Skip to main content

Tag: Palma Sola

Perico, Palma Sola cleanup Saturday

Perico, Palma Sola cleanup Saturday

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Once again, Anna Maria Island residents who care about our local waters will have a chance to get involved in cleaning them up during the upcoming Suncoast Aqua Ventures water-based cleanup on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. until noon. The focus of the cleanup will be Perico Bayou and Northern Palma Sola Bay. There will be about a dozen kayaks available for volunteers, some of which are tandem. Organizers are encouraging those who own kayaks and shallow draft boats to bring them, so no one is left out who wants to be on the water. The event will launch from the Robinson Preserve kayak launch west of the Palma Sola Causeway on the south side of Manatee Avenue West.

All supplies will be provided, including pickers, bags, gloves, drinks and snacks. All volunteers need to bring are water shoes and refillable water bottles. This area has not been cleaned since before Hurricane Ian, so organizers expect to find a lot of trash tucked into the mangroves.

Please register online at https://suncoastaquaventures.com/event/perico-bayou-northern-palma-sola-bay-water-based-clean-up/ so organizers have sufficient supplies and refreshments for everyone. If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Huntsinger at 941-962-1488.

Suncoast Aqua Ventures was created by a handful of friends in 2016. Inspired by Huntsinger and Troy Brown, a bunch of friends who dive and love the water became concerned with the trash and debris they discovered on the offshore reefs. Instead of complaining, they decided to do something about it. They created a one-of-a-kind competitive event called The Reef & Beach Cleanup and gave cash and prizes in numerous categories to the teams that compete. These events to date have collected over 97,000 pounds of marine debris from our waterways. Volunteers come from all ages and all walks of life. They are water enthusiasts, kayakers, fishermen, scuba divers and anyone who has a passion for the local aquatic ecosystem. Come out and meet some of the many passionate and action-oriented citizens on the Suncoast who turn their love of the water into action.

It’s the work of local non-governmental organizations like Suncoast Aqua Ventures, their leaders and members that inspire people to preserve our paradise and give them a way to participate in protecting it. If you’re looking for a way to contribute, join the cleanup on Aug. 3. See you there.

Water quality advisory in effect at Palma Sola

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Water Quality.

PALMA SOLA – The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) has issued a water quality advisory for Palma Sola South due to high bacteria levels.

Tests on May 6 and 8 indicate that the water quality at Palma Sola South does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida Department of Health.

Palma Sola South is at the east end of the Palma Sola Causeway and the north side of Manatee Avenue West.

DOH-Manatee advises against any water-related activities at this location due to an increased risk of illness in swimmers. Sampling conducted during water quality monitoring showed that the level of bacteria exceeds the level established by state guidelines.

Water testing on May 6 also showed a bacterial water quality level of “poor” at Coquina Beach North, but no advisory was issued. Test results on May 8 show a “moderate” level of the bacteria at both Coquina Beach North and South, one step below “good.”

Enterococci are enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. According to DOH-Manatee, “The presence of enteric bacteria can be an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife and human sewage. If they are present in high concentrations in recreational waters and are ingested while swimming or enter the skin through a cut or sore, they may cause human disease, infections or rashes.”

The advisory at Palma Sola South will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level. Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches. For more information, call 941-714-7596 or visit Manatee.FloridaHealth.gov.

The making of Perico Preserve

Reel Time: The making of Perico Preserve

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Parks, Reel Time.

Nestled just off the edge of Perico Bayou, a slender body of water that connects Tampa Bay and Palma Sola Bay, Perico Preserve would appear to the unversed as an extension of the wetlands that rim Perico Island.

The island, and hence the preserve, were named after one of its earliest residents, Perico Pompon, a Cuban fisherman who operated a rancho on the island in the early 1840s. By the 1880s settlers had established numerous homesteads on the island. Those early settlers established fruit farms and grew oranges, pineapple and guava. The island was also home to a large fish camp.

Eventually, a wooden bridge (recreated at Robinson Preserve) was built to connect the island to the nearby community of Palma Sola. A post office was established on the island in 1891 and a hotel was built that offered boat excursions to take advantage of the area’s bounty of game and fish. In the early 1920s, a bridge was built that connected Perico and the mainland to Anna Maria Island. The new bridge increased traffic and tourism to Perico, which grew into a popular destination for tourists eager to explore the region.

Since the 1960s, Perico Island has been the setting of many legal battles between developers and residents who wish to maintain the natural resources of the island. One of those battles resulted in a compromise between the developers of Perico Island and Manatee County which led to the purchase of the property where the preserve sits.

The transformation of Perico Preserve from farmland to the beautiful mix of habitats that can be seen today is a story of recreating a coastal wetland that resembles historical Manatee County. A review of the 1970s-era environmental assessment of the impacts of future development (now in place) points to the importance of preserving as much land as possible.

