Dylan Hubbard described Boca Ciega Bay as a “doody-brown color” in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “I mean, it was really ugly,” he said.

The fishing charter captain and fourth-generation owner of Hubbard’s Marina explained that the water, which “looked like a sewer” rather than its typical blue-green hue, made it difficult to determine whether storm-induced wastewater spills or freshwater runoff was more to blame.

Regardless, Hubbard kept his wife and kids out of the water for months. Stakeholders throughout Tampa Bay echoed similar concerns.

The health of Florida’s largest open-water estuary, including Boca Ciega Bay, had improved in recent years, particularly in segments of Old Tampa Bay. However, an unprecedented hurricane season took a toll.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) recently released new data highlighting the impact of back-to-back hurricanes and massive sewage spills on the region. Maya Burke, assistant director of the St. Petersburg-based nonprofit, noted that the area was “dry, beautiful, and we had great water quality” throughout the first half of 2024.

“But beginning in the late summer, early fall, with these extreme weather events, we really saw an increase in the amount of rainfall and associated pollution,” Burke added. “And you saw declining water quality conditions in the late summer – especially in the fall.”

TBEP data showed that less than five million gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Tampa Bay estuary in 2023.

That number ballooned to nearly 90 million gallons in 2024 as torrential downpours in August preceded Helene in late September and Milton in early October. Sewage facilities and pipes were routinely overwhelmed.

The amount of pollution that flowed into local waterways last fall could fill over 136 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

TBEP’s analysis found that approximately 17.7 million gallons of wastewater entered Boca Ciega Bay, which borders St. Petersburg and Gulfport. However, Burke noted that the City of Bradenton’s embattled sewage treatment facilities were responsible for most of the region’s discharges.

Nearly 40 million gallons spilled into the Manatee River, which empties into Tampa Bay’s southern edge. Red tide algal blooms have since persisted in the area.

“We have a storm, and then the following spring or summer, we have red tide,” Hubbard said. “You can almost set your watch by it.”

Sewage was not the only pollution dumped into local waterways. Hubbard resumed business about a week after Milton, and stationed people on the bows of boats to serve as lookouts for debris. “We were coming across trash cans, dumpsters, refrigerators, and trees,” he said.

TBEP’s assessment showed a shift in water quality impacts. The organization measures chlorophyll levels, the green pigment that allows plants and algae to produce food.

TBEP uses these measurements from four segments of Tampa Bay to offer three color-coded recommendations – green for “stay the course,” yellow for “caution,” and red for “on alert.” While chlorophyll levels spiked south of Safety Harbor (adjacent to Old Tampa Bay) following Milton, the organization placed Old Tampa Bay in its “stay the course” category.

“Stay the course means that perhaps we’re starting to tip the seesaw back in a good direction, but we can’t lose that momentum,” Burke explained. “We need to continue making improvements, so we’re not flirting with failure.”

She noted that Old Tampa Bay has historically received much of TBEP’s attention due to “marginal water quality” and significant seagrass loss. Lower Tampa Bay, which roughly extends from Pinellas Point to Anna Maria Island, is now an area of concern.

Burke said the segment received a “caution” designation as water clarity and light penetration scores were below levels needed to support seagrass growth. “That’s something we’ll be keeping an eye on.”

There are silver linings. Burke noted that the 90 million gallons of sewage spilled in 2024 was less than half of what the estuary received in 2016.

“So, while it’s not good, it does look like many of our local governments have made progress investing in making wastewater infrastructure more resilient,” she said.

Burke said area water bodies have previously proved resilient – provided people commit to improvements. “I think we’ve heard loud and clear from the community that everyone values clean water and a clean Tampa Bay,” she added.

“So, I hope our budgets reflect our values, and we prioritize water quality investments accordingly.”

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(Image credit: Florida Department of Environmental Protection)