UF Collaborates with Ocean Conservancy to Research Discharge in Tampa Bay
Gainesville, Fla. – Scientists in the University of Florida’s newly established Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS) and collaborators from the Ocean Conservancy are researching and tracking the ecological effects of the Piney Point reservoir leak into Tampa Bay.
Over the past week, millions of gallons of wastewater were discharged into Tampa Bay, which could cause algal blooms among other effects, leading to the depletion of marine life.
The collaborative effort will identify where critical research gaps exist in current plans. Since the formation of the partnership Elise Morrison, Ph.D., an environmental engineering sciences assistant professor, in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment (ESSIE) has collected samples to analyze per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) substances and any other emerging contaminants. Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., an environmental engineering sciences assistant professor in ESSIE, plans to support the Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay Estuary programs with their assessment of the changes in macroalgae and seagrass abundance in the water.