Tampa Bay Estuary Program

This strategic plan outlines the direction for the Southwest Florida Regional Ambient Monitoring Program (SWF RAMP), focusing on improving water quality monitoring. The core objectives include fostering cooperative participation among regional monitoring staff, enhancing the comparability of surface water sample collection, field measurements, and laboratory methods, and building partnerships with federal, state, regional, and private agencies. Key priorities also encompass facilitating information exchange, expanding technical knowledge, and improving the overall effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and quality of water quality monitoring programs in Southwest Florida.

This report provides model-based estimates of total nitrogen loading to Tampa Bay, assessing current conditions and projecting future conditions for the year 2020. It quantifies nitrogen contributions from key sources such as atmospheric deposition, domestic and industrial point sources, groundwater, springs, and nonpoint sources across seven bay segments. The assessment aims to support the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Nitrogen Management Strategy and inform the setting of living resource targets, particularly for seagrass restoration, by outlining expected future loading changes and guiding pollutant reduction efforts.

The meeting began with procedural matters, including the recognition of Commissioner Peters joining virtually and passing the gavel to Nancy Watkins to officially convene the meeting. Due to the lack of an in-person quorum initially, the meeting proceeded with information items only. Key discussion focused on a private landowner's proposed private cruise port at the mouth of Tampa Bay, leading to the preparation of key messages and a fact sheet regarding the natural resources potentially impacted. The board discussed the role of the organization in providing scientific and technical input on such projects. Furthermore, the meeting included updates on the development of the 2027 Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) revision, including the launch of a community satisfaction survey to gather feedback on priorities and progress. Staff also reported on the success of the first People in Nature symposium focused on environmental social scientists. Lastly, updates were provided regarding the Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium, focusing on challenges in Old Tampa Bay related to nitrogen load and water quality standards, concluding with a recommendation to continue reporting on nitrogen load reduction projects for reasonable assurance to regulatory bodies.

The meeting included the approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 annual program audit report, which resulted in an unmodified or clean opinion across financial statements, compliance with governmental auditing standards, and Uniform Guidance concerning National Estuary Program funds. Key financial discussion points included a $187,000 increase in net position, with total revenues increasing by approximately $417,000, largely due to increases in operating grants and contributions. Expenses remained relatively consistent, with consulting services being the largest expense category at about $1.5 million. The board also approved the quarterly financial report for the first three months of the new fiscal year (through December 31, 2025), noting slow initial revenue drawdowns but strong early donations for the 2026 campaign restoration fund. A significant budget variance was reported for capital outlay related to necessary analytical software purchase, requiring a future budget amendment. Finally, the board recommended approval for the City of Largo to join as a funding partner via a joint agreement, effective in the next fiscal year, and discussed the draft final third amended and restated interlocal agreement, which adjusts funding tables based on 2023 population estimates.

The meeting involved presentations and discussions regarding water quality assessments for the prior year, which indicated that conditions in all major bay segments were in the green, not tripping any regulatory thresholds. A key agenda item was seeking consensus approval to submit the draft water quality report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the US EPA, pending receipt of final data from Manatee County. Furthermore, there was a detailed technical review of the Old Tampa Bay assimilative capacity study, including modeling chlorophyll response to loading using linear regression and updated data. The consortium discussed recommendations from the Old Tampa Bay Working Group concerning actions planned for the 2022 to 2026 Reasonable Assurance and Implementation period, requesting feedback from regulatory bodies before fully integrating these recommendations into the 2027 update.