Funding & Acknowledgements

The data used in this analysis is from the Export Standardized Tables in the SEACAR Data Discovery Interface (DDI). Documents and information available through the SEACAR DDI are owned by the data provider(s) and users are expected to provide appropriate credit following accepted citation formats. Users are encouraged to access data to maximize utilization of gained knowledge, reducing redundant research and facilitating partnerships and scientific innovation.

With respect to documents and information available from SEACAR DDI, neither the State of Florida nor the Florida Department of Environmental Protection makes any warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use or inability to use the data, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

This report was funded in part, through a grant agreement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Coastal Management Program, by a grant provided by the Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The views, statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State of Florida, NOAA or any of their sub agencies.

Published: 2025-10-08

Threshold Filtering

Threshold filters, following the guidance of Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) are used to exclude specific results values from the SEACAR Analysis. Based on the threshold filters, Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) Flags are inserted into the SEACAR_QAQCFlagCode and SEACAR_QAQC_Description columns of the export data. The Include column indicates whether the QAQC Flag will also indicate that data are excluded from analysis. No data are excluded from the data export, but the analysis scripts can use the Include column to exclude data (1 to include, 0 to exclude).

Continuous Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L -0.000001 50
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % -0.000001 500
Salinity ppt -0.000001 70
Turbidity NTU -0.000001 4000
Water Temperature Degrees C -5.000000 45
pH None 2.000000 14
Discrete Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold
Ammonia, Un-ionized (NH3) mg/L - -
Ammonium, Filtered (NH4) mg/L - -
Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin ug/L - -
Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin ug/L - -
Colored Dissolved Organic Matter PCU - -
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L -0.000001 25
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % -0.000001 310
Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter QSE - -
Light Extinction Coefficient m^-1 - -
NO2+3, Filtered mg/L - -
Nitrate (NO3) mg/L - -
Nitrite (NO2) mg/L - -
Nitrogen, organic mg/L - -
Phosphate, Filtered (PO4) mg/L - -
Salinity ppt -0.000001 70
Secchi Depth m 0.000001 50
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0.005000 100
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen mg/L - -
Total Nitrogen mg/L - -
Total Nitrogen mg/L - -
Total Phosphorus mg/L - -
Total Suspended Solids mg/L - -
Turbidity NTU - -
Water Temperature Degrees C 3.000000 40
pH None 2.000000 13
Quality Assurance Flags inserted based on threshold checks listed in Table 1 and 2
SEACAR QAQC Description Include SEACAR QAQCFlagCode
Exceeds maximum threshold 0 2Q
Below minimum threshold 0 4Q
Within threshold tolerance 1 6Q
No defined thresholds for this parameter 1 7Q

Value Qualifiers

Value qualifier codes included within the data are used to exclude certain results from the analysis. The data are retained in the data export files, but the analysis uses the Include column to filter the results.

STORET and WIN value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from STORET and WIN data are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports.

Value Qualifier codes excluded from analysis
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include MDL Description
STORET-WIN H 0 0 Value based on field kit determination; results may not be accurate
STORET-WIN J 0 0 Estimated value
STORET-WIN V 0 0 Analyte was detected at or above method detection limit
STORET-WIN Y 0 0 Lab analysis from an improperly preserved sample; data may be inaccurate

Discrete Water Quality Value Qualifiers

The following value qualifiers are highlighted in the Discrete Water Quality section of this report. An exception is made for Program 476 - Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network and data flagged with Value Qualifier H are included for this program only.

H - Value based on field kit determiniation; results may not be accurate. This code shall be used if a field screening test (e.g., field gas chromatograph data, immunoassay, or vendor-supplied field kit) was used to generate the value and the field kit or method has not been recognized by the Department as equivalent to laboratory methods.

I - The reported value is greater than or equal to the laboratory method detection limit but less than the laboratory practical quantitation limit.

Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time. This code shall be used if the value is derived from a sample that was prepared or analyzed after the approved holding time restrictions for sample preparation or analysis.

S - Secchi disk visible to bottom of waterbody. The value reported is the depth of the waterbody at the location of the Secchi disk measurement.

