up with a plan to close the former phosphate plant for good after another leak late last month.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that the state will come up with a plan to close the former phosphate plant for good after another leak late last month.

The ACLU filed a class-action petition last week for the emergency release of people incarcerated in Manatee County Jail due to the leak of polluted water at a nearby phosphate plant.

Workers will continue to identify whether there are any additional separations of the liner that resulted in millions of gallons of wastewater flowing from the reservoir.

The state says that 223 million gallons remain in the reservoir that had started leaking over a week ago.

Data on nitrates and phosphate will be important when determining the spill’s effect on Tampa Bay.

The state had been releasing up to 50 million gallons a day from the reservoir. The flow is now down to 5 million gallons a day, which will be treated before it enters Tampa Bay.

"Someone should be held responsible," Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White said.