Category: Coasts & Marine

Five Years Underwater — How a Community Helped Track Seagrass Loss in the Charlotte Harbor Estuary

by Kate Rose
September 1, 2026

When people think of Charlotte Harbor, they often look at the surface… and may or may not be disappointed by the often-brown water they see. Although this color is natural and results from staining by plant material (think tea), it may give ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Research,
Tags: Algae, Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Eyes On Seagrass, Macroalgae, Seagrass

A Comprehensive Look at Ctenophores in Charlotte Harbor

by Emma Van Gheem
August 14, 2026

If you've ever taken a stroll along the shoreline in Charlotte Harbor, you may have noticed dozens or even hundreds of clear, gelatinous organisms drifting just beneath the water's surface. During certain times of the year, they can appear in ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Bioluminescence, Charlotte County, CharlotteHarbor, CoastalEcosystems, CombJellies, Ctenophores, Estuary, GulfCoast, Marine Invertebrates, MarineLife, MnemiopsisLeidyi, SeaWalnut, SouthwestFlorida

Oh, Poop! Is that what I think it is?!

by Kate Rose
July 14, 2023

In recent years, Charlotte Harbor (and the Southwest coast of Florida in general) has seen the periodic episodes of floating grey and brown carpet-like blobs. Their appearance, and the fact that they sometimes have a strong smell, gives the ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Algae, Charlotte Harbor, Florida Sea Grant, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, Harmful Algal Blooms, Nuisance, Seagrass, Water, Water Quality

FL101 Summer Webinar Series

by Paul Schumaker
June 14, 2023

Did you just move to Florida and are feeling in over your head? Or maybe you’ve been living here your whole life and have some questions about your local environment? Tune into the Florida 101 Summer Webinar series. Designed to be viewed during ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Charlotte County, Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Education, Educational, Florida, Florida Sea Grant, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, Hurricane-related, Hurricanes, Native, Nutrition, Nutritious, Seafood

The State of Charlotte Harbor Estuary Following Hurricane Ian

by Kate Rose
October 28, 2022

It has been a month since Hurricane Ian made landfall in the state of Florida and as some of the adrenaline starts to wear-off people have begun asking, “What impacts is the storm going to have on water quality going forward? Are we doomed ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Bacteria Monitoring, Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Fish Kill, Florida Sea Grant, Hurricane Ian, Red Tide

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