U - Indicates that the compound was analyzed for but not detected. This symbol shall be used to indicate that the specified component was not detected. The value associated with the qualifier shall be the laboratory method detection limit. Unless requested by the client, less than the method detection limit values shall not be reported

Systemwide Monitoring Program (SWMP) value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from the SWMP continuous program are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports. SWMP Qualifier Codes are indicated by QualifierSource=SWMP.

SWMP Value Qualifier codes
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include Description
SWMP -1 1 Optional parameter not collected
SWMP -2 0 Missing data
SWMP -3 0 Data rejected due to QA/QC
SWMP -4 0 Outside low sensor range
SWMP -5 0 Outside high sensor range
SWMP 0 1 Passed initial QA/QC checks
SWMP 1 0 Suspect data
SWMP 2 1 Reserved for future use
SWMP 3 1 Calculated data: non-vented depth/level sensorcorrection for changes in barometric pressure
SWMP 4 1 Historical: Pre-auto QA/QC
SWMP 5 1 Corrected data

Water Column

The water column habitat extends from the water’s surface to the bottom sediments, and it’s where fish, dolphins, crabs and people swim! So much life makes its home in the water column that the health of marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as human economies, depend on the condition of this vulnerable habitat. Local patterns of rainfall, temperature, winds and currents can rapidly change the condition of the water column, while global influences such as El Niño/La Niña, large-scale fluctuation in sea temperatures and climate change can have long-term effects. Inputs from the prosperity of our day-to-day lives including farming, mining and forestry, and emissions from power generation, automobiles and water treatment can also alter the health of the water column. Acting alone or together, each input can have complex and lasting effects on habitats and ecosystems.


SEACAR evaluates water column health with several essential parameters. These include nutrient surveys of nitrogen and phosphorus, and water quality assessments of salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and water temperature. Water clarity is evaluated with Secchi depth, turbidity, levels of chlorophyll a, total suspended solids, and colored dissolved organic matter. Additionally, the richness of nekton is indicated by the abundance of free-swimming fishes and macroinvertebrates like crabs and shrimps.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Analysis

Indicators must have a minimum of five to ten years, depending on the habitat, of data within the geographic range of the analysis to be included in the analysis. Ten years of data are required for discrete parameters, and five years of data are required for continuous parameters. If there are insufficient years of data, the number of years of data available will be noted and labeled as “insufficient data to conduct analysis”. Further, for the preferred Seasonal Kendall-Tau test, there must be data from at least two months in common across at least two consecutive years within the RCP managed area being analyzed. Values that pass both of these tests will be included in the analysis and be labeled as Use_In_Analysis = TRUE. Any that fail either test will be excluded from the analyses and labeled as Use_In_Analysis = FALSE. The points for all Water Column plots displayed in this section are monthly averages. Trend significance will be denoted as “Significant Trend” (when p < 0.05), or “Non-significant Trend” (when p >= 0.05). Any parameters with insufficient data to perform Seasonal Kendall-Tau test will have their monthly averages plotted without a corresponding trend line.

Water Quality - Discrete

The following files were used in the discrete analysis:

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Chlorophyll_a_corrected_for_pheophytin-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Chlorophyll_a_uncorrected_for_pheophytin-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Colored_dissolved_organic_matter_CDOM-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Dissolved_Oxygen-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Dissolved_Oxygen_Saturation-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_pH-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Salinity-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Secchi_Depth-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Nitrogen-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Phosphorus-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Suspended_Solids_TSS-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Turbidity-2025-Sep-04.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Water_Temperature-2025-Sep-04.txt

Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average levels of chlorophyll a, corrected for pheophytin, over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only laboratory-analyzed chlorophyll a (triangles) is included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average levels of chlorophyll a, corrected for pheophytin, over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only laboratory-analyzed chlorophyll a (triangles) is included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Lab No significant trend 914 19 2000 - 2025 6.4 0.0361 7.6778 0.035 0.4903

Chlorophyll a, corrected for pheophytin, showed no detectable trend between 2000 and 2025.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 938 2000 2025

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average levels of chlorophyll a, uncorrected for pheophytin, over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only laboratory-analyzed chlorophyll a (triangles) is included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average levels of chlorophyll a, uncorrected for pheophytin, over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only laboratory-analyzed chlorophyll a (triangles) is included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Lab No significant trend 1001 25 1999 - 2025 7.6 0.0264 10.3436 0.026 0.4874

