Old Tampa Bay Tidal Circulation Water Quality Improvements

Across the United States as well as globally, larger regional projects with multi-disciplinary naturebased components are gaining acceptance and popularity in lieu of traditional project by project stormwater management or as a compliment to green infrastructure programs. Rather than focus on one aspect of water, such as just flood hazard mitigation, these types of projects can incorporate benefits across a wide spectrum of improving habitat, water quality, eco-tourism, recreation, carbon sequestration water supply and recharge and climate change resiliency. In this paper, regional projects in Tampa Bay that focus on water quality and seagrass improvement in lieu of traditional stormwater approaches will be highlighted. Specifically, Atkins and FDOT established a new tidal connection through the SR 60/Courtney Campbell Causeway to improve water quality north of the causeway and significantly improved water quality and ecological conditions that are conducive to seagrass recovery.