Next week, I’ll talk about the transformation of farmlands to Perico Preserve and those responsible for this Manatee County jewel.

Palma Sola Bay impacted by several sources

Palma Sola Bay impacted by several sources

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Water Quality.

BRADENTON – Horses are not the only source of bacteria and seagrass damage in Palma Sola Bay, an expert told the Bradenton City Council.

In a July 26 water quality presentation, Dr. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), stopped short of naming horses as a primary cause of elevated bacteria levels and loss of seagrass, instead saying that there are likely multiple causes.

Horseback riding on the north side of the bay has long been debated by the council, the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Committee and water quality organizations.

“People damage the bay by enjoying the bay, we’re not against that at all,” Tomasko said. “SBEP is for access and recreating on the bay but that does cause damage to the bay.”

In his slide presentation to the council, he raised the question, “Do horses pose a risk to the health of Palma Sola Bay? Is this something that might be bothering some people, or is it something that puts the system at risk?”

Two businesses provide horseback riding in the water on the north side of the bay.

Tomasko discussed four metrics related to water quality and health of the bay, and talked about each of their possible sources: Nutrient enrichment, pathogens, physical damage and nitrogen.

“We generate nutrients through our fecal material, through passing urine. We generate nutrients by fertilizing our lawns, not picking up after our dogs,” he said. “We’re going to look at whether or not there is a nutrient-related problem in Palma Sola Bay and if there is, how important might horses be for that.”

Pathogens can be quantified, Tomasko said.

“Pathogens are things that can make you sick. We test for bacteria. We have three types of fecal indicator bacteria – e. coli, enterococci and fecal coliform, and none of those are just specific to humans, to mammals or to animals,” he said. “I can get you millions of fecal coliform bacteria from decomposing grass in a bucket of water. Our indicators are not specific to a source. So, if you find elevated levels of bacteria, it doesn’t mean you know why they’re there. “

Two different locations, one on the north side where horses are ridden and one on the south side where they are not are both sampled by laboratories, he said.

The Florida Department of Health collected more than 50 samples of south-side data and 84% of them were good, Tomasko said.

“On the north side, the values are poor more than any other category. Elevated levels are found more on the north side than the south side,” he said. “The south side doesn’t show elevated levels (of bacteria) except on occasion.”

“Enterococci bacteria is not necessarily from humans or pets or horses. It could be, but it could also be coming from decomposing seagrass meadows,” Tomasko said, noting that seagrass is absent from the south side of the bay.

Tomasko suggested that there is a good way to find out where the bacteria is coming from and that is through quantitative testing.

“My suggestion would be to try find what the bacteria is coming from to know what you should act upon, if anything,” he said. “If I have 3,000 bacteria and one is due to a human, that’s a lot different than if I have 3,000 bacteria and 1,500 is due to a human. There’s a quantitative way to do this.”

Evidence of physical damage to seagrass is apparent, Tomasko said, but could be caused by multiple sources.

“If we walk through seagrass meadows, or run through with a boat propeller, you’re going to scar the grass a little bit,” he said. “Horses are 1,500-2,000 pounds, they’re kind of heavy, but they also have buoyancy. A submerged horse will have some of its weight offset by buoyancy in the water.”

“It’s important to keep in mind we’ve been doing a lot of things to physically damage these habitats. And horses are causing a trail, true, but there’s a lot of boat propeller scars there too.”

With regard to nitrogen levels he said, “If you want your lawn to grow fast or your trees to look green, add nitrogen. So, we’re trying to keep the amount of nitrogen under control in the water.”

Five or six times a year, volunteers go out to measure microalgae in the bay.

“This was a healthier bay 10-15 years ago. We had a 28% increase in seagrass, we had lower nitrogen, we had lower algae and lower phytoplankton,” Tomasko said. “Palma Sola Bay continues to be healthy, looking at the seagrass status, the phytoplankton, the water clarity, it continues to be classified as a healthy system.”

“Would removing these horses reduce some of these issues?” he asked. “Yes, probably in a local sense, but the bay remains healthy and it doesn’t appear that the bay is in some kind of tipping point or close to it.”

Palma Sola Causeway sign rules to be enforced

Palma Sola Causeway sign rules to be enforced

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON – Anyone who’s traveled the Palma Sola Scenic Highway has seen the roadside businesses popping up along Manatee Avenue – kayak, paddleboard, horseback riding and now, Jet Ski rentals.

While the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity (CME) can’t stop the businesses from being there, they are working to reduce the visual impact on the scenic highway. Members met Aug. 10 to discuss improvements planned for the roadside and how they can help reduce the impact of the various businesses that have sprung up along the causeway’s beach areas.

