Pass

3 out of 3 indicators were rated as PASS.

All three indicators must pass for the bay to be rated as PASS.

Learn more about how this report is created

Summary:

The overall health of Blackburn Bay has remained good in 2014 with two out of three water quality parameters, chlorophyll a and phosphorus, below their associated target levels. Nitrogen concentration remained fairly steady and is in the “Good” range, between target and threshold levels.

Water Quality: All three water quality indicators (chlorophyll a, nitrogen, and phosphorus) were rated as pass (below threshold). The mean for chlorophyll a was calculated as an arithmetic mean and the means for nitrogen and phosphorus were calculated as geometric means (per the Numeric Nutrient Criteria outlined in the Florida Administrative Code, section 62-302.532). The mean chlorophyll a level (0.0043 mg/l) again decreased, keeping it well below the target level of 0.006 mg/l. The mean nitrogen level increased almost imperceptibly from 2013, to 0.4226 mg/l, retaining its “Good” score. Phosphorus concentrations in the bay have remained relatively constant and low, with a mean of 0.0647 mg/l, well below the target (0.170 mg/l) and threshold (0.210 mg/l) levels and earning a score of “Excellent”.

Biotic Indicator: Measurement of the biotic indicator, seagrass, was performed in 2014 by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Total seagrass acreage in Blackburn Bay was measured to be 344 acres. Seagrass acreage continues to slowly increase, but it is still below the target level of 447 acres.

Blackburn Bay

Blackburn Bay

Water Chemistry Ratings

Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a levels are monitored carefully by water resource managers and used by regulatory authorities to determine whether a bay meets the water quality standards mandated by the Clean Water Act. The trend graphs for these indicators are shown below, along with their target and threshold values. A target value is a desirable goal to be attained, while a threshold is an undesirable level which is to be avoided. An individual indicator receives an "Excellent" rating if its mean value is below the target, a "Good" rating if its mean value is above the target but does not exceed the threshold, and a "Caution" rating if the mean value exceeds the threshold. Learn More about these ratings and how they are calculated »

The charts below illustrate the general trend of water quality parameters. They show a six-month running average, which moderates high and low values in the data.

Chart Legend
  • Six-month Moving Average
  • Annual Mean
  • Target
  • Threshold
Excellent

Chlorophyll a

Score: Excellent How was this determined?
Units: ug/l Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 23.87 43.00
Mean 4.31 4.98 4.85204 6.0000000000
Low 1.09 0.20
No. of Samples 58 902
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean
Good

Nitrogen, Total

Units: mg/L Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 0.855 2.205
Mean 0.423 0.18080381 0.3600000000
Low 0.265 0.055
No. of Samples 58 896
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean
Excellent

Phosphorus, Total

Score: Excellent How was this determined?
Units: mg/L Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 0.120 0.530
Mean 0.065 0.102 0.06807457 0.1700000000
Low 0.050 0.050
No. of Samples 58 912
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Dissolved Oxygen

Units: mg/l Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 8.20 11.90
Mean 6.00 6.47 1.14292
Low 3.20 1.60
No. of Samples 48 956
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Apparent Color

Units: PCU Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 70.00 250.00
Mean 11.79 18.97 25.94117
Low 2.00 2.00
No. of Samples 58 912
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

BOD, Biochemical oxygen demand

Units: mg/l Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 1.90 7.10
Mean 0.70 1.07 0.69194
Low 0.50 0.50
No. of Samples 58 801
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Dissolved oxygen saturation

Units: percent (%) Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 115.00 198.00
Mean 87.29 94.69 16.2949
Low 51.00 26.00
No. of Samples 48 956
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Karenia brevis ("red tide")

Units: #/l Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 1000.00 2280000.00
Mean 1000.00 35570.08 179762.23706
Low 1000.00 1000.00
No. of Samples 58 528
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Light Attenuation

Units: K(1/m) Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 2.31 5.03
Mean 0.75 0.86 0.49388
Low 0.35 0.16
No. of Samples 47 794
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Nitrogen, Ammonia + Ammonium as N

Units: ug/l Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 67.00 120.00
Mean 16.02 15.35 13.64607
Low 5.00 5.00
No. of Samples 58 914
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Nitrogen, Kjeldahl

Units: mg/L Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 0.850 2.200
Mean 0.430 0.346 0.17965479
Low 0.260 0.000
No. of Samples 58 913
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Nitrogen, Nitrite + Nitrate as N

Units: mg/L Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 0.008 0.065
Mean 0.005 0.006 0.00456209
Low 0.005 0.005
No. of Samples 58 1234
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

pH

Units: None Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 8.20 8.40
Mean 7.99 7.94 0.18302
Low 7.80 6.10
No. of Samples 48 956
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Salinity

Units: PSS Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 36.20 39.30
Mean 33.07 33.25 4.12842
Low 22.80 5.70
No. of Samples 48 956
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Specific conductance

Units: umho Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 54520.00 58760.00
Mean 50341.46 50563.91 5731.58215
Low 36150.00 10130.00
No. of Samples 48 956
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Temperature, water

Units: deg F Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 86.90 92.84
Mean 76.53 76.41 8.96125
Low 65.84 47.84
No. of Samples 48 956
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Turbidity

Units: NTU Year
2014
Historical
period of record
High 30.00 39.00
Mean 3.81 3.96 3.46434
Low 1.20 0.20
No. of Samples 58 903
  • Six-month
    Moving Average
  • Annual
    Mean

