After several years of improving water quality, Tampa Bay took a step back in 1998 -- thanks mostly to the torrential rains brought last winter by the El Nino event.

The bad news is that the bay will fall short of meeting key water quality targets for the first time in three years.

But the good news is that the damage is expected to be only temporary, and the bay already is showing signs of rebounding.

"Considering all the freshwater the bay received, it's actually in pretty good shape. With the low rainfall levels we're seeing now, the bay is already recovering," said Roger Johansson, chief of the City of Tampa's Bay Study Group and co-chair of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Technical Advisory Committee.

El Nino is a global weather phenomenon caused by a warming of the surface waters of the tropical Pacific Ocean. An El Nino event typically lasts 12-18 months, triggering dramatic and prolonged climatic upheavals that may produce droughts, flooding, tornadoes and other catastrophic events.

While estuaries such as Tampa Bay are by their nature subject to wide variations in saltiness, temperature and other characteristics, El Nino provided bay managers and scientists a living laboratory of extremes under which to study the bay and its reaction to stress.

"We've been waiting for a year like this, where we could see what would happen in the bay under a worst-case scenario," Johansson said. "This is how we learn things."

What they've discovered so far has been startling, but not unexpected. In the Tampa Bay region, El Nino produced record rainfall beginning in December 1997 and continuing through March of 1998. The deluge flooded homes, roads and rivers and sent massive amounts of tea-colored stormwater runoff pouring into the bay.

Saturated sewer systems in bay area communities discharged more than 32 million gallons of raw or partially treated sewage to Tampa Bay. Septic tank malfunctions added to the problems.

The rains of El Nino also may have been at least partly responsible for the collapse of a phosphate plant dike that sent 50 million gallons of acidic water down the Alafia River and into the bay, taking a heavy toll on fish and wildlife along the way.

Together, these impacts produced baywide repercussions. Data collected by the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County indicates that average chlorophyll levels in the bay for 1998 will be higher than they've been since 1995, which also was an abnormally wet year. Chlorophyll is a measure of the amount of single-celled plant matter, or algae, in the water: too much chlorophyll turns the bay a cloudy pea-green and blocks sunlight from reaching underwater seagrasses.

In 1996, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program adopted chlorophyll targets for each bay segment that reflect the levels necessary to recover more than 12,000 acres of sea grass -- a key goal of the management plan for Tampa Bay. It is likely that all segments will fail to meet those targets for 1998, according to Johansson.

As expected with the high chlorophyll levels, the amount of light penetrating the water column also was reduced, Johansson said. From 1992 through 1994, for example, measurements showed sunlight reaching an average of nearly four feet into the water column in Hillsborough Bay. But in 1998, sunlight was able to penetrate only about 3 ½ feet below the surface on average.

The combination of cloudy water and low salinity brought by the El Nino rains appear to also have affected the bay's sea grass beds. For the first time since 1984 -- when Tampa's Bay Study Group began sampling grass beds -- there was no increase in sea grass coverage in Hillsborough Bay. Instead, seagrasses in that bay segment held steady at about 140 acres.

Impacts to bay wildlife from El Nino varied widely. Scallops appeared to be less plentiful than usual -- and those that were there were harder to find because of the cloudier water. Volunteer snorkelers participating in the 1998 Great Bay Scallop Search last August found only 27 scallops in the lower bay, compared with 78 in 1997 and 76 in 1996.

"That shows us that scallops are a very good resource indicator, because water quality is down now and scallops are reflecting that," said Tampa BayWatch director Peter Clark. BayWatch and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program sponsor the annual Scallop Search.

Tampa Bay's wading birds, on the other hand, seem to have reaped a bonanza from El Nino, which provided an abundance of food-filled wetlands at just the precise time wading bird parents were raising perpetually hungry offspring. About 18,000 pairs of white ibis nested in the Tampa Bay system in 1998, double the amount that National Audubon Society sanctuary manager Rich Paul generally considers a good year.

In addition to the record numbers of ibis, the flamboyantly feathered roseate spoonbill also fared well. Nesting pairs in Tampa Bay increased from 140 pairs to 185 pairs -- a tally that Paul says has not been seen in the bay since the 1870s!

Paul suspects that the increase may be due to a migration northward of birds that typically nest in the southern Everglades and Florida Bay. Because nesting season typically begins in December in those areas, he said, birds there were attempting to nest during the worst of the El Nino rains. When those nests failed, he said, some of the birds may have come to Tampa Bay and tried again at exactly the right time, when rainfall had declined and prey was concentrated in wetlands that were finally drying out.