The scenic highway stretches along Manatee Avenue from 75th Street in Bradenton to East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach with plans to extend it to Manatee Beach in the near future. One of the most picturesque sections of the scenic highway is the Palma Sola Causeway Beach with water views on both sides of the road.

During their quarterly meeting, members noted that in addition to the horseback riding, kayak and paddleboard rentals already taking place in the area, motorized watercraft rentals also have sprung up – along with other vendors – on the side of the road. While the CME’s members cannot prevent businesses from using the causeway as long as cash does not exchange hands there, they can enforce existing sign regulations in the area.

Palma Sola Causeway sign rules to be enforced
Members of the Palma Sola CME are engaging local code enforcement officers to crack down on business signage along the causeway. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Co-chairs of the committee Ingrid McClellan and Craig Keys said they’d be willing to speak with vendors along the causeway and city of Bradenton code enforcement officials about the proliferation of signage in the area. No advertising signage is allowed on the scenic highway and, while McClellan said they’d been allowing businesses to slide with sandwich board signs, she’s noticed much larger business signs being used, including banners and flag signs that are pushed into the ground.

Members of the group agreed to not allow any business signage on the causeway going forward unless it’s small and a part of a vehicle.

Other improvements

Members also agreed to crack down on overnight parking and camping on the causeway and at the Palma Sola Boat Ramp. McClellan said she’d noticed some boats that are moored just off the causeway beach, and while the group cannot stop that activity, she said vehicles belonging to the boat owners have been parked long-term on the causeway.

“We are not their parking lot,” she said. The group agreed to reach out to the Bradenton Police Department and code enforcement to see if the vehicle owners could be notified that they’re not allowed to park overnight on the causeway or if the vehicles can be ticketed.

Improvements planned for the scenic highway include the addition of new, larger trash cans, a refresh of the mural on the park’s restroom facilities and the replacement of bollards along the shoreline.

CME members also discussed the possibility of having a crosswalk with flashing beacons installed across Manatee Avenue near the restroom facilities.

Water quality report

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Archives.

Click image for the latest water quality updates on Manatee Beach (in Holmes Beach), Coquina Beach (in Bradenton Beach), Cortez Beach (in Bradenton Beach), Bayfront Park (in Anna Maria) and the Palma Sola Causeway (in Bradenton).
Scenic Highway CME talks horses on the causeway

Scenic Highway CME talks horses on the causeway

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Health.

MANATEE COUNTY – The horses being ridden for profit along the causeway are again causing a stir, this time with members of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity (CME) and some nearby residents who live along Palma Sola Bay.

The subject of horseback riding in the bay came up during an Aug. 12 meeting of the CME. The group discussed the matter themselves and heard from two residents who live on the bay.

Robert Lombardo and Clif Gaus, two long-time bay residents, both spoke during public comment, asking for help from CME members in seeking regulation for the horse riding businesses.

Lombardo, who has lived for nearly 40 years on the bay, said that he initially became concerned about the businesses when he saw the horseback riding take off in 2016. After speaking with local elected officials and not garnering any interest in the issue, he said he backed off, only to renew his efforts in October 2019.

“I can’t ignore it anymore,” he said, noting that he’s seen a steady increase in the horse riding excursions and the number of companies operating on the causeway. Lombardo’s concerns include water quality and the destruction of seagrasses where the horses are ridden in the water off the beach. He said that he sees horse excrement float by his dock regularly which leads to concerns for him about fishing and swimming in the water.

Lombardo said that he spoke about his concerns with Julie Espy, Program Administrator of the Water Quality Assessment Program with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. While he said Espy agreed that there is cause for concern with both environmental and water quality impacts, she said the issue needs to be handled at a local level.

While Lombardo said he doesn’t want to put anyone out of business, he wants a structure in place that helps protect the area’s natural resources, including seagrasses, from destruction.

Gaus said that having so many businesses operate along the causeway corridor takes away from the beauty of the scenic highway and also reduces the number of people who can enjoy the causeway beaches. In addition to excrement and broken seagrasses, he said he’s also seen a horse break loose and run close to children playing on the beach. With so many horses, he said it discourages people from using the causeway and it creates issues with swimming in the water and using the beaches with excrement floating through the water and washing up on beaches.

Gaus presented members with two aerial photographs, one of the north side of the causeway from 2016 and another from 2019. While he assumes that the difference in coloring is due to sand being exposed rather than seagrasses being present, he said that the 2019 map clearly shows a difference where the horses commonly walk.

Shawn Duytschaver, a CME member and owner/operator of Surfer Bus, said that he’d previously proposed the idea of an equestrian trail along the side of the causeway that would keep the horses in one section that is clearly marked. He said that the issue is the way that the horses walk in the water digs up not only seagrass but also sand and would eventually create a channel, requiring the trail to be moved to another area.

