The Enterococcus bacteria count for Texar this week is 160 colonies / 100ml – another health advisory has been issued. Upper Perdido Bay is more freshwater and would use the fecal coliform values. For FC the number of colonies / 100ml should not be over 800… the count was 718 colonies this week. All other bodies of water sampled look good. Again they do not sample all waters during the winter months.

 

The 2015 Water Quality Update Report is ready! I will post a short version on our website next week but you can request a copy by emailing me at roc1@ufl.edu

 

RED TIDE

Background levels of Karenia brevis did show up in a sample from Okaloosa County. No samples were taken in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. The SW coast of Florida is still experiencing red tide.

 

FISH KILLS for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties

There are no reports of fish kills for the month of January!

 

HEALTH ADVISORIES

There was a health advisory issued for Bayou Texar – ENT = 160

 

WATER TEMPERATURES

All waters are remain between 50-59°F

 

SALINITY

Salinities continue to run increase slowly.

 

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

Only one reading was recorded – Bayou Texar – and it was fine at 9.5 mg/L

 

NUTRIENTS

No updates on nutrients this week. You can read about nutrients from 2015 from local waters in the 2015 Water Quality Report. Again, just let me know if you would like a copy. Roc1@ufl.edu

UWF INSHORE LIONFISH SURVEY:

UWF has not begun their lionfish surveys yet

 

Here are the numbers…

 

FDEP

Water Body Temp (F) Salinity (ppt) DO(mg/L) ENT bacteria count (colonies/100ml)

 

Texar – 5.8 9.5 160 HEALTH ADVISORY

Chico –

Grande –

Low Perdido 53 13.4 – 2

Up Perdido 54 3.2 – 718 (fecal coliform/freshwater)

Gulf Breeze 54 16.9 – 2

 

ECHD

Bayou Texar – POOR

Sanders Beach / Bayou Chico – Moderate

EMSE – MARINE SCIENCE ACADEMY – TEXAR (Jan 15, 2016)

Station Total Nitrogen Total Phosphate Chlorophyll Turbidity (FIU

12^th Ave – 1600 0.2 5

Hyde Park – 2600 4.2 0

Boat Ramp East – 1900 3.9 11

Dog Beach – 3000 7.1 17

 

 

FLORIDA MICROPLASTICS AWARENESS PROGRAM

Station Number of pieces of microplastic recorded Total

Chimney Park (14), (7) 21

Wayside Park @

Bayou Texar (17), (10) 27

Navy Point (20), (3), (5) 28

Mouth of Escambia

River (6) 6

Bay Fishing Bridge (3) 3

 

 

For more information on local water visit:

http://escambia.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/beaches/index.html

 

http://whs-ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1395816840292&group_id=1395814370227&no_controls=t