Water quality in Tampa Bay is typically at its best during the cool winter months. As the after-effects of El Nino flush out of the bay and rainfall remains at low or normal levels, scientists are already seeing signs of improvement, However, they caution that it may take several more months -- or even up to two years of "normal" weather conditions -- before the bay is completely recovered.

"I was excited to see that the seagrass did as well as it did (in 1998)," said Johansson "The real test will be in the next year or so, as any long-term impacts become noticeable."

Private sector partners in TBEP's Nitrogen Management Consortium were recognized for their contribution in reducing nitrogen pollution in Tampa Bay at a special ceremony on September 23 at the CF Industries facility at the Port of Tampa.

Attending the event were members of TBEP's Management and Policy Boards; industry representatives; elected officials and candidates for state and local offices; and citizen-members of the East Tampa Bay Community Advisory Panel.

The program began with a press conference led by Dr. Richard Garrity, head of the Southwest Florida's office of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Chair of TBEP's Policy Board. Dr. Garrity praised the Consortium's work as a national model for successful private-public environmental partnerships.

Former Gov. Bob Martinez then addressed the audience, relating how much Tampa Bay has improved in recent years and reinforcing his ongoing support for continued efforts to improve water quality and restore damaged habitats.

Also speaking were top executives with three industries that have been actively involved in the consortium; CF Industries, Cargill Fertilizer and IMC-Agrico Company. Vice Presidents Judge Holmes of CF Industries, Gray Gordon of Cargill, and Lee Thurner of IMC-Agrico each presented their perspective on the Consortium's role in restoring and protecting Tampa Bay. The local government perspective was provided by Jake Stowers, Assistant County Administrator for Pinellas and co-chair of the Consortium. National insight into the significance of the Consortium was supplied by Darrell Brown, chief of the Coastal Management Branch for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Following the press conference, participants embarked on a bus tour highlighting pollution control improvements implemented by CF Industries, Cargill and IMC-Agrico. At each facility, technical experts from each company pointed out operating and structural improvements implemented at their facilities. Participants then returned to CF's waterfront dock for an informal lunch provided by CF -- scenic views of the bay included! The Nitrogen Management Consortium is a precedent-setting partnership of TBEP's local government and regulatory partners, as well as key industries bordering the bay. The Consortium worked for more than a year to develop a management plan for "holding the line" on nitrogen inputs to the bay. Controlling the amount of nitrogen in the bay is a priority goal of the Estuary Program, since excess nitrogen can promote the growth of algae that turns the water cloudy and robs it of oxygen. The plan developed by the Consortium identified specific pollution prevention or reduction projects that each partner will implement in the coming years.

Together, these projects will result in an annual reduction in nitrogen entering the bay of at least 84 tons per year by the year 2000, and potentially as much as 140 tons per year! Changes implemented by the industry partners of the Consortium include stormwater collection and treatment systems, and covered conveyor systems that prevent fertilizer dust (which contains nitrogen) from escaping into the environment. Local governments also are contributing stormwater treatment projects, along with land acquisition, habitat restoration and public education programs.

In addition to participating in development of the Nitrogen Management Action Plan, Consortium members signed a formal Resolution signifying their firm commitment to achieving the nitrogen goals. This historic blueprint for protecting Tampa Bay is the first agreement of its kind achieved between private sector partners and any of the 28 National Estuary Programs.

TBEP extends a heartfelt "THANK YOU" to all who made this event a special occasion, especially the following contributors: CF Industries for hosting the event and providing lunch; Cargill Fertilizer for supplying a tent and chairs for the press conference; The Tampa Port Authority for providing the charter bus for the "windshield tour", and; The Florida Department of Community Affairs' Coastal Management Program staff, for inviting state elected officials and candidates for office.

The costs and benefits of desalination as a water supply solution for the Tampa Bay region were explored during a two-hour public forum hosted by TBEP's Community Advisory Committee in September.

"Is Desal Do-Able?" was moderated by WFLA-TV news anchor Bob Hite and featured a diverse panel of community representatives and impartial experts who addressed the economic and environmental issues associated with seawater desalination. The purpose of the forum was to provide factual information and varying community perspectives on desalination to assist citizens in making an educated decision about the issue. Specific proposals for a desalination facility being considered by regional water managers were not discussed. About 60 people attended the forum, which was held at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council in St. Petersburg. Interested citizens comprised the bulk of the audience, but environmental regulators, office holders, and political candidates also attended. The entire forum was filmed by Time-Warner's Local Origination Programming crew and broadcast throughout October on public and government access stations in Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties.

