Objective

B.1.1:   Maintain stormwater action plan for environmental cleanliness for waterways, streets, stormwater, sidewalks, drinking water, sewage, beaches, parks

Why Is This Important?

The Pinellas County Department of Public Works, Division of Environmental Management (DEM) monitors County waterbodies to determine if waters are “fishable and swimmable” or are in need of improvement. If a waterbody does not meet the State standards indicative of a healthy system, it is considered impaired, and actions are required to improve water quality. Additionally, the County partners with municipalities and other public agencies to research sources of pollution in the watershed and to implement proper management practices to improve water quality.

Definition

The Anclote River flows west, emptying into St. Joseph Sound in the City of Tarpon Springs. Much of the large watershed is in Pasco County, just northeast. Two sites are currently monitored, site 01-01 at the Alternate Highway 19 bridge and site 01-08 just east of the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club. As part of the Pinellas County ambient monitoring program and maintaining compliance with our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), these sites are sampled eight times a year, approximately every 40 days from June through September (wet season) and every 51 days for the rest of the year (dry season).  Some water quality parameters are measured in the field: pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, salinity, and flow. Other parameters are analyzed at the County lab from collected water samples: total phosphorus, ortho-phosphate, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, chlorophylls a, b, and c, phaeophytin, total suspended solids, turbidity, five-day biological oxygen demand, and E. coli or enterococcus bacteria.

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How Are We Doing?

Anclote River Water Quality Measures (Site 01-01):   Specific indicators in the table below are highlighted as green (good) or red (impaired).