Chlorophyll a, uncorrected for pheophytin, showed no detectable trend between 1999 and 2025.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 1008 1999 2025
514 4 2001 2001
103 1 2015 2015

Program names:

103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)/WQX2
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program3
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Colored Dissolved Organic Matter - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only laboratory-analyzed CDOM (triangles) is included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only laboratory-analyzed CDOM (triangles) is included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Colored Dissolved Organic Matter
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Lab Significantly decreasing trend 360 18 2001 - 2025 36.95 -0.2699 54.813 -1.1761 0.0018

Monthly average colored dissolved organic matter decreased by 1.18 PCU per year, indicating an increase in water clarity.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Colored Dissolved Organic Matter
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 230 2020 2025
514 130 2001 2014

Program names:

514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program3
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Dissolved Oxygen - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average dissolved oxygen over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only dissolved oxygen values measured in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average dissolved oxygen over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only dissolved oxygen values measured in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Dissolved Oxygen
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Field Significantly decreasing trend 26005 37 1989 - 2025 5.3 -0.1834 6.3749 -0.0249 0

Monthly average dissolved oxygen decreased by 0.02 mg/L per year.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Dissolved Oxygen
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
69 14646 1989 2024
5002 7651 1999 2025
4067 4024 1993 2022
95 8 2005 2014
103 2 2015 2015
118 2 2015 2015

Program names:

69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program4
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network5
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)/WQX2
118 - National Aquatic Resource Surveys, National Coastal Condition Assessment6
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring7
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Dissolved Oxygen Saturation - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average dissolved oxygen saturation over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only dissolved oxygen saturation values measured in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average dissolved oxygen saturation over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only dissolved oxygen saturation values measured in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Field Significantly decreasing trend 11190 31 1993 - 2025 59.4 -0.1787 73.7733 -0.3781 0.0001

Monthly average dissolved oxygen saturation decreased by 0.38% per year.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 7410 2004 2025
4067 4107 1993 2022

Program names:

4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring7
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

pH - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average pH over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only pH values measured in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average pH over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only pH values measured in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for pH
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Field Significantly decreasing trend 25181 37 1989 - 2025 7.5 -0.3525 7.8683 -0.0126 0

Monthly average pH decreased by 0.01 pH units per year.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for pH
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
69 14648 1989 2024
5002 7642 1999 2025
4067 3078 1993 2022
103 3 2015 2015
95 1 2011 2011

Program names:

69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program4
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network5
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)/WQX2
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring7
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Salinity - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average salinity over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend lines are also shown. Discrete salinity values derived from grab samples analyzed in the field (circles) or the laboratory (triangles) are both included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average salinity over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend lines are also shown. Discrete salinity values derived from grab samples analyzed in the field (circles) or the laboratory (triangles) are both included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Salinity
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
All Significantly decreasing trend 26040 43 1958 - 2025 12.3 -0.153 19.7808 -0.1254 0

Monthly average salinity decreased by 0.13 ppt per year.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Salinity
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
69 14725 1989 2024
5002 7638 1999 2025
4067 3742 1993 2022
95 32 1958 2014
118 3 2015 2015

Program names:

69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program4
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network5
118 - National Aquatic Resource Surveys, National Coastal Condition Assessment6
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring7
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Secchi Depth - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average Secchi depth over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Secchi depth is only measured in the field (circles).
Scatter plot of monthly average Secchi depth over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Secchi depth is only measured in the field (circles).
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Secchi Depth
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Field Significantly decreasing trend 14685 31 1995 - 2025 -0.8 -0.1713 -0.837 -0.0054 0

Monthly average Secchi depth became deeper by 0.01 m per year, indicating an increase in water clarity.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Secchi Depth
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
69 13651 1995 2024
5002 1030 1999 2025
514 4 2001 2001

Program names:

69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program4
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program3
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Total Nitrogen - Discrete

Total Nitrogen Calculation:

The logic for calculated Total Nitrogen was provided by Kevin O’Donnell and colleagues at FDEP (with the help of Jay Silvanima, Watershed Monitoring Section). The following logic is used, in this order, based on the availability of specific nitrogen components.

