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Restore Circulation and Provide Ecological Enhancement in the Ft. DeSoto Park Aquatic Habitat Mgmt Area, Project # MX974335
Introduction: Fort DeSoto Park, at the tip of Pinellas County and the entrance to Tampa Bay, attracts 2.5 to 3.0 million visitors per year. During the park’s development in the late 1950's and early 1960's, the main island was connected to the smaller islands by dredging and filling two causeways, one to provide access to the mainland and the other to create a maintenance area and Park Manager residence. The creation of the causeways cut off circulation between the back bays, restricting flow and reducing water exchange.
Objective: To restore circulation to the inner portion of the bays that were severed during the dredging and filling activities that occurred in the late 1950's. Restored circulation patterns will lead to improvement in water quality parameters and healthier seagrass and faunal communities. The improved health and viability of seagrasses will result in continued seasonal uptake of nutrients and sediment trapping instead of adding pollutant loads to the water body due to decaying seagrasses.
Project description: To restore circulation to the inner portion of the bays that were severed during the dredging and filling activities that occurred in the late 1950's. Restored circulation patterns will lead to improvement in water quality parameters and healthier seagrass and faunal communities. The improved health and viability of seagrasses will result in continued seasonal uptake of nutrients and sediment trapping instead of adding pollutant loads to the water body due to decaying seagrasses.
