Learn More: Bay Condition Reports

Chlorophyll a: Chlorophyll is one of the most important pigment groups. Chlorophylls give a characteristic green color to plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria, which use the energy captured by chlorophylls (and other pigments) along with carbon dioxide and water to assemble the molecules needed for growth, cellular repair and disease prevention.

Chlorophyll a is the most common type of chlorophyll, and its concentration in bay water is used to estimate the relative abundance of phytoplankton. When water contains excess nutrients, it may cause an overgrowth of phytoplankton, reducing the clarity of the water and inhibiting the penetration of sunlight to the bay bottom, thereby adversely affecting seagrass growth. Seagrass beds provide essential habitat for macroinvertebrates, juvenile fish, manatees, and other creatures and are a hallmark of healthy coastal ecosystems. (Learn more about coastal water clarity)

The chlorophyll a rating is found by comparing a mean of all chlorophyll a sample data recorded during the calendar year to the targets and thresholds below. (See Calculations section, below.)

Chlorophyll a target and threshold values, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l):

Source: Numeric Nutrient Criteria Recommendations for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (Exec. Summary)

*No target value has yet been established for chlorophyll a concentration in Lower Lemon Bay.

Nitrogen: Although it is an essential nutrient for plants and animals, an excess amount of nitrogen in a waterway can lead to low levels of dissolved oxygen and negatively affect various plant life and organisms. Sources of nitrogen include wastewater treatment plants, runoff from fertilized lawns and croplands, failing septic systems, runoff from animal manure storage areas, and industrial discharges that contain corrosion inhibitors.

Nitrogen availability is most often the limiting factor in the growth of algae and other plants in estuarine and coastal systems, and that is the case in Sarasota's bays, which are said to be “nitrogen-limited”. That is, the amount of nitrogen present in the water is the controlling factor in whether or not algae grows (and chlorophyll a levels increase). Higher concentrations of nitrogen are related to human population density and activity. Levels may spike temporarily after heavy rainfall due to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and increased runoff from the watershed. Incidental releases of poorly-treated effluent or stormwater may also result in a temporary, locally restricted increase in nitrogen levels.

There are three forms of nitrogen that are commonly measured in water bodies: ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. Total Nitrogen (TN) is the sum of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (organic and reduced nitrogen), ammonia, and nitrate-nitrite.  It can be derived by monitoring for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia and nitrate-nitrite individually and adding the components together.

The TN rating is found by comparing a mean of all TN sample data recorded during the calendar year to the targets and thresholds below. (See Calculations section, below.)

TN target and threshold values, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l):

Source: Numeric Nutrient Criteria Recommendations for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (Exec. Summary)

*No target value has yet been established for TN concentration in Lower Lemon Bay.

**TN target and threshold values are based on chlorophyll a targets and thresholds. The relationship between chlorophyll a and TN concentrations in Sarasota Bay is particularly complex, depending upon location, ambient water color, and season. Therefore the threshold and target values for TN are calculated on an annual basis, incorporating the most recent values for water color in the north and south bay. The calculation is a geometric mean that incorporates arithmetic mean values for color, grouped by region (north or south) and season (wet or dry). The precise formula for calculating the annual threshold value is defined in “Florida Administrative Code 62-302.532, Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion”.

Phosphorus: Both nitrogen and phosphorus are necessary nutrients for plants and animals. Nitrogen is usually the most important limiting nutrient in estuaries, driving large increases of microscopic phytoplankton called “algal blooms” or increases of large aquatic bottom plants, but phosphorus can become limiting in coastal systems if nitrogen is abundant in a biologically available form. (A “limiting nutrient” is one whose lack of availability reduces the rate of growth or prevents the growth of phytoplankton or other primary producers.) Sarasota's bays are typical, in that they are nitrogen-limited.

Sources of phosphorus include soil and rocks, wastewater treatment plants, runoff from fertilized lawns and cropland, runoff from animal manure storage areas, disturbed land areas, drained wetlands, water treatment, decomposition of organic matter, and commercial cleaning preparations.

Total Phosphorus (TP) is a measurement of all forms of phosphorus in a water sample, including orthophosphate, condensed phosphate, and organic phosphate.

The TP rating is found by comparing a mean of all TP sample data recorded during the calendar year to the targets and thresholds below. (See Calculations section, below.)

