Tampa Bay Estuary Fact Sheet

(Source: Florida Atlantic University)

The Tampa Bay Estuary is the largest open-water estuary in the State of Florida, and supports one of the world’s most productive natural systems. The Estuary itself covers 400 square miles and is fed by more than 100 tributaries, including the Hillsborough, Alafia, Manatee and Little Manatee Rivers. Despite it’s shallow average depth (11ft) Tampa Bay boasts more than 80 miles of deep-water shipping channels, which support the three seaports in the area. These seaports include the Port of Tampa, the Port of St. Petersburg, and the Port of Manatee. It is estimated that these ports contribute $15 billion to the local economy and supply 130,000 jobs. Tampa Bay is also a major tourist destination in Southwest Florida, thanks to its plentiful beaches, sports fishing and boating opportunities, as well as bird and wildlife watching.

Anhinga (Source: Flora Mutata)

The estuary supports a wide variety of plants and wildlife. It has been estimated that more than 40,000 pairs of wading and shore birds, representing 25 species, nest annually within the estuary. Tampa Bay is also the winter home to one-sixth of the Gulf Coast’s manatee population, who spend the winter months near several power plants in the area. In addition, more than 200 species of fish spend some part of their lives in the estuary, including the popular snook, redfish and spotted sea trout.

More than 2 million people live in the Tampa Bay watershed, a number that is expected to rise by 19 percent by the year 2015.

(Sources: Tampa Bay Estuary Program; USGS Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science – Tampa Bay Study; EPA Ecosystem Services Research Program – Tampa Bay; Coastalwiki)