  1. TN = TKN + NO3O2;
  2. TN = TKN + NO3 + NO2;
  3. TN = ORGN + NH4 + NO3O2;
  4. TN = ORGN + NH4 + NO2 + NO3;
  5. TN = TKN + NO3;
  6. TN = ORGN + NH4 + NO3;

Additional Information:

  • Rules for use of sample fraction:
    • Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) report that if both “Total” and “Dissolved” components are reported, only “Total” is used. If the total is not reported, then the dissolved components are used as a best available replacement.
    • Total nitrogen calculations are done using nitrogen components with the same sample fraction, nitrogen components with mixed total/dissolved sample fractions are not used. In other words, total nitrogen can be calculated when TKN and NO3O2 are both total sample fractions, or when both are dissolved sample fractions. Future calculations of total nitrogen values may be based on components with mixed sample fractions.
  • Values inserted into data:
    • ParameterName = “Total Nitrogen”
    • SEACAR_QAQCFlagCode = “1Q”
    • SEACAR_QAQC_Description = “SEACAR Calculated”

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average total nitrogen over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only nitrogen values obtained from laboratory analyses (triangles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average total nitrogen over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only nitrogen values obtained from laboratory analyses (triangles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Total Nitrogen
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Lab No significant trend 1495 25 1999 - 2025 0.619 -0.0561 0.6322 -0.002 0.2009

Total nitrogen showed no detectable trend between 1999 and 2025.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Total Nitrogen
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 1204 1999 2025
514 300 2000 2014

Program names:

514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program3
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Total Phosphorus - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average total phosphorus over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only phosphorus values obtained from laboratory analyses (triangles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average total phosphorus over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only phosphorus values obtained from laboratory analyses (triangles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Total Phosphorus
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Lab Significantly increasing trend 1309 24 2000 - 2025 0.201 0.3154 0.1298 0.0055 0

Monthly average total phosphorus increased by less than 0.01 mg/L per year.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Total Phosphorus
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 1021 2000 2025
514 304 2000 2014
103 1 2015 2015

Program names:

103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)/WQX2
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program3
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Total Suspended Solids - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average total suspended solids (TSS) over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only TSS values obtained from laboratory analyses (triangles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average total suspended solids (TSS) over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only TSS values obtained from laboratory analyses (triangles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Total Suspended Solids
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Lab No significant trend 155 11 2000 - 2020 7 -0.0987 5.8429 -0.3333 0.1349

Total suspended solids showed no detectable trend between 2000 and 2020.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Total Suspended Solids
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 155 2000 2020

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Turbidity - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average turbidity over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only turbidity values measured in the laboratory (triangles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average turbidity over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only turbidity values measured in the laboratory (triangles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Turbidity
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Lab No significant trend 1074 25 1999 - 2025 3.1 -0.0216 3.5673 -0.0036 0.6335

Turbidity showed no detectable trend between 1999 and 2025.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Turbidity
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 1115 1999 2025

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Water Temperature - Discrete

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis

Scatter plot of monthly average water temperature over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only water temperature measurements taken in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Scatter plot of monthly average water temperature over time. If the time series included ten or more years of discrete observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Only water temperature measurements taken in the field (circles) are included in the plot.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis for Water Temperature
Activity Type Statistical Trend Sample Count Years with Data Period of Record Median tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope p
Field No significant trend 26264 43 1958 - 2025 26.48 0.0384 24.8045 0.0081 0.2929

Water temperature showed no detectable trend between 1958 and 2025.

Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of discrete water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Programs contributing data for Water Temperature
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
69 14756 1989 2024
5002 7663 1999 2025
4067 3854 1993 2022
95 31 1958 2014

Program names:

69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program4
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network5
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring7
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN1

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

The data file used is: All_SAV_Parameters-2025-Sep-04.txt

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) refers to plants and plant-like macroalgae species that live entirely underwater. The two primary categories of SAV inhabiting Florida estuaries are benthic macroalgae and seagrasses. They often grow together in dense beds or meadows that carpet the seafloor. Macroalgae include multicellular species of green, red and brown algae that often live attached to the substrate by a holdfast. They tend to grow quickly and can tolerate relatively high nutrient levels, making them a threat to seagrasses and other benthic habitats in areas with poor water quality. In contrast, seagrasses are grass-like, vascular, flowering plants that are attached to the seafloor by extensive root systems. Seagrasses occur throughout the coastal areas of Florida, including protected bays and lagoons as well as deeper offshore waters on the continental shelf. Seagrasses have taken advantage of the broad, shallow shelf and clear water to produce two of the most extensive seagrass beds anywhere in continental North America.

