New Center to Forecast Red Tides

The nation’s first-ever research center focused on the prediction of red tide has been established at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science in a partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. The center will bring together biological, chemical and physical scientific expertise and couple it with advanced computing power to model factors contributing to red tide formation. The tools also can be applied to fisheries management, navigation, search and rescue, and other ocean research.

A five-year, $1.25 million contract from FWRI will help finance the center. USF is matching the state’s contribution with a $400,000 computer cluster along with staff support for the center. Scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory and NOAA also will work with the center to monitor data from multiple sources, including red tide monitoring data, water circulation, temperature, salinity, and satellite imagery.

Will King Return?

One of the few male Loggerhead turtles ever tagged, King appears to be heading back to Tampa Bay in time for this year’s mating season. Instead of spending his winter off the coast of Mexico or paddling off Caribbean beaches where many female turtles migrate after mating season, King hung around Tampa Bay all summer and then spent fall and early winter months off the Carolina coasts.
“We have our fingers crossed that his batteries hold out,” notes Tony Tucker, manager of Mote’s sea turtle conservation and research program. If he does come back to Tampa Bay, it may be an indication that male turtles return to their natal beaches just as the females do.

King also demonstrates that rehabilitation for turtles can be effective. First seen near Casey Key in April 2006, King was diagnosed with “Lethargic Loggerhead Syndrome,” a condition caused by parasites, and spent 11 months at Mote before he was released. “We don’t always know if rehabilitation is successful, but King is obviously doing well,” Tucker said.

Along with scientists at Mote, hundreds of people across the country are tracking King’s travels through www.seaturtle.org. Mote recently received a $12,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland made possible by the generosity of the John A. Leighty Family Fund to expand the “Turtles Teaching Science” program.

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Cross Bar Ranch Named Priority on Florida Forever List

The infamous Cross Bar Ranch at the center of the 1980s “water wars” has been named a priority purchase by the Florida Forever program. Originally assembled by Pinellas County in the 1970s and ‘80s for use as a well field, the 12,500-acre tract is still largely undeveloped and would serve as a critical link between Starkey Wilderness Park and Conner Preserve.

Both Pinellas and Pasco counties agree that the land should remain in its natural state, but a final price has yet to be determined. Pinellas needs to sell the property to expand its utility system and a source of funding for the purchase — appraised at $176 million – is still undetermined.

Red Snapper Fishery Rebounding

The historically overfished red snapper is making a comeback, say fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. Preliminary data from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and anecdotal accounts from fishermen show a dramatic reduction in the amount of dead or dying fish thrown away, higher market prices and increased value of fishery shares.

January marked the anniversary of a new Gulf of Mexico plan for a catch-share program that holds fishermen directly and individually accountable for meeting conservation targets. The Gulf of Mexico catch-share program called for fishermen to lower drastically the amount they catch and they appear to be complying with those tough new harvest limits. In addition, preliminary data are showing that bycatch is down by 40% or more, fisherman are receiving more money for their catch at dockside, and the value of the fishermen’s shares is increasing. Plus, the “fishing derby” has ended and fisherman can safely fish year-round instead of pushing to beat the limit.

The red snapper catch-share program is the first such program enacted for a major fishery in the U.S. since Congress put new rules in place to end overfishing. The success of the program suggests that other similar programs proposed in New England, the Gulf, and the West Coast also have strong chances for success.

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Harney Park is managed by Hillsborough County on SWFWMD property bordering the Tampa Bypass Canal.

First Phase of River Recovery Plan Underway

The first phase in the Lower Hillsborough River recovery is underway with the Southwest Florida Water Management District pumping 11 cubic feet per second (cfs) — about 7.1 million gallons per day — from the Tampa Bypass Canal to the Hillsborough River Reservoir. In turn, 8.25 cfs is pumped from the reservoir to the base of the dam.

It’s the first in a series of initiatives required to meet a new minimum flow approved by the district last August. By 2017, minimum flows must increase to 24 cfs April to June and 20 cfs the rest of the year. Managers estimate that the bypass canal project will increase minimum flows to 18.25 cfs. Other projects being considered include:

• Moving more water from the Tampa Bypass Canal to the river. This project could eventually provide up to 11 cfs for minimum flow purposes.
• Moving additional water from Sulphur Springs to the base of the dam on the river. This is expected to provide an average 15 cfs.
• Moving water from Blue Sink to the river. This could provide up to 3 cfs.
• Installing a transmission pipeline for Tampa Bay Water’s existing transfers of water from the Tampa Bypass Canal to the river for the city of Tampa. This could save up to 3 cfs that would be used to help meet the minimum flow.
• Pumping water from the Morris Bridge Sink to the canal, then to the river. This may provide up to 6 cfs.
  All projects are subject to permitting and feasibility. SWFWMD and the City of Tampa have negotiated a $44.5 million funding agreement for projects to help meet minimum flows.

Samaha Named District’s First Land Resources Volunteer

Marilyn Samaha has been named the first land resources volunteer of the year by the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. She was recognized for the countless hours she spent developing a recreational partnership between the district, Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bypass Canal Rowing Council (TBCRC), which she created and serves as president.

The TBCRC organizes and manages all rowing regattas at the Tampa Bypass/Harney Park site, a 10-acre park recognized as the best high school rowing venue in Florida.

The “Fountain of Youth”