As the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) considers expanding the Courtney Campbell Causeway, environmental leaders are calling for a design that would increase tidal circulation in Old Tampa Bay. Long recognized as Tampa Bay’s “problem child,” Old Tampa Bay has less seagrass than ever before.
“The causeways restrict tidal flow allowing nutrients from a highly urbanized watershed to reduce water quality and stymie seagrass recovery in Old Tampa Bay,” said Ed Sherwood, executive director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. “We’re seeing toxic algal blooms nearly every summer, along with seagrass losses far exceeding any other bay segment. As plans are drawn for a new causeway, it presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve tidal circulation and support overall restoration activities in this bay segment.”
That opportunity has broad backing from local governments as well as grassroots support. “We’re seeing a lot of engagement from our network,” said Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. “They understand that the causeway is essentially a dam that blocks normal flushing. We all appreciate FDOT’s desire to make the causeway safer and more efficient, and we hope that any modification can also improve a part of the bay that isn’t doing very well.”
Local evidence demonstrates that interventions to improve circulation have positive impacts on water quality. To mitigate for additional stormwater created when the Howard Frankland Bridge was expanded, a 239-foot bridge was built in 2018 to replace a segment of the eastern Courtney Campbell Causeway. With increased flow came improved water quality that would allow seagrasses to return to approximately 300 acres on the northeastern side of the causeway…