Speaking "for" desalination was Roy Harrell, former chairman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board (and a former TBEP Policy Board member). Speaking "against" desalination was Pat Kiesylis, chair of the Suncoast Sierra Club. Helen Bennett, an engineer with Black and Veatch, served as the impartial economic expert, while TBEP Senior Scientist Holly Greening addressed environmental concerns. Additionally, David MacIntyre, a consultant for Tampa Bay Water, provided technical insights into desalination and an overview of the selection process being used to evaluate the four desal proposals being considered for the area.

Each panel member gave a brief opening statement summarizing their perspective, followed by a question and answer session. Audience members submitted written questions during this portion, and the most compelling were presented to the panelists. Questions explored such issues as impact to Tampa Bay from the disposal of brine generated by a desalination plant; the cost of desalination and its effect on residential water rates; and how desal would or would not impact growth management efforts.

Community Advisory Committee members, led by CAC Co-Chair Dena Leavengood, worked for six months organizing the forum. CAC members who served on the planning committee included Mike McKinney, Bob Kirn, Laddie Irion and Heidi McCree. The forum was co-sponsored by the Hillsborough Water Issues Coalition and the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough, Manatee, Upper Pinellas, St. Petersburg and Pasco. Those groups also assisted in planning and hosting the event.

TBEP's CAC plans to host one educational forum on a topic of broad community interest every two years. The Desal Forum was the second sponsored by the CAC; the first, on the "Ban The Nets" referendum, was held in 1995.

Following is a sampling of the results of audience surveys turned in by participants in the Desal Forum:

-- 91% of the participants said the forum provided them with NEW information and knowledge regarding desalination
--- 43% of the participants reported a change in attitude or position on the desal issue
-- 83% said the forum encouraged them to become more pro-active within their community
-- To what extent did the participants support desalination as an alternative water source?

55% said Very Much
28% said Yes, but with Reservations
13% said As The Last Resort
5% said Not At All

Editor's Note: In November, the Board of Directors of Tampa Bay Water, the area's wholesale water supplier tapped desalination as one of the options they will pursue to ensure adequate water supplies now and in the future.

The Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP) has released its first progress report highlighting the accomplishments and remaining challenges facing the 28 bays, sounds and lagoons -- including Tampa Bay -- designated "estuaries of national significance."

"Preserving Our Heritage, Securing Our Future: A Report To The Citizens of the Nation" was written to educate citizens about the mission and successes of the National Estuary Program, and to inspire them to greater stewardship of these priceless "gateways to the ocean." The report provides a history of the National Estuary Program, as well as individual fact sheets on each NEP. Florida has more NEPs than any other state: Tampa Bay, Indian River Lagoon, Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

The report emphasizes the problems that all estuaries share -- habitat loss, restriction of freshwater flow and nutrient enrichment, for instance -- as well as the common tools utilized by all NEPs to address those problems, such as ecosystem-based management and community consensus.

Additionally, the report provides inspiring examples of how citizens have become directly involved in protecting and restoring their estuaries -- and, in the process, preserve their own unique cultural heritages -- whether they live in the heart of Louisiana's Cajun Country or along the rocky coast of Maine.

The Association of National Estuary Programs is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible stewardship and a common vision for the preservation of our nation's bays and estuaries.

To obtain a copy of "Preserving Our Heritage, Securing Our Future" contact the TBEP office.

TBEP has a brand-new Internet site chock full of information on Tampa Bay -- including practical tips on how YOU can help protect the bay.

Located at www.tbep.org, the site is designed to provide general information about bay habitats and inhabitants to the public and encourage individual stewardship of the bay's resources. But students and scientists conducting research will also find it useful, especially as the site expands.

New features include color photos of key bay inhabitants, including birds, fish and manatees; an extensive "How You Can Help" section that contains specific bay protection tips for boaters, anglers, waterfront homeowners and other bay users; an electronic order form for TBEP technical and general interest publications; and a summary of the priority goals for bay improvement contained in Charting The Course, the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay. Browsers will be able to e-mail questions about the bay to TBEP staff, add information about their own bay-related events to our calendar, link to other estuary-friendly Web sites, and even discuss bay issues on our community bulletin board!

