Very few samples were collected and analyzed this week. Samples were collected from Floridatown, Blackwater River (@ Milton), and Bayou Texar only. Salinities seemed a bit high at both Floridatown and Bayou Texar. Dissolved oxygens are fine. Bacteria levels are fine.
High levels of Karenia brevis (red tide) were reported along shore and offshore of Bay and Gulf counties (Panama City and Port St. Joe). High levels were also reported for Manatee, Sarasota, and northern Charlotte counties. Background levels of red tide were detected offshore of Franklin County in the panhandle, Levy County in the big bend, and Lee County in SW Florida. Red tide was sampled for in Escambia County but was not found. It was not sampled for in Santa Rosa County this week. The FWC fish kill database is still down and so we are not aware of any fish kills in the area at this time
UWF will survey for lionfish inshore this weekend. Will report next week.
There has been concern about cases of Vibrio infection. We have posted an article about this bacteria which you can find at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2015/07/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-vibrio-bacteria-in-gulf-waters/
Health Advisories – 4 reported for October
Fish Kills – none for October
Red Tide – none for October
Inshore Lionfish – none for October
Here are the numbers…
Oct 9, 2015
FDEP Data
Body of Water Temp (F) Salinity (ppt) DO (mg/L) ENT ECHD
Floridatown 71 20.0 6.3 58
Blackwater River 69 1.4 6.7 68 (coliform)
Bayou Texar 71 21.4 7.7 14 GOOD
Bayou Chico ND
Bayou Grande ND
Lower Perdido Bay ND
Upper Perdido Bay ND
Wayside Gulf Breeze ND
HIGH SCHOOL DATA – FOR SEPTEMBER
Washington High sampled Texar on Sep 1 and 15.
Water temperatures declined over those two weeks
Salinities were between 10 – 20 ppt
Dissolved oxygen read 3.8 mg/L at station #1 (12th avenue bridge) on Sep 1 but increased
Station #1 had high nitrogen levels all month (1400 – 1800 µg/L)
Stations #3, #4 (near Bayview Park) were 0 µg/L
There was a significant increase in phosphorus at #3 (Oyster Barn boat ramp) on Sep 1
There was a significant increase in chlorophyll a at #2 (Hyde Park road)
There was a significant decrease in water clarity in the bayou during September
West Florida sampled Upper Perdido Bay between Jan-Apr 2015 – no report so far this semester
Saw a significant decrease in total nitrogen in the spring
Saw a significant decrease in total phosphorus in the spring
Chlorophyll a was much higher in Jan than anytime during the spring
Escambia High – no report at this time
ENT – Enterococcus bacteria; an individual sample should not be more than 104 colonies / 100ml
Fecal Coliform – an individual sample should not be more than 800 colonies / 100ml of sample
DO – dissolved oxygen should be 3.0 mg/L or higher
ECHD – Escambia County Health Department (Enterococcus bacteria)
Good 0 – 35 colonies / 100ml
Moderate 36 – 104 colonies / 100ml
Poor +104 colonies / 100ml
FDEP – Florida Department of Environmental Protection
For more information on local water visit:
http://escambia.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/beaches/index.html
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