MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

W559
Assessment of 2008 Seagrass Maps in Charlotte Harbor And Lemon
Bay
Project Type SWIM
AOR(s)
Natural Systems
Basin(s) Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager KAUFMAN, KRIS
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center
Description
This FY2009 SWIM cooperative funding project will assess the accuracy of mapping classifications used in the
District's ongoing Biennial Seagrass Mapping Project (See W331). This effort will supplement the District's well
established accuracy assessment of the maps. While the District assesses the project's ability to correctly identify the
presence of seagrass, the cooperative funding project will conduct a more in-depth evaluation of the mapping
categories: patchy seagrass, continuous seagrass, and tidal flat. Estimates of inter-annual change in seagrass habitat
based on aerial photos finds little change between habitat classes during the past nearly 20 years of study. However, a
recent analysis of more localized data from the Florida DEP seagrass transect data (CHEC 2006) found decreases in
abundance and distribution of seagrasses around Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay. Furthermore, of the quadrats
sampled by DEP that occurred in tidal flat polygons, most did contain some seagrass, some up to 25% coverage. The
following tasks regarding the 2008 seagrass maps produced by the District for the Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay
segments are proposed for this project: 1. assess map accuracy by defining spatial variability of seagrass abundance
in classified polygons using variation in percent cover by seagrass in square-meter quadrats; 2. quantify seagrass
abundance in classified polygons using percent cover by seagrass in square-meter quadrats; 3. describe abundance
and distribution of seagrass at its deepest depth of occurrence to verify map estimates of deep edge/maximum depth
of distribution of seagrass species. The public will be able to access all data via www.checflorida.org.
Benefits
This project will provide the District and end users of District seagrass maps with new highly detailed information on
the accuracy of classifying seagrass as patchy or continuous. The District, county governments, and Estuary Programs
will be able to use the data in ongoing water quality/water clarity target setting and other resource protection projects.
Costs
The FY2009 project cost is $40,000, with CHEC and the District each contributing half ($20,000). The District share is
split between Peace River and Manastoa Basin Boards ($5,000 each) and State SWIM ($10,000).
Prior
FY 2009 FY2010
Funding Funding Funding
District Budgeted - Ad Valorem Based
Revenue
020 Peace River Basin 0 5,402 709
0 6,111
021 Manasota Basin 0 5,402 709
0 6,111
District Budgeted - Outside Revenue
State Trust Funds (SWIM) 0 10,802
0
0 10,802
WMLTF (SWIM) - Prior Year Funds 0 0 1,418
0 1,418
Project Funds Not Budgeted by the
District
Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center 0 20,000
0
0 20,000
Total:
Future
Funding
Total
Funding
$44,442
Critical Project Milestones Projected Amended Actual
020 - Peace River Basin 65