The site was designed by Christian Marks and his creative colleagues at Magic Bus Enterprises of Dunedin. Christian and his wife are outdoors enthusiasts and fans of Tampa Bay who went above and beyond the call of duty to develop an incredibly attractive, user-friendly site for us.

Please sign on, take a look and let us know what you think. We will be updating the Web site quarterly, and your suggestions will help us make it even more useful in the future.

Waterproof maps showing critical manatee habitats in Tampa Bay are now available free from TBEP. Designed by members of TBEP's Manatee Awareness Coalition, the maps identify areas of the bay where boaters are urged to travel at slow speed to avoid hitting or disturbing Florida's endangered "gentle giants."

The voluntary slow-speed zones designated on the maps generally coincide with waters less than 6 feet deep where seagrasses grow. Manatees graze and nap in these places, but often cannot dive deep enough in such shallow water to escape speeding boats. Because submerged manatees are not easy to see, a boater may strike a manatee (or interrupt its feeding) without even knowing it.

Although manatees inhabit Tampa Bay year-round, the population increases dramatically from November through March, when animals from throughout West Central Florida congregate in the bay to be near the warm-water outfalls of power plants. As warm-blooded mammals, manatees suffer from hypothermia when water temperatures drop, and the heated discharges supplies by power plants provide a critical refuge. During the winter months, as many as 200 manatees may gather in the bay, crowding into the warm-water outfalls during cold periods and venturing out as necessary to feed in the shallow grass flats that hug the bay shoreline.

The slow-speed zones were developed by the Manatee Protection Strategies Task Force, an alliance of boaters, scientists, environmentalists and marine industry representatives that worked for more than a year on a manatee protection plan for Tampa Bay. The group concluded that an aggressive education program was preferable to additional regulations on boating usage of the bay.

That education program is being coordinated by an offshoot group, the Manatee Awareness Coalition, which includes members of the original Task Force, as well as teachers, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and others. Production of maps showing the voluntary slow-speed zones was the first priority of the new group.

Entitled "Look Out Below! Where Seagrasses Grow, Manatees Go," the map is designed as a companion to TBEP's popular Boater's Guide to Tampa Bay. In addition to identifying the recommended slow-speed zones, the maps also provide general tips for boaters on co-existing with manatees and explain the difference between the various regulatory zones that have been established to protect manatees.

For information about the Manatee Awareness Coalition, or to obtain a slow-speed map of Tampa Bay, write or call the TBEP office.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council recently submitted the required paperwork to allow authorization by the state Legislature of a special license plate to benefit the Tampa Bay Estuary.

The packet, including more than 11,000 signatures in support of the license plate, seeks approval for a specialty tag featuring a tarpon - a popular sportfish that is making a comeback in Tampa Bay. The tag was designed by St. Petersburg artist and charter fishing guide Russ Sirmons. If approved by the Legislature this spring, the license tag could be available early in the year 2000 for a $17 charge -- of which $15 will come back directly to Tampa Bay! We believe the Tampa Bay tag could raise $150,000 in the first year of availability, and an average of $300,000 annually in subsequent years -- all of which will be spent locally. The proposed revenue allocation is as follows:

• 70% to finance implementation of Charting The Course, the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay. License plate revenues will be used to supplement, not replace, existing bay restoration funds.
• 20%, or not more than $50,000, to support the Agency on Bay Management (ABM), a Bayside advisory group of scientists, industrial, commercial and recreational interests, local governments and citizens. ABM is coordinated by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
• At least 5% to finance public education initiatives through the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Bay Mini-Grants Program, which currently provides up to $5,000 each to community groups and schools for projects that promote stewardship of the bay.
• A maximum of 5% for marketing of the Tampa Bay Estuary license plate.

No dollars generated by the license plate will be used for administering the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.

License tags promoting environmental themes have been very popular in Florida, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all specialty plate revenues in 1997, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Sales of specialty plates have increased more than 11 percent in the last three years alone.

Please let your state senator and representatives know that you support the Tampa Bay License Plate!

By now, you've probably noticed that we are missing something -- specifically, the "National" in our name. That's because on October 1, 1998, the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program became an independent entity, governed by our local partners. To reflect our new status as a truly regional alliance, we are now known simply as the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. But while our name may have changed, our purpose remains the same -- to implement a long-term, cost-effective and resource-oriented management plan for the bay we all share and in which, now, we are truly all stakeholders.