Keep Off the Grass

Tampa Bay Seagrass Declining

By Amanda Hagood

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program reported last month that Tampa Bay seagrass coverage has declined by 12% since 2020. While this may not seem like a terribly alarming number, local experts are paying attention.

“A lot of us are very concerned,” says Peter Clark, founder and president of Tampa Bay Watch. In light of the impressive gains Tampa Bay has made in water quality over the past three decades, he explains, the recent decline of this critical marine habitat – which amounts to 4,161 acres lost over the last two years –feels like “three steps backward.”

The Ocean’s Powerhouse

Seagrass – the common name for a variety of flowering plants that live in shallow estuarine waters – can be found along Florida’s coastline and in its protected bays and lagoons. It grows in large meadows that, like their dry-land namesakes, harbor an incredible variety of life: from the shrimp, scallops, and seahorses that live in the grass, to the young seatrout, snook, and redfish that shelter there, to the sea turtles, manatees, and birds that feed and forage among the beds. Seagrass also stabilizes the sediment on the bottom of the bay, slowing the impact of coastal erosion and keeping water clear and water quality high. It’s no surprise that the World Resources Institute calls seagrass “the ocean’s overlooked powerhouse.”

But as robust as their impact is, these ecological marvels are surprisingly fragile. One threat is dredging, which can both destroy seagrass meadows and increase the turbidity of water, making it harder for new seagrass to grow. Gulfport witnessed this phenomenon firsthand in the 1930s, when Clam Bayou was dredged for the municipal marina, and then again in the 1950s when more dredging occurred to create land for waterfront homes. With less seagrass in place, the waters grew cloudier – and stayed that way.

Mapping the Grass

The ecological significance of seagrass is why Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) began monitoring seagrass coverage in Tampa Bay in 1988. Every two years, the district takes a series of aerial photographs (in winter, when the waters are clearest), which are mapped and then ground-truthed to determine where the seagrass is patchy, continuous, or not growing at all. For the last 30 years, the picture has been largely encouraging, with reported seagrass coverage growing from around 23,000 acres in 1988 to around 58,000 acres in 2016.

But the last three reports have shown a downward trend, with the most recent report showing the heaviest losses in Old Tampa Bay, where coverage has decreased by 38%, and Hillsborough Bay, where coverage has decreased by 51%. Now, according to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, “seagrass coverage in Old Tampa Bay is at an alltime historic low.”

Under Pressure

What could be driving this change? Clark points to numerous factors, including new development along watersheds upstream and greater demand on wastewater treatment facilities, both of which introduce more nutrients into the bay and spur the growth of harmful algal blooms (including red tide) that shade out seagrass meadows and cause them to die back. These pressures are not likely to ease as Florida’s human population continues to swell.

But restoration projects can help – whether it’s retrofitting old storm water drainage systems to filter out nutrients, adding oyster reefs to shorelines, or water-savvy landscaping in our own backyards. As our population grows, so too can these efforts.

“It’s time to take our work to the next level,” says Clark.

The waters we love depend on it.

Lions, Sewers, and Pets (and Rentals) Overheard at the Feb. 21 Gulfport Council Meeting

By Monroe Roark

Every meeting, Overheard at Gulfport Council includes things said, by staff, council, citizens, or presenters, of note. Some of these items do not fall under any specific agenda item, so we created this feature to call out these quotes.

Gulfport Lions Club

“The pancake breakfast raised $1,500 for the Southeastern Guide Dog Association. We had a huge crowd — 130 people there. We are having a dance on March 25. We don’t raise this money for ourselves. This is for other people. We started this dance last year for the first time to raise scholarship money for Boca Ciega High School. We were able to raise $4,000. Four students applied and each one got $1,000. … Anybody who has a generous heart and would like to give money, or something we can auction off in the silent auction, we sure would appreciate it. And I think this year’s seniors at BCHS will appreciate it.” – Tommy

