Seagrass

The UF study focused on struvite, a plentiful byproduct of the wastewater treatment process. The mineral contains nitrogen and phosphorus, both key ingredients in fertilizer.

Before Hurricane Ian struck, scientists were monitoring water from the mouth of Tampa Bay near Manatee River, all the way up to Cockroach Bay, on the southeastern shore of Hillsborough County for possible effects of a Piney Point stormwater release.

After decades of pollution suffocated Tampa Bay and killed half its seagrass and much of its marine life, unprecedented political cooperation and hundreds of science-guided projects brought the estuary back to life. Tampa Bay became a symbol for the success of the Clean Water Act of 1972, but seagrasses and fish have begun to die again.

It's not all bad news with the area's waterways.

Commissioner Joe Carollo had proposed changing city rules to ban planting new mangroves to protect waterfront views.

Florida's offshore marine habitat is in peril. Populations of fish are dwindling in many places, and manatees have been dying in record numbers. The basis for much of this life lies in seagrass just under our boats. We join a scientist on a trip into one of the healthiest seagrass meadows in the Gulf of Mexico.

An ordinance proposed by City Commissioner Joe Carollo would outlaw planting new mangroves or other tall plants at city parks to protect water views.

A plan is being drawn up to help manage the 700 acres offshore of Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

The bill would create seagrass mitigation banks, allowing property owner to buy credits in privately managed seagrass meadows to offset the destruction caused by construction.

Scientists say pollution from runoff and wastewater leaks adds nutrients to the bay, fueling algae growth that hurts seagrass beds.

State lawmakers are considering a bill (HB 1061 / SB 1042 ) to protect the largest seagrass bed in the Gulf of Mexico. There are 400,000 acres of…

There's good news on at least one environmental front in Florida. Water flowing into Tampa Bay has been cleaned up so much in recent decades that…