seagrass

Steve Friedman said he "needed a life change.” A passion for environmental activism led him to the water.

The Indian River Lagoon saw a brief respite from massive algal blooms this year. But heavy rains from Hurricane Ian led to wastewater spills and stormwater outflows in yet another setback to water quality. Even so, natural resource managers say the lagoon's restoration is still attainable.

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 scientist on a trip into one of the healthiest seagrass meadows in the Gulf of Mexico.

The lack of seagrass forage during winter months has triggered an unprecedented die-off of manatees.

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.