Post by LSDeep on Sept 23, 2005 18:35:09 GMT -5
By Carol Glassman 09/22/2005
Many people know the level of red tide before they hear an update: itchy eyes, runny noses, scratchy throats, and upper respiratory problems announce its presence. People with emphysema, asthma, and other respiratory conditions should avoid the beach during a red tide event.
At the last sampling by Collier County Pollution Control, Marco Island's South Beach registered Medium (respiratory irritation and probable fish kills). This explained fish kills on the beach and complaints of respiratory irritations being experienced, especially when winds were blowing onshore.
Rhonda Watkins, senior environmental specialist for Collier County, said the latest NOAA satellite imagery still showed large areas of high chlorophyll levels offshore of northern Collier County continuing northward into Lee County and beyond. Further transport south was expected.
Thousands of dead fish (all species) continued to wash ashore from Barefoot Beach to Marco Island, as beaches from three miles west of Wiggins Pass south to Marco Island tested in the positive range for red tide. Dead fish and red tide might begin to get pulled into the back bays with the incoming tides, Watkins said, but this bloom showed no signs of decreasing in intensity.
Collier County Tourism Department staff, in conjunction with Collier County Parks and Recreation staff, continue to clean dead fish off the beaches including Barefoot Beach, Vanderbilt to Clam Pass, Parkshore, City of Naples beaches and Marco Island beaches. The Collier County Landfill has accepted (as of 9/14) approximately 178 tons of dead fish from the beaches. Samples will be collected twice per week until red tide is gone.
The sampling results on Tuesday, Sept. 20 reported the current Florida red tide along the coast of Southwest Florida had moved southward and extended from lower Pinellas County to Collier County. Concentrations of Karenia.
Brevis were mostly patchy along the coast, with highest concentrations found in lower to mid-Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. Fish kills were reported along coastal areas of Southwest Florida from Pinellas to Collier counties. Dead fish and respiratory irritation are possible at beach and bay areas as long as the bloom persists.
A plume of water originating from the Mississippi River following Hurricane Katrina was sighted more than 350 miles offshore of Pinellas County and was being monitored. No effect is currently anticipated on the red tide bloom in Southwest Florida.
Winds and heavier tides as a result of Hurricane Rita may also change the concentration of red tide by the end of this week.
The Red Tide Hotline is 732-2591. To report fish kills, call 732-2502.
©Marco Island Sun Times 2005
Many people know the level of red tide before they hear an update: itchy eyes, runny noses, scratchy throats, and upper respiratory problems announce its presence. People with emphysema, asthma, and other respiratory conditions should avoid the beach during a red tide event.
At the last sampling by Collier County Pollution Control, Marco Island's South Beach registered Medium (respiratory irritation and probable fish kills). This explained fish kills on the beach and complaints of respiratory irritations being experienced, especially when winds were blowing onshore.
Rhonda Watkins, senior environmental specialist for Collier County, said the latest NOAA satellite imagery still showed large areas of high chlorophyll levels offshore of northern Collier County continuing northward into Lee County and beyond. Further transport south was expected.
Thousands of dead fish (all species) continued to wash ashore from Barefoot Beach to Marco Island, as beaches from three miles west of Wiggins Pass south to Marco Island tested in the positive range for red tide. Dead fish and red tide might begin to get pulled into the back bays with the incoming tides, Watkins said, but this bloom showed no signs of decreasing in intensity.
Collier County Tourism Department staff, in conjunction with Collier County Parks and Recreation staff, continue to clean dead fish off the beaches including Barefoot Beach, Vanderbilt to Clam Pass, Parkshore, City of Naples beaches and Marco Island beaches. The Collier County Landfill has accepted (as of 9/14) approximately 178 tons of dead fish from the beaches. Samples will be collected twice per week until red tide is gone.
The sampling results on Tuesday, Sept. 20 reported the current Florida red tide along the coast of Southwest Florida had moved southward and extended from lower Pinellas County to Collier County. Concentrations of Karenia.
Brevis were mostly patchy along the coast, with highest concentrations found in lower to mid-Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. Fish kills were reported along coastal areas of Southwest Florida from Pinellas to Collier counties. Dead fish and respiratory irritation are possible at beach and bay areas as long as the bloom persists.
A plume of water originating from the Mississippi River following Hurricane Katrina was sighted more than 350 miles offshore of Pinellas County and was being monitored. No effect is currently anticipated on the red tide bloom in Southwest Florida.
Winds and heavier tides as a result of Hurricane Rita may also change the concentration of red tide by the end of this week.
The Red Tide Hotline is 732-2591. To report fish kills, call 732-2502.
©Marco Island Sun Times 2005