Blind Pass Reopening

The SCCF Marine Lab was awarded a small Program Development (PD) grant from Florida Sea Grant to contrast water quality and the condition of seagrasses within and adjacent to Blind Pass, before and after the opening of the pass by dredging in summer 2009. The dredging was nearing completion in late July when the Pass literally blew out and opened. Conditions are being compared with those at Redfish Pass as an example of a free and open pass. Lab scientists will be studying the response of seagrasses to increased flow from clearer gulf waters, and how that increased flow transports water through the pass. Shallow, subtidal seagrasses will be mapped also as a baseline, contrasting with their later status using airborne hyperspectral imagery. It is expected that reopening Blind Pass will improve water quality, clarity and eventually seagrass health in the area of the pass.

Water quality will be characterized on both the Gulf and Pine Island Sound sides before and after the opening of the pass. RECON sensors are located at both Redfish Pass and Blind Pass and the mobile RECON sensor array will also be used to characterize conditions at 64 stations on both sides of Captiva/Sanibel. This work will complement other studies such as the TDC-supported Captiva Water Quality Assessment Program funded through the Captiva Community Panel. These water quality data are also being meshed with data collected by state and local agencies as well as work funded by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Lee County. The Lab will be working with many other local groups, especially Florida Gulf Coast University, along with volunteers from the Bayous Preservation Association.

SCCF staff began monitoring waters around Blind Pass and Redfish Pass to quantify effects of the opening of Blind Pass on water quality and seagrasses.  The mobile RECON unit was deployed at 64 stations on February 17-18, 2009 to begin characterizing water quality conditions in effect before the Pass was opened.  In addition to the mobile RECON, water quality parameters were sampled using a Hydrolab meter at all stations, along with measurements of light attenuation.  Water samples used to test for total suspended solids and CDOM were collected at 14 stations.  Nine stations were also tested for nutrients and chlorophyll a.  The Lee County Environmental Lab provides the nutrients testing. Dr. David Fugate, of Florida Gulf Coast University, collaborated with SCCF staff to deploy a current profiler (see below) and paired turbidity sensors.