Lido Beach closed to the public until further notice

Boating safety alert: FWC urges caution following Hurricane Helene

For Tampa Bay, Helene was the worst storm in a century

In living memory, plenty of major hurricanes have threatened this region before decimating other places, and plenty of unassuming tropical storms punched above their weight.

But for Tampa, St. Petersburg and every other waterfront community here, Hurricane Helene’s impact is unmatched since 1921. 

To make that determination, the Tampa Bay Times analyzed historical storm data, surge readings, building footprints in flood zones and government accounts of damage and death.

Helene’s deadly cocktail — comprising ingredients that are each familiar to past Gulf storms — brewed record surge and historic damage. Even while the storm’s eye stayed 100 miles off shore.

Here’s how it happened.

‘Flood Hub’ director: Flooding will continue unless Fla. stormwater systems are updated

On Thursday, Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene hit the Big Bend area of Florida around 11:00 p.m.

The category 4 storm has left flood victims along the Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S. with a death toll that has reached 179 people as of Wednesday.

Even though Pinellas County received less rainfall than North Florida, more than 500 water rescues were completed during Helene.

High flood waters left people west of U.S. 19 along the Gulf Coast completely inundated with flood water.

But it wasn’t rainfall that caused the flooding, it was storm surge and high winds.

“The real problem for those in Tampa Bay, is when we have a tremendous amount of storm surge caused by the storm itself pushing water into the bay, but we also have a tremendous amount of rain on the land at the same time that is trying to make its way to the ocean,” Dr. Tom Frazer said. “That water that falls on the land has nowhere to go.”

Frazer is the executive director of the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science.

Florida DOH urges everyone to be aware of health risks associated with flooding

Helene reopened Midnight Pass, but for how long?

Volunteers with shovels are trying to reshape the inlet that closed 40 years ago in an effort to continue the tidal exchange of water, which was restored by the hurricane.

Sometimes Mother Nature stitches a silver lining in a blanket of devastation, and she eventually always takes back what belongs to her.

And now a group of volunteers armed with shovels are trying to help her keep it.

Only weeks after the Sarasota County Commission instructed staff to investigate a legislative solution to permit the reopening of Midnight Pass, nature took care of the job.

At least temporarily.

Raging storm surge whipped up by Hurricane Helene cut a swath through the former inlet between Siesta and Casey keys, closed under considerable controversy in 1983 when two property owners filled it in, cutting off the exchange of water between the Gulf of Mexico and the inland waterway resulting in decades of poor water quality in Little Sarasota Bay.

Save the Date! Second Annual BayFest will be held on November 2nd

Federal judge backs the EPA in a Florida water quality dispute

The lawsuit came after a record 1,100 manatees died in 2021 in Florida, many because a lack of seagrass — a key food source — led to starvation. The most deaths, 358, were in Brevard County, which includes a large part of the Indian River Lagoon.

In a case that started after a dramatic increase in manatee deaths, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit aimed at requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take another look at water-quality standards in the Indian River Lagoon.

U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza last week issued a 23-page decision that sided with the EPA in a lawsuit filed in 2022 by the Save the Manatee Club, the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife.

The lawsuit came after a record 1,100 manatees died in 2021 in Florida, many because a lack of seagrass — a key food source — led to starvation. The most deaths, 358, were in Brevard County, which includes a large part of the Indian River Lagoon.

The environmental groups, represented by the Earthjustice legal organization, sought to require the EPA to undertake what is known as “consultation” with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service about water-quality standards in the lagoon. That would include looking again at standards approved in 2013.

Florida developed the standards, which needed approval from the EPA under the federal Clean Water Act, Mendoza wrote.

In 2021, the environmental groups notified the EPA that they intended to sue because the standards did not adequately protect manatees, which are classified by the federal government as a threatened species.The groups said the EPA needed to start a consultation process with the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Later, the groups also called for consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service because of concerns about threatened or endangered species such as green turtles, loggerhead turtles and smalltooth sawfish, according to Mendoza’s ruling.

The EPA, however, did not move forward with consultation. That resulted in the lawsuit, which alleged violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.

“Manatees and other ESA-protected species in the Indian River Lagoon are suffering and will continue to suffer until water quality in the lagoon improves,” the lawsuit said. “Plaintiffs therefore ask this court to compel EPA to reinitiate consultation with the (Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries) services to protect ESA-listed species that depend on the lagoon’s fragile habitat, as the Endangered Species Act requires.”

But Mendoza wrote last week that the EPA argued the problems stemmed from Florida’s enforcement of the water-quality standards — not the standards themselves. Siding with the EPA, Mendoza said he needed to look at whether “new information reveals effects” of the 2013 standards that are different than what had previously been considered.

“Plaintiffs have not shown that the Indian River Lagoon’s current impairment constitutes new information on the effects of the water quality standards because the parties agree that the 2013 water quality standards have not been achieved by Florida,” the Orlando-based judge wrote.

Also, he wrote that the environmental groups did not show that the EPA’s actions “were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.”

The ruling came after Mendoza last month refused to dismiss a separate lawsuit alleging that Florida has violated the Endangered Species Act because of sewage discharges into the Indian River Lagoon that have helped lead to manatee deaths.

Also last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed expanding designations of “critical habitat” for Florida manatees in various parts of the state.

After the record number of deaths in 2021, Florida had 800 manatee deaths in 2022, before the number dropped to 555 in 2023, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. The state had 462 manatee deaths this year as of Sept. 20.

U.S. plan doubles the acres designated as critical habitat for manatees in Florida

The revised Florida map adds Silver Springs, Tampa Bay and Withlacoochee Bay.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday announced a plan to more than double the critical habitat designated for manatees in Florida to 1.9 million acres.

