quality throughout Florida (Hand, Tauxe and Watts 1986) determined 
whether Tampa and Sarasota Bays were meeting their designated uses 
(Figure 1). That report identified poor water quality in Hillsborough 
Bay and its tributaries, eutrophication problems caused by STP effluent 
in Old Tampa Bay, and good water quality in the Little Manatee and 
Manatee Rivers, and Lower Tampa Bay. Sarasota Bay was found to have fair 
to good water quality. [Note: the Florida DER is producing a 1988 
biennial report to EPA with more current findings; the 305(b) Report will 
be available late in 1988]. 
Table 1. Water quality classifications and designated uses of Tampa and 
Sarasota Bays. 
Aquatic 
Class 
Preserves 
OFW* 
Shellfish 
Old Tampa Bay 
II 
Pinellas 
West Side 
Closed 
Hillsborough Bay 
III 
None 
None 
Closed 
Tampa Bay 
II, III 
3 Preserves 
3 Preserves 
Mixed 
Boca Ciega Bay 
II 
All 
All 
Closed 
Sarasota Bay 
II, III 
None 
All** 
Mixed 
* Outstanding Florida waters 
** Except creek mouths 
Data from the HCEPC monitoring program have been used for years to 
develop bay-wise water quality assessments (Boler 1986). The HCEPC 
employs a "general water quality index" comprised of dissolved oxygen, 
chlorophyll a, total coliform, biochemical oxygen demand, total 
phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen,and effective light penetration data. 
A scale is used to generate points for each parameter and points are 
weighted and summed to produce the water quality index. The index is 
computed for each station and values between stations are interpolated 
for graphic presentation. 
General water quality is highest in the lower bay and poorest in 
Hillsborough Bay (Figure 2). Water quality is best in the dry season and 
worst in the wet season (Figure 3). There has been a general improvement 
in water quality throughout the bay since 1975, even when years of 
relatively low rainfall are considered (Figure 4). Improvements in 
Hillsborough Bay are attributed to the City of Tampa’s advanced waste 
treatment plant, and are believed responsible for the colonization of 
shallows along the Interbay Peninsula by seagrasses and rhizophytic 
macroalgae (City of Tampa 1988). 
Overall, Lewis and Estevez (in press) concluded that Tampa Bay is 
not grossly polluted, certainly not beyond the point of rehabilitation; 
that parts of the bay had better water quality than others, for natural 
and cultural reasons; and that some pollutants are declining while others 
are increasing. 
67 