TP target and threshold values, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l):

Source: Numeric Nutrient Criteria Recommendations for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (Exec. Summary)

*No target value has yet been established for TP concentration in Lower Lemon Bay.

Dissolved Oxygen (Concentration): Dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the most important indicators of water quality. It is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. Oxygen dissolves in surface water due to the aerating action of winds. Oxygen is also introduced into the water as a byproduct of aquatic plant photosynthesis. When dissolved oxygen becomes too low, fish and other aquatic organisms cannot survive.

The colder water is, the more oxygen it can hold. As the water becomes warmer, less oxygen can be dissolved in the water. Salinity is also an important factor in determining the amount of oxygen a body of water can hold; fresh water can absorb more oxygen than salt water.

Oxygen levels also may be reduced when there are too many bacteria or algae in water (see Biochemical Oxygen Demand). After the algae complete their life cycle and die, they are consumed by bacteria. During this decay process the bacteria also consume the oxygen dissolved in the water. This can lead to decreased levels of biologically available oxygen, in some cases leading to fish kills and death to other aquatic organisms.

Apparent Color: Apparent color is the color of the water as seen by the human eye. Apparent colors are caused by substances that are either suspended or dissolved in the water column. Other factors can also affect the apparent color of water, including the color of the bay bottom, water depth, reflections from the sky or nearby structures; and the presence or absence of seagrass or algae.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): This measure is an indicator of the amount of organic matter in water. It describes the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms (i.e., bacteria) to break down the organic material that is present in a water sample. If the rate of oxygen consumption exceeds that which is available (see DO concentration), the water may become anoxic, containing too little oxygen to support fish and other aquatic organisms.

Dissolved Oxygen Saturation: DO can be expressed as a concentration per unit volume (see above), or as a percentage. In aquatic environments, oxygen saturation is a ratio of the concentration of dissolved oxygen (O₂), to the maximum amount of oxygen that will dissolve in that water body, at the temperature and pressure which constitute stable equilibrium conditions. Oxygen enters water through several methods, including diffusion from the atmosphere, rapid movement of water (waves, e.g.), or as a byproduct of photosynthesis (generated by seagrass and green algae).

Karenia brevis (“red tide”): This microscopic, single-celled, photosynthetic organism is a marine dinoflagellate commonly found in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is found year-round in background concentrations of 1,000 cells per liter or less. K. brevis blooms typically occur each summer and fall, producing brevitoxins that can cause health problems in humans. High concentrations of K. brevis are capable of killing fish, birds, and other marine animals.

Light Attenuation: Light attenuation, the rate at which light decreases with depth, depends upon the amount of light-absorbing dissolved substances (mostly organic carbon compounds washed in from decomposing vegetation in the watershed) and the amount of absorption and scattering caused by suspended materials (soil particles from the watershed, algae and detritus). Thus light attenuation is related to turbidity (see below). The percentage of the surface light absorbed or scattered in a 1 meter long vertical column of water, is called the vertical extinction coefficient. This parameter is symbolized by “k”.

Adequate light is needed for good seagrass growth. Seagrasses typically grow at depths no deeper than six to eight feet, and while light requirements vary by seagrass species, the availability of light is one of the limiting factors on the depth at which seagrasses can be found. Light intensity at the water's surface varies by season, cloud cover and inversely with depth of water. Seagrass meadows provide critical habitat for recreationally and commercially important fish and invertebrate species and are also important feeding areas for the Florida manatee. They serve to improve water quality by reducing nutrients in the water column and are an important component of the energy and nutrient cycles in coastal environments.

Prior to 2012, Manatee County collected light attenuation data using a method that measured light availability in selected wavelengths that are used in photosynthesis (PAR). This data is not readily converted into the vertical extinction coefficient model used by Sarasota County, so for consistency we have chosen not to display it here. Beginning in 2012, vertical extinction coefficient data is available for all bays included in this report, and will be displayed.(Learn more about coastal water clarity)

Nitrogen, Ammonia + Ammonium as N: Unlike other forms of nitrogen, which can cause nutrient over-enrichment of a water body at elevated concentrations and indirect effects on aquatic life, ammonia causes direct toxic effects on aquatic life. It is toxic to fish at relatively low concentrations in pH-neutral or alkaline water. It is difficult for aquatic organisms to sufficiently excrete it, leading to toxic buildup in internal tissues and blood, and potentially death. Among the sources for this pollutant are wastewater treatment plants, agricultural and residential fertilizer runoff, leaking septic tanks, pet wastes, and atmospheric deposition.

