NOVEMBER 6, 2015--On a recent visit to St. Petersburg, Florida for a Regional Collaboration meeting, Dave Holst, Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOS took the opportunity to meet with local NOS staff and tour the Mosaic Restoration Site with Dan Hahn and Kevin Kirsch from OR&R’s Assessment and Restoration Division.

Back in 2004, a phosphogypsum stack breached during a tropical storm and tens of millions of gallons of acidic process water poured over the side of the stack, flowing through creeks and wetlands before reaching Tampa Bay. The spill impacted mangroves, marshes, and open-water areas of the bay plus the fish and invertebrates that live in these habitats. The restoration was designed to enhance tidal connectivity in a mangrove forest that was suffering from decreased connection with the bay and adjacent river. An old boat basin, surrounded by seawalls, at the former Giant’s Fish Camp restricted flow through the mangroves. By punching a hole through the basin the project is intended to restore mangrove vigor and provide access to fish by increasing the water flow through the system. Monitoring is ongoing at the site. With a low bridge and some narrow channels to navigate, the tour of the restoration site took place by kayak. With a not-so-low tide to deal with, surveying oyster growth at the restoration site was a bit challenging, as was getting under the bridge. With the hum of the fertilizer processing plant off in the distance, Dave was able to learn about the mangroves in the area and see the project up close. Jumping mullet and an aggregation of manatees within the restored tidal channels highlighted the use of the restoration site by marine life. Said Dave Holst after the tour, “It is always good to get out in the field and see firsthand the excellent work that is being done in NOS. And seeing manatees while kayaking was pretty cool.” For further information, contact Daniel.Hahn@noaa.gov. Go back to OR&R Weekly Report.