Tropical Storm Debby devastated turtle nests, degraded Sarasota Bay water quality

Tropical Storm Debby significantly degraded water quality in Sarasota Bay and likely wiped out nearly half of the known sea turtle nests on area beaches, scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium said in a report released Thursday.

Questions also remain as to whether the immediate impacts over days to weeks will have longer-term ramifications for these ecosystems in the months and years to come.

“Storm events like Debby can have profound effects on our coastal environments,” said Dr. Emily Hall, Manager of Mote's Ocean Acidification and Chemical and Physical Ecology Research Programs.

Mote’s initial analyses after the storm found several immediate issues, including an increase in turbidity and water color, indicating an increase in substances such as dissolved organic matter and particulate matter in the water.

Both of which were likely caused by massive amounts of stormwater resulting from the intense rainfall in the Sarasota Bay watershed.