Due to large changes in seasonal rainfall, the tidal rivers of Tampa Bay contain varying amounts of fresh water, brackish water, and bay water with higher salinity year round. The Tampa Bay seawater desalination plant is an alternative drought-proof water supply that provides up to 25 million gallons of drinking water per day to the region. Tampa Bay's saltwater provides sustainably collected living rock cultivated in ocean aquaculture and hand-harvested live sand for marine lovers. These natural ingredients are the building blocks of the stability of marine ecosystems.
When someone mentions “salinity” and “water” in the same sentence, most people think of the ocean, the Gulf, or coastal bays. However, in a nutshell, “salinity” refers to the amount of salts dissolved in water, any type of water, and that includes fresh water. In general terms, the salts that constitute salinity in the oceans are the same as those in lakes and streams; the amount (concentration) of these salts is, of course, much greater in the oceans. Use this map to quickly view recent water quality results in Tampa Bay recreational areas.
Nearly half of the mangroves that once surrounded Tampa Bay have been replaced by seawalls and housing developments. A ship of this size crosses vast oceans with ease, but its ability to maneuver and stop is greatly reduced when entering the narrow confines of ports such as Tampa Bay. The desalination plant is located next to Tampa Electric's (TECO) Big Bend power plant, which already draws and discharges up to 1.4 billion gallons of seawater a day from Tampa Bay, using it as cooling water for the power plant. They are a unique habitat in Tampa Bay that houses sponges, soft corals, algae and living rocks, as well as different reef fish such as red grouper, black bass, gray snapper and common snapper. Tampa Bay is a critical point for migratory species that stop to refuel on their routes between North America and Central and South America.
The abundance of natural areas in the Tampa Bay watershed offers countless trails for hiking enthusiasts. Tampa Bay is home to several ports; one of them, the Port of Tampa, is consistently among the 10 largest in the country in terms of commercial activity. The term Tampa Bay is often used as an abbreviation to refer to all or part of the Tampa Bay area, comprising many towns and cities in several counties surrounding the large body of water. The Tampa Bay watershed and its diverse habitats make the area a year-round playground for birdwatchers.
Due to large changes in seasonal rainfall, the tidal rivers of Tampa Bay contain varying amounts of fresh water, brackish water, and bay water with higher salinity throughout the year. At this point, before it enters and mixes with the water in the bay, the salinity is already, on average, between 1.0 and 1.5 percent higher than that of the water in Tampa Bay. However, Tampa Bay Water faces numerous risks derived from climate change, such as more frequent and intense storms, floods and the above-mentioned threat of saltwater intrusion. Despite environmental pressures stemming from the region's growth and development, Tampa Bay continues to attract a remarkable variety and number of birds.
The shores of Tampa Bay were home to Weeden Island culture and then Safety Harbor culture for thousands of years...
