Tampa Bay Project Background

Coastal bays and estuaries are well known for their intrinsic recreational and economic value, yet these ecosystems are also among our most troubled natural environments.

Urban development, agriculture and shipping are just a few examples that can cause a wide range of deleterious change in the coastal zone. These human-induced alterations, however, occur simultaneously to cycles of natural variability (for example, climate change). To effectively manage coastal ecosystems one needs to be able to distinguish between man-made and natural causes of change.

The U.S. Geological Survey in 2001 initiated a broad program of scientific study in Tampa Bay (Figure. 1) to address this theme.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Project is based on a holistic integration of the fields of geology, biology, hydrology and geochemistry to examine natural and human-induced change. This study presents some initial geochemical and hydrological observations made during a prolonged period of drought in Tampa Bay.

These investigations are directly coupled to:

Geologic framework studies, which provide a more robust interpretation of the underlying stratigraphy,

Wetland studies, which allow us to examine, for example, the hydrologic control on wetland structure, and

Paleo-eutrophication studies that can place our modern interpretations into an historic context.

We need to continue to develop a better understanding of external/internal influences on the observed responses, to be able to critically evaluate long-term trends in ecosystem health.

Additional Links

More details about the Tampa Bay study can be found on the Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science Web site located at

http://gulfsci.er.usgs.gov/tampabay/reports/swarzen1/index.html

OFR 01-289 (528 KB PDF)

A 2001-2002 drought induced imprint on estuarine processes?

To download a printable version of USGS Open File Report 01-289, click on the image to the right.

Click on the images below to open a printable version of the USGS Report in Adobe Reader.

OFR 2004-1226 (808 KB PDF)

Submarine ground water discharge and its role in coastal processes and ecosystems http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/2004-1226/

FS 2004-3117 (1.16 MB PDF)

Novel geophysical and geochemical techniques used to study submarine groundwater discharge in Biscayne Bay, Florida http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/fs/2004-3117/

OFR 2004-1369 (1.03 MB PDF)

An autonomous, electromagnetic seepage meter to study coastal groundwater/ surface-water exchange http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/2004-1369/

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Page Last Modified: October 17, 2007 @ 05:07 PM (JSS)


	Tampa Bay Project Background Coastal bays and estuaries are well known for their intrinsic recreational and economic value, yet these ecosystems are also among our most troubled natural environments. Urban development, agriculture and shipping are just a few examples that can cause a wide range of deleterious change in the coastal zone. These human-induced alterations, however, occur simultaneously to cycles of natural variability (for example, climate change). To effectively manage coastal ecosystems one needs to be able to distinguish between man-made and natural causes of change. The U.S. Geological Survey in 2001 initiated a broad program of scientific study in Tampa Bay (Figure. 1) to address this theme. The Tampa Bay Estuary Project is based on a holistic integration of the fields of geology, biology, hydrology and geochemistry to examine natural and human-induced change. This study presents some initial geochemical and hydrological observations made during a prolonged period of drought in Tampa Bay. These investigations are directly coupled to: Geologic framework studies, which provide a more robust interpretation of the underlying stratigraphy, Wetland studies, which allow us to examine, for example, the hydrologic control on wetland structure, and Paleo-eutrophication studies that can place our modern interpretations into an historic context. We need to continue to develop a better understanding of external/internal influences on the observed responses, to be able to critically evaluate long-term trends in ecosystem health.
Figure 1. Satellite image of Tampa Bay indicating study sites near the Alafia River and Terra Ceia area. Colors are near natural; healthy plants are green, agricultural fields are pink or beige.
Additional Links More details about the Tampa Bay study can be found on the Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science Web site located at http://gulfsci.er.usgs.gov/tampabay/reports/swarzen1/index.html		OFR 01-289 (528 KB PDF) A 2001-2002 drought induced imprint on estuarine processes?

To download a printable version of USGS Open File Report 01-289, click on the image to the right.

Print Publications: Reports Click on the images below to open a printable version of the USGS Report in Adobe Reader. NOTE: PDF files may be viewed using Adobe Reader public domain software. If unable to access the PDF files, please contact aharrison@usgs.gov.


OFR 2004-1226 (808 KB PDF) Submarine ground water discharge and its role in coastal processes and ecosystems http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/2004-1226/		FS 2004-3117 (1.16 MB PDF) Novel geophysical and geochemical techniques used to study submarine groundwater discharge in Biscayne Bay, Florida http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/fs/2004-3117/
	OFR 2004-1369 (1.03 MB PDF) An autonomous, electromagnetic seepage meter to study coastal groundwater/ surface-water exchange http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/2004-1369/

Tampa Bay Project Background

Additional Links

Print Publications: Reports