The Tampa Bay estuary and watershed is an urban/suburban estuary ecosystem, with more than 2.3 million people living in the three counties that directly border it.
What type of aquatic ecosystem is Tampa Bay?
Tampa Bay formed approximately 6,000 years ago as a brackish drowned river valley type estuary with a wide mouth connecting it to the Gulf of Mexico.
Is Tampa Bay saltwater or freshwater?
Freshwater inflow to Tampa Bay is about 525 billion gallons on an annual basis, with four major rivers (Alafia, Hillsborough, Little Manatee, and Manatee Rivers) contributing about 70%-85% of this. Salinity generally ranges over 25-38 ppt in Lower Tampa Bay, nearest the mouth of the bay.
Is Tampa Bay an estuary?
As Florida’s largest open-water estuary, Tampa Bay harbors a rich and diverse assemblage of plants and animals, along with a rapidly growing human population that has made the region the second largest metropolitan area in the state.
What ecosystems are in Hillsborough County?
Hillsborough County contains natural aquatic, woodland, and wetland environments that provide numerous ecological benefits to their communities such as water filtration and pollution control, flood protection, and habitat for flora and fauna.
Why is Tampa Bay considered an estuary?
Approximately 6,000 years ago, Tampa Bay formed as a brackish drowned river valley type estuary with a wide mouth connecting it to the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to that time, it was a large fresh water lake, possibly fed by the Florida Aquifer through natural springs.
What is Tampa Bay known for?
The Tampa Bay region is most well known for its’ beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, world class theme parks, 3 professional sports teams, and year-round hot, humid weather which includes plenty of intense summer thunderstorms.
Does Tampa have a lot of sharks?
For example, are there sharks in Tampa Bay? There are about a dozen species of sharks that live in and around Tampa Bay. In fact, Tampa Bay is known as one of the most shark-dense areas in the world. That said, there’s not a lot of need to worry when swimming or boating in Tampa Bay: shark attacks are very, very rare.
Why is Tampa Bay Water Brown?
Weber says the brownish, smelly water is from an algae bloom in the Hillsborough River, which is the city’s water source. The bloom is due to low water levels caused by drought. When water levels are low, sunlight reaches closer to the river’s bottom, where fertilizer runoff is plentiful during the spring.
What do you call a person from Tampa?
But when it comes down to it, he says there are really only three options— Tampan, Tampanian or Tampeno. Nunez is hoping council members will make a proclamation and give Tampa residents an official name. Most agree Tampan is out. Nunez is personally pushing for Tampeno.
Are sharks in Tampa Bay?
About a dozen shark species frequent Tampa Bay. Tenants include hammerheads, bonnetheads, nurse sharks, blacktips, lemon sharks and bull sharks to name a few. Sharks migrate in and out of Florida’s waters each year.
Are there alligators in Tampa Bay?
Sawgrass Lake Park in Pinellas County is one of the best places for viewing alligators at a safe distance. Visitors can walk on the elevated boardwalk and tower to see lots of Florida animals while still keeping a safe distance.
What is considered Tampa Bay?
The Tampa Bay Area encompasses the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, and the entirety of Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. The Tampa Bay Partnership, a partnership of counties, also includes Hernando, Pasco, Manatee, Citrus, Sarasota, and Polk counties in their definition of the Tampa Bay Area.
Why is the Hillsborough River so dirty?
Gone unchecked for decades, the environmental degradation of the Hillsborough River was exacerbated by Tampa’s high population growth, brought on by the cigar industry boom, which outpaced the system’s capabilities.
Is the Hillsborough River safe to swim in?
The overall water quality of the Hillsborough River is considered good. The water in the river is tested periodically by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County.
How many beaches are in Hillsborough County?
Its 400 square miles are fed by the Hillsborough, Little Manatee and Alafia rivers and more than a 100 small tributaries.
Florida Coastal Access Guide Quick Links.
| Hillsborough at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Sandy Beaches | 2.1 miles |
| Public Accesses | 1 |
| Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail | 19 sites |
What body of water is in Tampa FL?
Tampa Bay, arm of the Gulf of Mexico, indenting the west coast of Florida, U.S., covering about 400 square miles (1,000 square km). The bay, shaped roughly like a crescent some 40 miles (65 km) long, is partly sheltered from the gulf on the west by the Pinellas Peninsula.
Where are estuaries found in Florida?
The estuary, which lies along the northern end of the Gulf Coast side of the Ten Thousand Islands at the western edge of the Everglades ecosystem, is an important habitat for threatened species such as the Florida panther.
Is it Tampa or Tampa Bay?
While you may have heard Tampa and Tampa Bay used interchangeably, there’s just a little different you should know — Tampa is the biggest city in the greater metropolitan area of Tampa Bay, and the whole metro area consists of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the four surrounding counties.
Why is Tampa Bay called the lightning?
The Tampa Bay Lightning joined the NHL in 1992. The team name came from Tampa’s status as the “Lightning Capital of North America.” The Lightning thrilled the home fans by routing Chicago 7-3 in the first game in franchise history, but finished their debut season with just 53 points.
Does it ever snow in Tampa Florida?
(WFLA) — Snow in Tampa Bay? Yes, it does happen, but it is extremely rare. The temperature may have felt like it could’ve snowed this week, but the last time there were snow showers in Tampa Bay was 45 years ago.