Gulf of Mexico water testing resumes: Since Ian, our team of volunteer watermen have been rebuilding their homes, businesses and lives. And now, we are getting back to our stewardship of water testing. This data goes directly to scientific communities for better understanding of water conditions and identify water deviations like Hypoxia and Stratification.
The image here shows results from testing on 1/8/23. Water conditions are Nominal, meaning within expected ranges. Regular testing can help assess the cause-and-effect relationships of natural and man-made events on the water and ecosystem. Our goal is simple, to keep our water resources sustainable and viable.
ATTENTION !!! NOAA Fisheries will hold an in-person workshop for the public to discuss and provide feedback on ongoing red tide research. NOAA’s Pine Island Red Tide Community Workshop is a follow up to the August 27, 2018 workshop in Pine Island, Florida.
The purpose of this workshop is to present findings from research initiatives, and to continue the dialogue with community members on current red tide concerns and research needs. Follow the link to learn more and please attend! www.fisheries.noaa.gov/event/red-tide-community-workshop-pine-island
Red Tide Community Workshop at Pine Island
www.fisheries.noaa.gov
NOAA Fisheries will hold public discussions to gather feedback on ongoing red tide research efforts.civileats.com/2022/04/26/fishermen-scientists-probe-phosphates-florida-red-tides-pollution-algal-...
Fishermen and Scientists Probe Phosphate’s Connection to Florida Red Tides
civileats.com
A new nonprofit connects fishermen and scientists to determine whether the state's phosphate mines are linked to the harmful algal blooms.
To our followers and all community members who have contributed to the FCWC, we have a live launch of historical data! This site provides historical and current data on testing done by our volunteer commercial watermen. The data focuses on temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. Our equipment also tests chlorophyll and salinity levels, providing science communities a year round look at the water in the SE Gulf. This data is available for any science community to better understand the water quality challenges facing our beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Please check out the link. oceandata.shinyapps.io/fcwc-data-explorer/
Thanks to our affiliate Brendan Turley with NOAA - National Marine Fisheries Service, for building this interactive tool. It promises to provide useful information to create real change for our shared resources.
See real time water conditions from Florida Watermen (FCWC) & NOAA. Below is a report by our NOAA affiliates on FCWC testing and an interesting link to the Caloosahatchee discharge. waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/02292900/#parameterCode=00060&period=P30D
"Relatively high dissolved oxygen as expected during wintertime, well-mixed conditions. Stations away from shore had relatively high temperatures near the bottom. This condition is unusual as temperatures near the surface are usually higher than at depth. However, a halocline from freshwater discharge can maintain this temperature inversion. There is a salinity gradient moving away from shore and with depth in the offshore stations supporting this explanation. Rainfall is about average for the season and Caloosahatchee discharge is above median values for the past month." source NOAA Affiliate.