The proposed revisions also include a new designation of 78,121 acres in Puerto Rico for the Antillean manatee.

In Florida, the lands affected are 34% federal, 57% state, 7% local government and 2% private. Federal permits or funding within the habitat has to be reviewed by the Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent harm to the species.

Nikki Colangelo, a supervisor with the agency in Florida, said the maps benefit from decades of information gathering and data about manatees.

"We've learned a lot about the areas that they're really using and are most critical to their their survival and conservation," she said. The maps represent "the physical and biological features that are essential for their conservation."

The Florida map adds Silver Springs, Tampa Bay and Withlacoochee Bay.

FWC Commissioners approve amendment making derelict vessel removals easier for local governments

South Jetty repairs are underway

Florida’s freshwater supplies can’t keep up with population growth

The Sunshine State could be facing a significant water shortage as early as next year, according to a report from the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

According to the EDR report which was published in June – to maintain the status quo, Florida would need to invest almost $1.7 billion into critical infrastructure projects through 2040, to avoid a significant water supply shortage.

The report notes that EDR examined projects that implemented recovery and prevention strategies for minimum flows and water levels of water bodies and aquifers and projects that benefit natural systems.

EDR found that the expenditures for these projects — which exclude Everglades conservation and restoration costs — are estimated to be around $1.58 billion, with a state share of $234.77 million. According to the report, addressing supply shortages and natural systems would need an investment of $3.27 billion between 2020 and 2040, with a state share of $561 million.

Florida TaxWatch released commentary on EDR’s report, stating Florida is “disjointed and inconsistent” with its selection process for funding water projects. The commentary also points out the 281 water-related member projects identified as budget “turkeys” which totaled $410.3 million in the fiscal year 2024-25 General Appropriations Act.

Myakka wetlands showcase a filtration system at work

By removing impurities, filtration by wetlands improves downstream water quality.

After a short closure due to flooding associated with Hurricane Debby, Myakka River State Park reopened to the public.

As is typical during the rainy season, Myakka's many wetlands continue to act as holding areas for large quantities of surface water. With countless wading birds and American alligators greatly enjoying their expanded wetland habitats, it's an especially magical time to visit the park.

In addition to containing water and supporting biodiversity, wetlands provide another important function. By slowing down the flow of floodwaters, they filter out impurities.

Especially during heavy rain events, many pollutants, such as soil particles, fertilizers and pesticides, are washed from developed areas and carried overland in watersheds to water bodies. Importantly, floodwaters contained by wetlands get filtered as nutrients are stored and absorbed by plants or microorganisms, while sediment has time to settle. Wetlands are therefore often referred to as "nature's kidneys".

As Florida faces water shortage, watchdog group urges state to use a more long-term planning process

To avoid a projected water shortage that state data indicates could start as soon as next year, Florida must adopt a more coordinated, comprehensive system for vetting, choosing and managing water projects, per a new Florida TaxWatch report.

The new report doubles down on the government watchdog group’s ongoing plea for the state to use a longer-term planning process for projects meant to improve water quality and supply. Right now, Florida’s way of approving such projects is largely “catch-as-can,” lacking consistency and accountability, according to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro.

“Yeah, you get the project funded, but really, does it make a difference? Does it really have the intended impact?” Calabro said. “Can you hold the organization or the entity that gets the $5-$6 million accountable, for getting the job done on time, within budget?”

It’s difficult to impossible to answer such questions without having an objective, standardized plan of work to refer back to, Calabro said.

“You can't do that if you just go: ‘Hey, I got a good project here. Hey, I got a good project there. Hey, I've got a powerful legislator who's chairing this committee now, and may not be next year,’” Calabro said. “The easy way out is generally not the best way out.”

Florida Dept. of Health warning of mosquito-borne illness in many Florida counties

Sarasota Bay is still recovering from Hurricane Debby, which dropped record-breaking rain

After Debby swept through Sarasota Bay as a tropical storm, the water was murky, contained more nutrients, and had lower oxygen levels.

Debby set a new one-day record for rainfall as a tropical storm on Aug. 4 of more than 11 inches at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

Emily Hall, manager of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Ocean Acidification and Chemical and Physical Ecology Research Programs, said Sarasota Bay was overloaded with the rainfall — not only from tidal creeks, but stormwater pipes.

She said Sarasota Bay was really murky after the storm.

"This was probably the some of the darkest water there in the bay that I've seen," Hall said.

Elevated turbidity reduces the amount of of sunlight that’s able to penetrate through bay waters.

Hall’s team also recorded higher levels of the nutrients of nitrate and ammonia, which could feed aquatic bacteria and algae.

Plus, they found dangerously low dissolved oxygen levels in North Sarasota Bay and near Stickney Point Bridge.

This all could be a problem for marine life.

"We can start to see death happening if they're long-term effects. If it's a short, quick, little thing, sometimes it's just a quick little stressor, and animal organisms and other things can overcome it,” Hall said.

Hall's team is routinely testing the water quality but says it could take six months to a year for it to fully recover.

Record-breaking rain events, like Debby, could be the new norm because of human-driven climate change.

More water evaporates from warmer oceans, and that could lead to intense precipitation.

The resulting runoff could continue to damage water bodies.

"If there's too many nutrients going in at too quick of a time, it is definitely possible that we could be heading in that direction," Hall said.

Population growth has led to more development, which Hall said is accelerating the runoff problem.

A solution would be to keep natural systems alive: Wetlands, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds can help to clean the water and the overall environment.

“We can still have population growth, we could still have development," Hall said, "but you have to really make sure that we're also keeping these other things alive and healthy to help protect that influx.”