Project Summary

1. Project ID
Name	Pensacola Bay Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Program
Region	Gulf of Mexico Region
State	FL
Location	Pensacola Bay System
Date of this update	8/10/00

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project description (100 words or less)

One of the recommendations of the Special Grand Jury that was recently convened to investigate the air and water quality of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties is: State and/or local government monitoring of estuarine systems should be expanded to include sampling, testing and analysis of ambient water quality, sediment and biota. Illogically, FDEP funding from Tallahassee for long-term ambient water quality monitoring has been drastically reduced during the past few years, and the Escambia County Health Department ceased routine monitoring of swimming areas over 3 years ago. As a result of these cutbacks, and the recent heightened public interest in water quality issues, the FDEP Northwest District Ecosystem Restoration Section implemented a Weekly Water Quality Monitoring Program in 1997 to monitor high-use swimming and boating areas in the Pensacola Bay System. The results are published each Friday in the Pensacola News Journal to inform the public about the water quality and swimming conditions at these popular local waters. The data is routinely analyzed by FDEP biologists to determine if there are areas of special concern that may need more intensive analysis or corrective actions. As a result of this analysis, there are presently two publicly funded intensive studies underway, including a sewer collection system installation, that are directly attributable to the data generated by the Weekly Water Quality Monitoring Program.

The Bream Fishermen's Association has been monitoring approximately 80 sites in the Pensacola Bay System for over 20 years. This long-term data is extremely valuable when assessing trends over extended periods of time. Again, illogically, FDEP funding from Tallahassee for this monitoring effort has been canceled. The FDEP Northwest District would like to see this Bream Fishermen's Association Water Quality Monitoring Program continued.

In the early 1970's, FDEP Northwest District biologists conducted a thorough Nutrient Analysis Study of the Pensacola Bay System. With the recent public interest in the water quality and nutrient levels in Pensacola Bay, FDEP Northwest District biologists feel there is a pressing need to repeat the Nutrient Analysis Study in order to compare the present condition of the Bay System with its condition over 20 years ago.

Proposed Project: This proposed Pensacola Bay Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Program will combine the three water quality monitoring programs mentioned above – the Weekly Water Quality Monitoring Program, the Bream Fishermen's Association Water Quality Monitoring Program, and the Pensacola Bay System Nutrient Analysis Study. These three programs, which are presently unfunded, will be coordinated to insure efficiency thereby preventing duplication of effort. Results of this Monitoring Program will continue to be made available to the Pensacola News Journal, radio and television stations to ensure that the public remains well informed and educated about local water quality conditions and issues.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

	 	  Cash	Federal
			Non Federal 	State government
					Local government
					Private industry
					Public interest groups
			Total


	  In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)
	
	  Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)
                

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date:
• Completion date:
• Current stage (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10.Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments