RMA Baywatch Program Water Quality Monitoring in the St. Andrew Bay Watershed, Bay County, FL
Established in 1990, the St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association (RMA) Baywatch Program is a volunteer sampling program that monitors long-term trends in water quality and aquatic resources in the St. Andrew Bay watershed. Teams of volunteers collect water samples monthly at 86 sample stations throughout the St. Andrew Bay estuarine system, Lake Powell, and other lakes in the watershed. Seagrass coverage and composition in West Bay and near Shell Island is monitored.
St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association Baywatch water quality monitoring stations designated for University of Florida (UF - Red Squares), general Baywatch (BW - Blue Circles), and SeaGrass (SG- Yellow Triangles) site monitoring.
BAYWATCH ACTIVITIES
Monthly Water Sampling and Data Collection Water samples are collected monthly at 86 sample stations throughout the St. Andrew Bay watershed. There are nine study areas including Lake Powell, Powell Creek East, West Bay, North Bay, East Bay, Grand Lagoon, St. Andrew Bay, Lake Marin, and Johnson Bayou. Sample sites are divided into two categories: 1) Baywatch & Lakewatch Water Quality Stations (N=67) 2) Seagrass Water Quality Stations (N=19)
Baywatch/Lakewatch Water Quality Stations (in coordination with University of Florida LAKEWATCH) Baywatch monitors 40 stations each month in partnership with the University of Florida's LAKEWATCH program. Data collected at each station includes temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, secchi depth, weather conditions, and sea state. Samples are collected at each station and evaluated for turbidity, nutrients, and chlorophyll.
Seagrass Water Quality Stations (in coordination with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Northwest District Office, Pensacola) Monitoring of water quality at seagrass habitat is performed monthly in cooperation with the DEP, Northwest District Office. DEP staff collect water samples from 19 seagrass stations in West Bay and St. Andrew Bay. Data collected includes temperature, pH, DO, salinity, conductivity, secchi depth, weather conditions, and sea state. Nutrients and bacteria are monitored quarterly. Samples are returned to DEP's central lab in Tallahassee for evaluation of turbidity, color, BOD 5-day total, residue non-filtered, and chlorophyll a. Results are available in STORET under organization code 21FLPNS. PROJECT PARTNERS Activities of the RMA Baywatch Program are accomplished in cooperation with the following Partners: Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) University of Florida, LAKEWATCH Friends of St. Andrew Bay/Bay Environmental Study Team (BEST) Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Florida State University (FSU) Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Panama City Marine Institute (PCMI) US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Sampling Crooked Creek
Sampling Powell Creek East
RMA Baywatch Program 2012 Schedules for Water Quality Sampling
Baywatch/LAKEWATCH Stations: West Bay, North Bay, St. Andrew Bay,
East Bay, Grand Lagoon, Lake Marin, Lake Powell, Powell Creek East, Johnson
Bayou.
Month
Sample Dates (Fri - Sun)
Lab Days (Fri, Mon)
Jan
13-15
13, 16
Feb
10-12
10, 13
Mar
9-11
9, 12
Apr
13-15
13, 16
May
18-20
18, 21
Jun
8-10
8, 11
Jul
13-15
13, 16
Aug
10-12
10, 13
Sep
7-9
7, 10
Oct
12-14
12, 15
Nov
9-11
9, 12
Dec
7-9
7, 10
Seagrass Stations (Sampled with FL DEP): Water Quality at Seagrass Sites in West Bay, Grand
Lagoon, Shell Island
Date
17 January 14 February 20 March (Nutrient and
Bacteria) 17 April 15 May 19 June (Nutrient and
Bacteria) 10 July 14 August 11 September (Nutrient and
Bacteria) 16 October 13 November 11 December (Nutrient and
Bacteria)
We Welcome New Volunteers!
The success of the Baywatch Program is due to our team of dedicated volunteers, some of which have been with the program since its inception in 1990!
We have many types of volunteer opportunities to match your interests. If you would like to join us on a
sampling trip, help process samples in the lab, help conduct education and outreach, or simply help out in the office, please contact Patrice Couch at Patrice.Couch@sabrma.org or phone 850-763-4303.
The award for 15 years of service with the Univ of FL LAKEWATCH Program
In Dec 2011, Chris Forman and Emily Ellis were recognized for 15 years of oustanding volunteer service. They have been sampling Lake Powell for over 17 years!
RMA Baywatch Program Adopt a Waterway in St. Andrew Bay
For the past 22 years, RMA's BAYWATCH program has coordinated volunteer water quality monitoring at 86 sites within the St. Andrew Bay watershed, Bay County, FL to determine long-term trends in water quality and aquatic resources in the St. Andrew Bay System.
Water quality in our bay system is fundamental to maintaining the health and diversity of the marine and estuarine creatures we know and love including sea trout, redfish, snapper, crabs, shrimp, oysters, and scallops. Consistent monitoring is essential to provide a baseline in order to compare pre- and post-development water quality impacts such as untreated stormwater runoff, wastewater treatment plant and industrial effluent discharges, and coastal development along the bays, bayous, and marshes. For more details about Baywatch, click here.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Our current funding grant funding provides for sampling equipment, data management and analysis, lab supplies, work boat and maintenance needs, and two part time professional staff to oversee the Baywatch Program. We are seeking donations to make the Baywatch Program sustainable through 2012. Without donations, the RMA Baywatch Program may return to a strictly volunteer operation which could decrease quality control including consistency and oversight.
Story by WMBB 13 about the Baywatch Program "Baywatch Team Faces Loss Of Funding" View Story
Adopt a Waterway - Please Make a Donation Today! For as little as $60.00 you can adopt one station for one month.
You may make a donation by mailing a check to:
St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association c/o Baywatch Program PO Box 15028 Panama City, FL 32406
You may also make a donation via credit card through PayPal, using the secure button below.
RMA is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, so donations are tax deductible.
SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS REGISTRATION # CH34339 A
COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
(800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY
ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