Bixler

State and Federal Funding

“We have made our state appropriation request to Sen. DeCeglie and also Rep. Chaney. This year we have submitted the expanded funding for sanitary sewer lateral Priority 2 repairs, and also some major improvements to 58th Street. … We’ve also been advised and notified that Congresswoman Luna will be accepting earmark requests this year. In the past her party has not. So we will be drafting a project, and number one right now would be the senior center.” –

City Manager Jim O’Reilly

Pets Running Loose

“I’m really proud to live in Gulfport where our police department care enough to track down our owners to the dogs that are lost and find the lost dog owners. That’s great; I’m proud of that. But then there is a real disconnect, because why are these people not fined when it’s repeat offenders, which we see on Facebook all the time — the same people over and over. Our police do good things to help the irresponsible pet owners, but then when those pets bite another pet or bite people, we’re told the city can’t do anything about it, it’s a county issue.

“I’m having some problems understanding why we don’t have enforcement. … The victims of some of the loose dogs should be able to get some help from the city as well as how good our police are to the lost pets and their owners. Do you see what I’m saying — the conflict? It doesn’t work.” – Karen

Love

“The director of Pinellas County Animal Control will be coming before you on March 7 to do a presentation in regard to different aspects of animal control and what can be done in the city.” – O’Reilly

Short-Term Rentals

“It was decided in December where we would go with regard to shortterm rentals. We have staffed the [code enforcement officer] position. We are in the process of training on the software. We will be bringing you a report on the processes once we have those things in place. I anticipate that it will be the first or second meeting in March.” – O’Reilly

Play (Pickle) Ball!

Gulfport OKs More Pickleball Money, Summer Rec Fees, and Little League Lease

By Monroe Roark

The new pickleball and tennis courts in Gulfport will see action any day now. At its Feb. 21 council meeting, Gulfport approved extra money for pickleball courts and set fees for the city’s summer rec program.

Pickleball Courts!

“By the first week of March, we should be open for business,” Public Works Director Tom Nicholls told the Gulfport City Council at its Feb. 21 meeting.

Council approved payment for a $20,000 change order for the project. The city will use coronavirus recovery funds to pay this bill.

Nicholls said this represents an approximate 5% increase in the overall cost. He told the council the work should be done within two weeks from the Feb. 21 meeting.

“We had some cost overruns with material, as we are seeing in a lot of construction projects today,” he said.

Mayor Sam Henderson concurred with the latter statement. He noted that it is rare these days to have a project without a change order.

Pickleball Budget

The original $418,506 budget initially included full demolition and removal of the existing tennis courts, practice court, fencing, lighting and electrical system. Nicholls said the completed project will result in two standalone pickleball courts and two tennis courts. A city staff report indicated that new eight-foot fencing and gates would surround the courts, with new LED lighting and sidewalks included in the construction.

With this council action, Gulfport has spent $4,926,496 of its allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds. The city has $1,255,040 remaining to spend.

In other business, the council approved an ordinance authorizing a new three-year lease agreement with Gulfport Little League Club, Inc.

It is a continuation of the most recent lease terms, including one dollar per year in rent – inclusive of spring and fall programs – and city field maintenance. There is no additional financial impact to the city’s present park operating budget, according to officials.

These terms were originally agreed to in 2004 and renewed in 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2020.

A representative of the local league said that more than 80 young people are currently involved in the program.

Gulfport Summer Rec Fees

Council approved another initiative benefiting local youth at the meeting. Council adopted a resolution setting the fee schedule for the 2023 Children’s Summer Recreation Program.

This year’s program will last 10 weeks, based on the school district calendar’s designated summer break time. It will run from May 30 through Aug. 4 and be open to city residents and a limited number of non-residents, according to officials.

Program participants can elect to participate in the full program and receive a 12% discount, or pay for either a five-week session or a weekly option without a discount. Fees are the same as they were in 2023 “to maintain affordability for children and families within the City of Gulfport,” according to a staff report.

Gulfport residents can receive assistance in the form of a 25% discount if they provide verification that they receive financial aid such as free or reduced lunch.

Council also approved a $68,617.93 contract for the replacement of 904 feet of marina basin fencing.