Parameters

Percent Cover measures the fraction of an area of seafloor that is covered by SAV, usually estimated by evaluating multiple small areas of seafloor. Percent cover is often estimated for total SAV, individual types of vegetation (seagrass, attached algae, drift algae) and individual species.

Frequency of Occurrence was calculated as the number of times a taxon was observed in a year divided by the number of sampling events, multiplied by 100. Analysis is conducted at the quadrat level and is inclusive of all quadrats (i.e., quadrats evaluated using Braun-Blanquet, modified Braun-Blanquet, and percent cover.”

Species

Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) is the largest of the Florida seagrasses, with longer, thicker blades and deeper root structures than any of the other seagrasses. It is considered a climax seagrass species.

Shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) is an early colonizer of vegetated areas and usually grows in water too shallow for other species except widgeon grass. It can often tolerate larger salinity ranges than other seagrass species. Shoal grass is characterized by thin, flat blades, that are narrower than turtle grass blades.

Manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) is easily recognizable because its leaves are thin and cylindrical instead of the flat, ribbon-like form shared by many other seagrass species. The leaves can grow up to half a meter in length. Manatee grass is usually found in mixed seagrass beds or small, dense monospecific patches.

Widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) grows in both fresh and salt water and is widely distributed throughout Florida’s estuaries in less saline areas, particularly in inlets along the east coast. This species resembles shoal grass in certain environments but can be identified by the pointed tips of its leaves.

Three species of Halophila spp. are found in Florida - Star grass (Halophila engelmannii), Paddle grass (Halophila decipiens), and Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii). These are smaller, more fragile seagrasses than other Florida species and are considered ephemeral. They grow along a single long rhizome, with short blades. These species are not well-studied, although surveys are underway to define their ecological roles.

Notes

Star grass, Paddle grass, and Johnson’s seagrass will be grouped together and listed as Halophila spp. in the following managed areas. This is because several surveys did not specify to the species level:

  • Banana River Aquatic Preserve

  • Indian River-Malabar to Vero Beach Aquatic Preserve

  • Indian River-Vero Beach to Ft. Pierce Aquatic Preserve

  • Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve

  • Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve

  • Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve

  • Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve

  • Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Maps showing the temporal scope of SAV sampling sites within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve by Program name.
Maps showing the temporal scope of SAV sampling sites within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve by Program name.

Click here to view spatio-temporal plots on GitHub.

Sampling locations by Program:

Map showing SAV sampling sites within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The point size reflects the number of samples at a given sampling site.
Map showing SAV sampling sites within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The point size reflects the number of samples at a given sampling site.
Program Information for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
ProgramID N-Data YearMin YearMax method Sample Locations
565 1912 2000 2024 Braun Blanquet 4

Program names:

565 - Tampa Bay Seagrass Monitoring8

Scatter plots of median percent cover of submerged aquatic vegetation over time by group. Plots for time series that included five or more years of observations show the estimated trend as a blue line.
Scatter plots of median percent cover of submerged aquatic vegetation over time by group. Plots for time series that included five or more years of observations show the estimated trend as a blue line.
Trends in median percent cover for various seagrass species in Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve - simplified
Trends in median percent cover for various seagrass species in Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve - simplified
Percent Cover Trend Analysis for Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve
CommonName Trend Significance (0.05) Period of Record LME-Intercept LME-Slope p
Attached algae Insufficient data to calculate trend - - - -
Drift algae Insufficient data to calculate trend - - - -
Shoal grass Significantly increasing trend 2000 - 2024 19.22102 0.5294588 0.0159142
No grass in quadrat Model did not fit the available data 2000 - 2024 - - -
Manatee grass No significant trend 2000 - 2024 35.77772 0.8256682 0.0760965
Turtle grass No significant trend 2000 - 2024 16.24161 0.1751174 0.4248074
Halophila, unk. Insufficient data to calculate trend - - - -

An annual increase in percent cover was observed for shoal grass (0.5%). No detectable change in percent cover was observed for manatee grass and turtle grass. Trends in percent cover could not be evaluated for unknown Halophila, attached algae, and drift algae due to insufficient data.

