02/08/2021
FYI if your heading to or in that area.
⚠️(RED TIDE - AUGUST 1)⚠️ There is good news & bad news in this red tide update.
GOOD NEWS:
➡️ The karenia brevis (red tide) concentration in the Bay (& Fort Desoto) has decreased considerably over the past two weeks. Could this mean that k. brev has consumed the excess nitrogen dumped during the Piney Point disaster & the Bay can now begin the road to recovery?
BAD NEWS:
➡️ Red tide is expanding along Gulf beaches. 100 miles of coastline from Clearwater Beach down to Boca Grande is now experiencing varying levels of red tide, from low (barely noticeable) to high concentrations (many dead fish & intense respiratory irritation).
➡️ Satellite imagery shows that there are two 12+ mile wide areas of red tide along & offshore of Pinellas County. I expect the area between Honeymoon Island & Madeira Beach to be most impacted by these wide offshore blooms.
➡️ Winds will continue onshore this week bringing dead fish ashore & intense respiratory issues in the more heavily impacted areas.
TODAY'S OBSERVATIONS:
➡️ Caladesi/Clearwater: Many dead fish, moderate respiratory, moderate water color
➡️ Clearwater Beach: Some dead fish, slight respiratory, clear water color
➡️ IRB/Indian Shores: Some dead fish, slight respiratory, moderate water color
➡️ Madeira: Some dead fish, moderate respiratory, moderate water color
➡️ Manatee Beach: Some dead fish, slight respiratory, moderate water color
➡️ Bradenton Beach: Some dead fish, slight respiratory, moderate water color
➡️ Siesta Key: Many dead fish, moderate respiratory, dark water color
➡️ Nokomis: Many dead fish, intense respiratory, dark water color
➡️ Venice: Many dead fish, moderate respiratory, dark water color
➡️ Casperson Beach: Many dead fish, intense respiratory, dark water color
➡️ Boca Grande & south: No dead fish, no respiratory, clear water
➡️ Sanibel & Fort Myers: Good conditions
WIND FORECAST: Wind direction & strength is important as it assists in the direction that red tide drifts, controls respiratory irritation, & influences how many dead fish wash ashore. A strong onshore wind brings the worst conditions to the beaches.
➡️ Mon: Onshore ( WSW 5-10 mph)
➡️ Tue: Onshore ( WSW 10-15 mph)
➡️ Wed: Onshore ( WSW 12-17 mph)
➡️ Thu: Onshore ( WSW 10-15 mph)
➡️ Fri: Onshore ( S 5 mph)
➡️ Sat: Onshore ( S 5 mph)
➡️ Sun: Offshore ( SE 5-10 mph)
BOTTOM LINE:
➡️ I'm really happy to see the Bay possibly begin its road to recovery. Though, red tide at many of the Tampa Bay beaches is still going strong & even expanding. The 12+ mile wide areas of red tide along Pinellas county shores is concerning as it will take longer to disperse & could bring high numbers of dead fish ashore with onshore winds.
➡️ As of this update, the worst red tide conditions exist between Siesta Key down to Manasota Beach, especially near Nokomis.
NOTE:
➡️ Lowering concentrations of karenia brevis in the Bay is great news. Though, I'm hesitant to use middle & lower Tampa Bay for fishing or recreation. There are likely numerous dead fish on the bottom of the Bay which could increase bacteria levels. I'm going to be researching water quality observations, aside from karenia brevis, to see what contaminants could be prevelant from the massive red tide event & remnant pollutants from the Piney Point discharge.
