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VOL 22 No. 45
August 17, 2022
Water taxi plan headed to county commission
Water taxi service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island would initially be offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
Registration requested for Hunters Point canal users HUNTERS POINT | SUBMITTED
Signs seeking voluntary vessel registration have been erected along the Hunters Point canal. Page 27
Stormwater released this week from Piney Point The stormwater released into Tampa Bay does not have the same nitrogen content as the phosphate process water released in 2021. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com
PALMETTO – Stormwater collected over several months in a pond on top of a phosphogypsum waste stack at Piney Point is being released this week into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The “dewatering,” another step toward the final closure of the idled phosphate plant, began on Aug. 12 and will amount to about 4.5 million gallons, spokesperson Alexandra Kuhta said. “This is the first pond to be closed and contains strictly rainwater,” she
said. “Ultimately all (ponds) will be closed on the site.” The stormwater is separate from the 262 million gallons of phosphate process wastewater still on site, which is contained in separate lined compartments and is managed separately, according to an FDEP press release. A leak in one of the gypsum stacks in March 2021 resulted in FDEP approving the dumping of 215 million gallons of contaminated process water into Tampa Bay to prevent flooding of homes and businesses in the event of the stack’s collapse. The discharged water spread throughout Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay, transporting nitrogen and phosphorus that worsened a bloom of the toxic algae red tide that lasted from April to November, causing fish kills and respiratory irritation. The stormwater is less problematic, according to FDEP.
of a 65-foot-high, fixed-span bridge in Cortez lose in court. 4 OPPONENTS
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Anna Maria Island, Florida
“DEP and the court-appointed receiver have independently tested the water, and current water sampling results indicate the concentrations of total nitrogen range from 2.3 to 3.5 mg/L. At this level, the nutrient loading to the bay is expected to be less than 0.1% of the federally adopted annual Total Maximum Daily Load for Lower Tampa Bay,” according to the press release. The stormwater pond will be modified so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater, eliminating the need for future stormwater releases, according to the agency. Court-appointed receiver and Tampa-based attorney Herb Donica recommended a phased approach to closing the ponds, which are less than two miles from Tampa Bay, near two state aquatic preserves. The Piney Point site will be closed by December 2024, according to a plan approved by the FDEP on March 30.
ANNA MARIA – Elliott Falcione hopes to present Manatee County Commissioners with a proposed water taxi plan on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Falcione, the director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, made that announcement when appearing before the Anna Maria City Commission on Aug. 11. Without naming the water taxi company to potentially be contracted by the county, Falcione said the county has an experienced, Florida-based water taxi company in mind. If county commissioners approve the proposed water taxi plan, service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island could begin as early as February. Falcione said the initial plan calls for two pontoon boat-like water taxis to run from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Falcione said each water taxi would be 40-50 feet long, 14-15 feet wide and have a draft of 2½ to 3 feet. In an email previously sent to Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie, Falcione said each water taxi could carry 35 to 45 passengers. Falcione said water taxi service would originate from the public day dock in downtown Bradenton, just east of the Green Bridge. The water taxis would make their first stop at the City Pier in Anna Maria before traveling to the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and back, with a return stop at the City Pier. Falcione said it’s possible the service might be extended to the Coquina North boat ramp, across the street from the north end of Coquina Beach. Falcione said the county might request additional water taxi service during peak visitation periods and major holidays, and service might eventually be expanded SEE WATER TAXI, PAGE 27
MANATEE COUNTY | SUBMITTED
The county-contracted water taxis are expected to resemble the boat shown here.
SIGNS ON PALMA Sola
Causeway to come down. 5 FORMER BEACH MARKET
director seeks new venue. 3
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