Frequency of occurrence for various seagrass species in Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve
Frequency of occurrence for various seagrass species in Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve

SAV Water Column Analysis

The following parameters are available for Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve within the SAV_WC_Report:

  • Colored Disolved Organic Matter

  • Chlorophyll a

  • Dissolved Oxygen

  • Dissolved Oxygen Saturation

  • pH

  • Salinity

  • Secchi Depth

  • Water Temperature

  • Total Nitrogen

  • Total Suspended Solids

  • Turbidity

Access the reports here: DRAFT_SAV_WC_Report_2024-11-20.pdf

Nekton

The data file used is: All_NEKTON_Parameters-2025-Sep-04.txt

Bar graph(s) of annual average nekton richness over time for species groups occurring in at least 1% of samples. The bar colors represent species groups including bony fishes, cartilaginous fishes, decapod crustaceans (e.g., shrimps, crabs, and lobsters), and cephalopods (e.g., squid). Gear types and sizes are indicated in the panel label.
Bar graph(s) of annual average nekton richness over time for species groups occurring in at least 1% of samples. The bar colors represent species groups including bony fishes, cartilaginous fishes, decapod crustaceans (e.g., shrimps, crabs, and lobsters), and cephalopods (e.g., squid). Gear types and sizes are indicated in the panel label.
Nekton Species Richness
Gear Type Sample Count Number of Years Period of Record Median N of Taxa Mean N of Taxa
Trawl (6.1) 2967 36 1989 - 2024 0.3 0.50
Seine (183) 840 29 1996 - 2024 0.1 0.13

The median annual number of taxa was 0.10 based on 840 observations collected by 183-meter seine between 1996 and 2024, and the median annual number of taxa was 0.30 based on 2,967 observations collected by 6.1-meter trawl between 1989 and 2024.

Map showing location of nekton sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of nekton sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.

Coastal Wetlands

The data file used is: All_CW_Parameters-2025-Sep-04.txt

Line graph of annual average coastal wetlands species richness over time for mangroves and associates (triangles), marsh (squares), and marsh succulents (circles). If the time series by species group included more than one year of observations, a line connects data points for visualization.
Line graph of annual average coastal wetlands species richness over time for mangroves and associates (triangles), marsh (squares), and marsh succulents (circles). If the time series by species group included more than one year of observations, a line connects data points for visualization.
Coastal Wetlands Species Richness
Species Group Sample Count Number of Years Period of Record Median N of Taxa Mean N of Taxa
Mangroves and associates 1 1 2015 - 2015 2 2

In the year 2015, 2 species were observed for mangroves and associates based on 1 observation.

Map showing location of coastal wetlands sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of coastal wetlands sampling locations within the boundaries of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.

