Tampa Bay Sediment Quality Monitoring Program David J
Tampa Bay Sediment Quality Monitoring Program David J. Karlen, Ph. D. Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County Tampa, FL
Tampa Bay Old Tampa Bay (OTB) Hillsborough Bay (HB) Boca Ciega Bay (BCB) Middle Tampa Bay (MTB) Terra Ceia Bay (TCB) Lower Tampa Bay (LTB) http: //dayton. hq. nasa. gov/IMAGES/SMALL/GPN-2000 -001182. jpg Surface area = 1, 030 km 2 Watershed = 5, 700 km 2 Population = 4. 5 million Manatee River (MR)
Background: Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring Program • Program Initiated in 1993 by the TBNEP – Part of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for Tampa Bay – Cooperative program with Manatee and Pinellas Counties • Objectives – Monitor health of benthic infaunal community – Identify areas of sediment contamination and low dissolved oxygen
Program Design • Modeled after EPA’s • • EMAP program Stratified Random Sampling Design Samples collected Annually in late summer – – High temp. low D. O. High Physiological Stress
Sample Collection & Processing • • Hydrographic profile Young grab sampler 1993 -2012: 1, 572 samples analyzed 1, 160 species level taxa
Species Richness Mean = 36. 5 taxa/sample Max = 136 taxa/sample 33 26 46 42 48 38 28
Dominant Taxa • Seven taxa accounted for 25% of the overall abundance Glottidia pyramidata 5. 1% Mysella planulata 3. 5% Branchiostoma floridae 4. 9% Tubificidae 3. 4% Monticellina cf. dorsobranchialis 4. 1% Ampelisca holmesi 3. 0% Caecum strigosum 2. 9%
Tampa Bay Sediment Distribution
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
Lead
Nickel
Zinc
Sediment contamination Geo. Mean PEL_Q 0. 021 0. 046 0. 018 0. 028 0. 016 0. 020 0. 026
Taxa Associated with Degraded Sites Paramphinome sp. B Anoxia; Mud; Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn; Sigambra tentaculata DDT, Dieldrin, PCB, PAH Anoxia; Mud; Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu; Hypoxia; Cr, Ni, Pb DDT, PCB, PAH Paraprionospio pinnata Pinnixa spp. Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni; DDT, Lindane, PCB Tubificidae Anoxia; Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn; Enteropneusta Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Anoxia; Mud; Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn; PCB, PAH Dieldrin, DDT, PCB
Summary • Species rich benthic community – Increasing number of taxa towards lower bay • More degraded sites in Hillsborough Bay – – Lower Dissolved Oxygen Higher % Silt +Clay Higher levels of sediment contaminants Anthropogenic Impacts – – Higher Dissolved Oxygen Lower % Silt+Clay Lower sediment contaminants Fewer Anthropogenic Impacts • Healthier benthic community in lower bay segments
Lake Thonotosassa Sediment Metals • 2008 study • Distribution of • • sediment heavy metals Particular interest in lead contamination Study concluded lead and most metals were below state sediment quality standards
Acknowledgements • Tampa Bay Estuary Program • Manatee County Environmental Management Department • Pinellas County Watershed Management Thank you Questions ?
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