Annual Averages

Indicator Units 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Trend
Dissolved Oxygen mg/l 6.92 6.41 6.11 6.11 6.00
Dissolved oxygen saturation percent (%) 95.81 92.48 89.71 87.79 87.29
Light Attenuation K(1/m) 0.92 0.75 0.88 0.91 0.75
Salinity PSS 32.60 33.44 33.19 31.31 33.07
Turbidity NTU 5.08 4.20 3.83 4.06 3.81

Other Measures of Bay Health

In addition to nutrient levels and chlorophyll concentration, dissolved oxygen levels, and water clarity are also objective indicators of bay health. These have complex interactive cycles which are affected by rainfall, temperature, and tidal action, as well as other factors. High nutrient levels (nitrogen and phosphorus) can stimulate excessive growth of marine algae (indicated by chlorophyll a level), resulting in reduced water clarity (and increased light attenuation) and depleted oxygen levels. Both plants and animals in a bay need oxygen to survive, and the seagrasses which provide food and cover for bay creatures need light for photosynthesis.

Bay Contour Maps (2014)

Contour mapping is one of the best ways to visualize spatial differences in coastal water quality. The interactive map shown below presents monthly data for one selected water quality indicator atop an aerial view of the bay. Choose a different water quality parameter from the list at the top to change the map. Learn More about Water Quality Contour Mapping »

Showing 2014 Monthly Contour Maps for: January
Loading interactive contour map viewer...
Contour Visibility:

Visit the Water Quality Contour Mapping Tool to view and compare monthly water quality contour maps for ten different water quality indicators. In addition, you can generate your own custom maps.

Contour Legend:

  • Less than 1 ug/l
  • 1.0 - 5.9 ug/l
  • 6.0 - 10.9 ug/l
  • 11.0 - 17.9 ug/l
  • Greater than 18 ug/l

Seagrasses

Among the most important habitats in Florida's estuarine environments, seagrass beds are indispensable for the role they play in cycling nutrients, supplying food for wildlife, stabilizing sediments, and providing habitat for juvenile and adult finfish and shellfish. Use the interactive map below to observe the size, density and location of seagrass beds from year to year. The graph shows how the total amount of seagrass in the bay has changed over time. Seagrass calculations are aggregates of patchy and continuous seagrass measurements only. Recordings of attached algae are not included in these summaries.
Learn More about Seagrasses »

Showing Seagrass Coverage for :
Loading interactive seagrass coverage viewer...
Loading interactive chart...
  • Target 447 acres

Visit our Seagrass page to discover the beauty and importance of seagrass habitats, and sign up to help monitor their health.

Impervious Features

Blackburn Bay is located within the Little Sarasota Bay Watershed. View details about the Little Sarasota Bay Watershed »

Rain that falls on land that is in a natural state is absorbed and filtered by soils and vegetation as it makes it way into underground aquifers. However, in developed areas, "impervious surfaces" impede this process and contribute to polluted urban runoff entering surface waters. These surfaces include human infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots that are covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick and stone, as well as buildings and other permanent structures. Soils that have been disturbed and compacted by urban development are often impervious as well. Learn more about Impervious Features »

The Sarasota County Stormwater Environmental Utility (SEU) mapped impervious surfaces in the County in 2014. A map showing impervious surfaces can be viewed using the interactive Sarasota NPDES Viewer.

14% of the land area within the Little Sarasota Bay Watershed is covered by impervious surfaces

Impervious Surface Coverage by Type

Land Use / Land Cover

Land use within a bay's watershed has a major effect on its water quality. In general, less development means better water quality. Land Cover/Land Use classifications categorize land in terms of its observed physical surface characteristics (upland or wetland, e.g.), and also reflect the types of activity that are taking place on it (agriculture, urban/built-up, utilities, etc.). Florida uses as its standard a set of statewide classifications which were developed by the Florida Department of Transportation. Learn More about Land Use and Land Cover »

Blackburn Bay is located within the Little Sarasota Bay Watershed. The chart below shows the land use / land cover characteristics for Little Sarasota Bay Watershed within the boundary of this Water Atlas. View details about the Little Sarasota Bay Watershed »

Acreage and Percentage within each Land Use / Land Cover Category for Little Sarasota Bay Watershed
Land Use Classification 1990 2005 2011 2014 2017 2020 Trend
Urban & Built-up 8,94331.9% 11,83442.2% 12,10243.1% 12,16243.3% 12,77745.5% 13,34347.5%
Agriculture 3,55012.6% 3,22811.5% 3,25811.6% 4,22315% 3,12411.1% 2,83710.1%
Rangeland 8252.9% 1,8226.5% 1,4745.3% 5792.1% 1,2334.4% 8773.1%
Upland Forests 7,09825.3% 3,06610.9% 2,98110.6% 2,7259.7% 2,6879.6% 2,6039.3%
Water 3,42912.2% 4,12314.7% 4,14714.8% 4,17514.9% 4,22715.1% 4,33715.5%
Wetlands 3,49012.4% 3,13311.2% 3,19111.4% 3,22711.5% 3,12111.1% 3,12011.1%
Barren Land 620.2% 180.1% 190.1% 200.1% 60% 60%
Transportation and Utilities 6752.4% 8413% 8923.2% 9523.4% 8983.2% 9483.4%
Land Use Chart

Data Sources

The data sources listed below provided water quality data used to create the report on this page. Not all data sources provided data for every bay, and not every Bay Conditions Report used data from all listed data sources. While some data sources have no data for the scored year, they provided period-of-record (historical high, mean, low) data. Click on a data source name to review its metadata.