to conserve our remaining natural resources for future generations to protect a valuable economic...
TRANSCRIPT
The Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plan for Clearwater Harbor
and St. Joseph Sound
Goals of the CCMPTo conserve our remaining natural resources for future generations
To protect a valuable economic revenue stream
To organize management efforts to optimize resources
Kids fishing pics
Need For a CCMP Outside the boundary for both Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Tampa Bay SWIM Plan Critical habitat for Birds, Turtles, Manatee, and Fishes
Tremendous economic resource for the area
Will replace
Resource Management at Work
Pollutant loads have decreased due to improved stormwater and wastewater practices
Water quality in the estuary has been improving
Seagrass acreage has been increasing
Wastewater treatment
Regs
Maintaining WQ
More Work is Needed
Increased pressure on resources
Increasing regulatory burdens on local governments
Limited financial resources to protect a revenue generating asset
CCMP Objectives Focus on Estuary
Establish Historical Benchmarks
Develop Management Targets
Develop Action Plans to Protect and Restore
Co-ordinate Activities Throughout the Watershed
Goals
•Identify Critical Issues
•Identify Data Sources
Analysis
•Assess Relationships
•Define Management Targets
Actions
•Develop Action Plans
•Develop Implementation Strategy
Natural Resource Protection
Management Targets - Seagrass
Seagrasses are increasing!
Approaching historical acreage Basis for “Hold the Line” strategy for water quality
Acres Seagrass Aerial Extent Over Recent History
TARGET
TARGET
Split axis
TARGET
Water Quality Goal
Maintain conditions that resulted in increasing seagrass acreage – i.e. good water quality
Develop indicators to determine when water quality degradation is occurring
Water Quality Reporting Tool
Year Saint Joseph Sound
Clearwater Harbor North
Clearwater Harbor South
Threshold=3.1 (µg/L)
Threshold=5.4 (µg/L)
Threshold=7.6 (µg/L)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008 = Reference
2009 = Excursion
2010
Management Targets – Natural Lands
Mangroves - Protect remaining, focus restoration in Clearwater Harbor South
Salt Marsh – Protect remaining
Freshwater Wetlands – No more losses, restoration where practical – TMDL/ Ag Lands
Native Uplands- Protect remaining in managed lands
Add Pictures
Need for Continued Management
Regulatory pressures persist
Benefit of a unified plan of action
Demonstrated success using local data and expertise
More work to be done TMDLs/BMAPs
CCMP Action Plans Bay Habitats
Watershed Habitats
Water Quality
Estuarine Fauna
Sediment Management
Public Education
CCMP outlines specific actions to implement protection and restoration strategies
Action Plan Database
Central repository of information from past and current projects throughout the watershed
Coordination mechanism for projects throughout the County
Accounting mechanism for effort spent on environmental improvements
Potential application in EPA/FDEP - TMDL/BMAP process
Next Steps Maintain Technical Advisory Committee with
representatives from local governments
Stay flexible in approach – coordinated in action
Communicate
Leverage individual efforts for public engagement
Leverage unified approach –strength in numbers
Acknowledgements Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure
Southwest Florida Water Management District (Pinellas Anclote Basin Board)
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Cities of: Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Largo
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries Program (Audubon)
Other Slides
Other Water Quality Management Targets
Project Work FlowKickoff Meeting
I dentify/Obtain/Review Data
Data Analysis Plan
Conduct Analyses
Develop “State of the Resource”
Document
I dentify & Prioritize Potential Actions
Draft CCMP
Final CCMP
Define Critical Resources & Goals
TAC Input
TAC Input
TAC Input
TAC Input
Kickoff Meeting
I dentify/Obtain/Review Data
Data Analysis Plan
Conduct Analyses
Develop “State of the Resource”
Document
I dentify & Prioritize Potential Actions
Draft CCMP
Final CCMP
Define Critical Resources & Goals
TAC InputTAC Input
TAC InputTAC Input
TAC InputTAC Input
TAC InputTAC Input
September 2009
December 2011
Data and Information Gaps
Quantify economic value of CHSJS natural resources
Information sharing with Pasco County on Anclote River issues
Fisheries/Scallop/Oyster data could be enhanced
Quantify hard bottom habitat in the estuary
Stormwater pipes and outfall locations in electronic database
Database of stormwater maintenance activities