Species list

Acanthophora sp.1 Floridichthys carpio3 Negaprion brevirostris3
Acanthostracion quadricornis3 Fundulus grandis3 Nicholsina usta3
Achirus lineatus3 Fundulus seminolis3 No fish
Acrostichum aureum Fundulus similis3 No grass in quadrat1
Albula spp.3 Gambusia holbrooki3 Oligoplites saurus3
Albula vulpes3 Gobiesox strumosus3 Opisthonema oglinum3
Aluterus schoepfii3 Gobionellus oceanicus3 Opsanus beta3
Ameiurus catus3 Gobiosoma bosc3 Oreochromis aureus3
Ameiurus nebulosus3 Gobiosoma robustum3 Orthopristis chrysoptera3
Anarchopterus criniger3 Gobiosoma spp.3 Other green algae1
Anchoa cubana3 Gracilaria sp.1 Paraclinus marmoratus3
Anchoa hepsetus3 Haemulon plumierii3 Paralichthys albigutta3
Anchoa mitchilli3 Halodule wrightii1 Penaeus duorarum3
Anchoa spp.3 Halophila sp.1 Penaeus spp.3
Apalone ferox3 Halymenia sp.1 Poecilia latipinna3
Archosargus probatocephalus3 Harengula jaguana3 Pogonias cromis3
Argopecten irradians Hippocampus erectus3 Portunus spp.3
Argopecten spp. Hippocampus zosterae3 Prionotus scitulus3
Ariopsis felis3 Hypnea1 Prionotus tribulus3
Attached algae1 Hyporhamphus meeki3 Pseudemys peninsularis3
Bagre marinus3 Hyporhamphus spp.3 Pseudocrenilabrinae3
Bairdiella chrysoura3 Hyporhamphus unifasciatus3 Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus3
Bathygobius soporator3 Hypsoblennius hentz3 Pterygoplichthys spp.3
Bathygobius spp.3 Ictalurus punctatus3 Quercus geminata
Brevoortia spp.3 Ictalurus spp.3 Quercus virginiana
Calamus arctifrons3 Lactophrys trigonus3 Rachycentron canadum3
Calamus penna3 Lagodon rhomboides3 Rhinoptera bonasus3
Callinectes ornatus3 Laguncularia racemosa2 Rhizophora mangle2
Callinectes sapidus3 Leiostomus xanthurus3 Sabal palmetto
Callinectes spp.3 Lepisosteus osseus3 Sardinella aurita3
Caranx hippos3 Lepisosteus platyrhincus3 Sarotherodon melanotheron3
Caranx latus3 Lepomis macrochirus3 Schinus terebinthifolia
Carcharhinus leucas3 Lepomis punctatus3 Sciaenops ocellatus3
Caulerpa prolifera1 Lepomis spp.3 Scomberomorus maculatus3
Centropomus undecimalis3 Limulus polyphemus Selene vomer3
Centropristis striata3 Lophogobius cyprinoides3 Serenoa repens
Chaetodipterus faber3 Loricariidae spp.3 Sphoeroides nephelus3
Chasmodes saburrae3 Lucania parva3 Sphoeroides spengleri3
Chelonia mydas3 Lupinoblennius nicholsi3 Sphyraena barracuda3
Chilomycterus schoepfii3 Lutjanus griseus3 Sphyraena borealis3
Chloroscombrus chrysurus3 Lutjanus synagris3 Sphyrna tiburo3
Ctenogobius smaragdus3 Lyngbya sp. Strongylura marina3
Cynoscion arenarius3 Malaclemys terrapin3 Strongylura notata3
Cynoscion nebulosus3 Megalops atlanticus3 Strongylura timucu3
Cyprinodon variegatus3 Menidia spp.3 Suaeda linearis2
Diapterus auratus3 Menippe mercenaria3 Symphurus plagiusa3
Diodon holocanthus3 Menippe spp.3 Syngnathus floridae3
Diplodus holbrookii3 Menticirrhus americanus3 Syngnathus louisianae3
Dorosoma petenense3 Menticirrhus saxatilis3 Syngnathus scovelli3
Drift algae1 Menticirrhus spp.3 Synodus foetens3
Drift red algae1 Microgobius gulosus3 Syringodium filiforme1
Echeneis naucrates3 Microgobius thalassinus3 Thalassia testudinum1
Echeneis neucratoides3 Micropogonias undulatus3 Trachinotus carolinus3
Echeneis spp.3 Micropterus salmoides3 Trachinotus falcatus3
Elops saurus3 Monacanthus ciliatus3 Trinectes maculatus3
Elops spp.3 Mugil cephalus3 Tylosurus crocodilus3
Epinephelus itajara3 Mugil curema3 Ulva1
Eucinostomus gula3 Mugil spp.3 Urophycis floridana3
Eucinostomus harengulus3 Mugil trichodon3 Yucca sp.
Eucinostomus spp.3 Mycteroperca microlepis3 Acanthophora sp.1
Eugerres plumieri3 Myrica cerifera Acanthostracion quadricornis3

1 - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, 2 - Coastal Wetlands, 3 - Nekton

References

1.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Florida STORET / WIN. (2024).
2.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)/WQX. (2023).
3.
University of Florida (UF); Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Florida LAKEWATCH Program. (2024).
4.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program. (2022).
5.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC); Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network. (2018).
6.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Water; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); National Estuary Program (NEP); coastal states. National Aquatic Resource Surveys, National Coastal Condition Assessment. (2021).
7.
Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring. (2022).
8.
Tampa Bay Interagency Seagrass Monitoring Program; Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP). Tampa Bay Seagrass Monitoring. (2023).