Tampa Bay water quality goals met for 2013

Tampa Bay (Credit: NASA)

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program reports that all major segments of the bay met water quality standards in 2013, according to Health News Florida. The monitoring program comprises 45 sampling stations in the area.

Water quality targets for Tampa Bay are based on the amount of algae in water being sampled as well as the amount of sunlight that can pass through. In its analysis, the estuary program found that all of the bay segments showed a visible bottom.

Four bay areas were checked: Hillsborough Bay, Lower Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay and Old Tampa Bay. Scientists with the monitoring program say good water quality supports seagrasses that help filter water in the bay.

Image: Tampa Bay (Credit: NASA)