Nitrogen, Kjeldahl: This water quality measure gives the total concentration of organic nitrogen and ammonia.

Nitrogen, Nitrite + Nitrate as N: Nitrates and nitrites occur normally in nature from the breakdown of ammonia in the nitrogen life cycle. Nitrates in nature cause plant and algae growth that may affect the balance of water-based ecosystems. Nitrate is found in fertilizers and animal waste. Rain tends to wash fertilizers containing nitrates into nearby natural water systems and ground water.

pH: This measure indicates the acidity or alkalinity of water. pH stands for ‘potential of Hydrogen’ because it is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. The range of values is from 1 to 14, with 7 as the middle (neutral) point. Values below 7 indicate acidity, above 7 alkalinity, with a value of 1 being the most acidic.

Rainfall: Urban runoff is the number one cause of coastal pollution in populated areas. Heavy rainfall releases nutrients from soil and washes pollutants like oil, grease, pesticides and herbicides into stormwater drains. The pollution content of rainwater runoff is greatest during the first minutes of a storm as all standing deposits are washed away. High bacterial loads in urban runoff can also lead to beach closures, reducing recreational opportunities.

Shortly after a heavy rainstorm, it is common to see a spike in nutrient levels in water bodies, followed soon thereafter by a corresponding increase in chlorophyll a, as algae grows in response to the flush of nutrients entering the bay from the watershed.

Rainfall data shown on the Bay Conditions Report page are collected from within the watershed and reflects conditions in the area near the bay, but may not precisely match rainfall levels within the bay itself.

Salinity: Salinity is an important indicator for a number of reasons. Patterns of salinity in coastal bays reflect the relative influx of fresh water from rivers and of marine water supplied by exchange with the ocean. The ability of water to absorb oxygen is affected by its salinity; fresh water can hold more oxygen. Salinity determines what species are present in an area; most aquatic organisms, both plants and animals, function optimally within a narrow range of salinity. Salinity also impacts water clarity, affecting the tendency of particulate matter to settle to the bottom, and on the ability of bottom sediments to bind to pollutants.

Salinity is described as a ratio and has no units. The Practical Salinity Scale (PSS) compares the conductivity ratio of a sea water sample to a standard potassium chloride solution.

Specific Conductance: This is the standard measurement of conductivity, or the capability of water to pass electrical flow, which is related to the number of ions in the water. These conductive ions come from dissolved salts and inorganic materials such as alkalis, chlorides, sulfides and carbonate compounds, also known as electrolytes. Water’s conductivity increases with temperature. Specific conductance is a standard measure of conductivity that is measured at, or converted to, a temperature of 25°C.

Temperature, Water: Temperature impacts both the chemical and biological characteristics of surface water. It affects the ability of the water to absorb oxygen, the photosynthetic rate of aquatic plants, metabolic rates of aquatic organisms, and the sensitivity of these organisms to pollution, parasites and disease.

Turbidity: This measure of water clarity, or murkiness, is an optical property that expresses the degree to which light is scattered and absorbed by materials in suspension. These materials include colored dissolved organic matter (soils) and suspended sediment, organic detritus, and living organisms. Turbid water has reduced light penetration, inhibiting the growth of seagrasses, and can cause dissolved oxygen levels to be reduced, when bacteria consuming organic particles create an increase in biological oxygen demand.

Coastal erosion and sedimentation can contribute to turbid conditions and poor water quality. Erosion is the detachment of soil particles from the land surface by natural forces such as rain and wind storms and by anthropogenic influences. Sedimentation occurs when eroded soil from the watershed is deposited by runoff into surface waters. Sedimentation rates in estuaries are naturally high, but human activity (poor soil conservation practices and altering natural water circulation patterns) can accelerate the process. Human activity such as dredging and boat traffic also can cause increased turbidity, as bottom sediments are disturbed and resuspended.

Turbidity is shown in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTUs). A Nephelometer, also called a turbidimeter, estimates how light is scattered by suspended particulate material in the water. It uses a photocell set at 90 degrees to the direction of the light beam to estimate scattered, rather than absorbed, light. This measurement generally provides a very good correlation with the concentration of particles in the water that affect clarity.