Co-chair Ingrid McClellan said that before the CME group approaches any elected officials, they need to have concrete data to show the damage to the area. She suggested going to the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to get seagrass data from the past several years.

Member Mike Meehan suggested that all of the trailers parked on the side of the causeway, some on sidewalks, with horses blocking or constantly crossing the sidewalk could create a safety hazard that would need to be addressed.

Nancy Simpson with the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization said that there potentially are several issues for her organization to address, including beach erosion caused by damage to seagrasses that could potentially damage the roadway, travel time concerns along Manatee Avenue with the trailers backing in and out, and drivers slowing down to look at the horses and horses breaking free of their handlers.

Simpson also said that getting the Manatee County Department of Health in on the conversation could shed some light on how the horse excrement affects E. coli, or fecal bacteria, in the bay.

She offered to work with Lombardo and Gaus as a private citizen on presentations for the city of Bradenton’s planning and city commissioners.

Regulation, she said, is a “no-brainer,” adding that it’s wrong for businesses to profit from taxpayer-funded property without paying anything toward the maintenance of the property or remediation necessary because of the business use.

Previously, a representative from Beach Horses, one of the 10 companies that advertise horseback riding on the causeway, spoke to the CME group, suggesting that the businesses be regulated through a registration process similar to taxis. Each horse would be assigned a medallion and only a certain number of horses would be allowed at one time. While the plan was well-received by the group, it didn’t make it any further toward becoming a reality.

Currently, the horses are considered a method of transportation and are therefore allowed on the causeway. The companies that conduct the horseback riding trips along the beach and through the water are not required to have any special permits to operate but are not allowed to take cash onsite for services due to a prohibition against conducting business in a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) right of way.

The boundaries between what is a Manatee County park, what is owned by the city of Bradenton and what is an FDOT right of way are blurred and result in an enforcement issue for the area. CME co-chair Craig Keys said he would look into who has authority over the area and report back to the group.

After conversations ended, Gaus said he was happy with how discussions with the CME group had gone.

“I was pleased with their willingness to explore solutions with the city of Bradenton,” Gaus said. “The designated “Scenic Highway” at the entrance to Anna Maria Island is not a scenic highway in reality. Given the state environmental people will have nothing to do with preventing the seagrass destruction, I think we are left with the city as a remedy. I just can’t believe our state government would not want to even try to regulate a massive destruction of seagrass, the very thing they are charged with doing. It sets a horrible precedent for protecting our bays anywhere in the state. If this is their response, we might as well eliminate the entire Florida Department of Environmental Protection.”

Related coverage

 

Scenic Highway group seeks to solve horse problems

 

County moves to regulate horses in bay

 

Pinellas County bans water horses

Palma Sola Bay

Palma Sola water quality compromised

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

BRADENTON – The south side of Palma Sola Bay continues to test positive for moderate levels of enterococcus bacteria from fecal matter, according to the Florida Department of Health.

The moderate level has persisted since Aug. 26. Poor water quality was discovered on Aug. 12 and 13, briefly improving on Aug. 19.

That afternoon, an estimated 180,000 of reclaimed water spilled at 59th Street West and 21st Avenue West near Blake Medical Center when a contractor struck a water line, causing reclaimed water to rush down the street into a storm drain that leads to the bay, according to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) report.

A health advisory at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria has been lifted since water samples tested good on Sept. 3, the most recent water test available. Poor readings on Aug. 26 and 28 prompted the advisory.

The Florida Healthy Beaches Program uses a three-point scale – poor, moderate and good – in evaluating water safety. Tests detect the presence of enterococci – bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, which can be an indication of fecal pollution.

The bacteria may originate from sewer pipe breaks, stormwater runoff, wildlife, pets or horses.

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council asked DEP and the Pinellas County Commission in June to ban recreational horseback riding in Tampa Bay along the Sunshine Skyway Bridge causeway to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus from horse waste. Some of the same horses that are rented at the Skyway also carry tourists up and down beaches on the Palma Sola Bay Causeway and swim in Palma Sola Bay. The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Keep Manatee Beautiful also have expressed concerns about horse waste in the bay.

If fecal pollution is ingested while swimming or penetrates the skin through cuts, it can cause infections, rashes and disease, according to the health department.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended that states adopt the bacterial testing as a saltwater quality indicator. According to EPA studies, enterococci have a greater correlation with swimming-associated gastrointestinal illness in both marine and fresh waters than other bacterial indicator organisms and are less likely to die off in saltwater.

Related coverage

Letters: Horses on the causeway

Horses not allowed on Gulf beaches

Concerns raised over horse waste in bay