Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To obtain accessible formats of this document, please call (727) 464-4062 (V/TDD).

Cross Bayou Canal

The Pinellas County Department of Public Works, Division of Environmental Management (DEM) monitors County waterbodies to determine if waters are “fishable and swimmable” or are in need of improvement. If a waterbody does not meet the State standards indicative of a healthy system, it is considered impaired, and actions are required to improve water quality. Pinellas County implements a number of educational programs, structural stormwater projects, and county ordinances that result in pollution reductions. Additionally, the County partners with municipalities and other public agencies to research sources of pollution in the watershed and to implement proper management practices to improve water quality. This flyer gives a brief summary of the assessment results for Cross Bayou Canal based on monitoring since 2003. The data collected has been distilled into a few key components which are indicative of general, overall water quality health, shown on the next page. The South Cross Bayou Canal flows southward into Long Bayou and then into Boca Ciega Bay from sites 24-01 and 24-07, while the flow in North Cross Bayou, as measured at 24-02, is northward into Old Tampa Bay. As part of the Pinellas County ambient monitoring program, these sites are sampled eight times a year, approximately every 40 days from June through September (wet season) and every 51 days for the rest of the year (dry season). Some water quality parameters are measured in the field: pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, salinity, and flow. Other parameters are analyzed at the County lab from collected water samples: total phosphorus, ortho-phosphate, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, chlorophylls a, b, and c, phaeophytin, total suspended solids, turbidity, five-day biological oxygen demand, and E. coli or enterococcus bacteria.

See other side for water quality results

2018 Update

Pinellas County Watershed Summary

Monitoring Locations

The Cross Bayou Canal watershed is shaded in green on the map above, with the monitoring sites denoted by green dots.

Site 24-07

Site 24-02

Site 24-01

www.pinellascounty.org/watershed

s

North Cross Bayou Canal

Currently, North Cross Bayou Canal is attaining some of its designated uses.

Total nitrogen and chlorophyll-a in the canal are at healthy levels.

North Cross Bayou Canal is currently impaired for total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, and fecal bacteria.

South Cross Bayou Canal The data collected from the two monitoring sites is combined for an overall assessment of South Cross Canal.

Currently, South Cross Bayou Canal is attaining some of its designated uses.

Total nitrogen and dissolved oxygen in the canal are at healthy levels.

South Cross Bayou Canal is currently impaired for total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and fecal bacteria.

Good=meeting State standards Impaired=not meeting State standards Visit the FDEP website for more information on standards.

Pinellas County Watershed Summary

Data trends since 2003 The table below indicates the status of the stream each year as measured against State water quality standards. Long-

term statistical analysis of data since 2003 indicates significantly decreasing/improving levels of total nitrogen and

phosphorus, but worsening levels of dissolved oxygen in the North Cross Bayou Canal. In South Cross Bayou, there is a

significant decreasing/improving trend in nitrogen, phosphorus, and total suspended solids, although chlorophyll-a shows

an increasing/worsening trend