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The Value of A Healthy Bay
Citation:
GREENING, H. AND M. J. RUSSELL. The Value of A Healthy Bay. Presented at 6th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration, Tampa, FL, October 20 - 24, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Seagrass recovery and marsh restoration in Tampa Bay provides nutrient management ecosystem services equivalent to ~$1 million per year in wastewater treatment plant costs or ~$12 million in stormwater diversion and treatment infrastructure. Services provided by habitat restoration play important roles in maintaining a healthy bay.
Description:
Habitat and water quality restoration in coastal areas can improve not only ecological systems, but provide important and cost-effective services to the human population living within the watershed. Restoration of riparian and coastal marshes provides nutrient uptake and denitrification, which may preclude, reduce or delay the need for additional stormwater or wastewater treatment. Based on research conducted by EPA ORD in the Tampa Bay watershed, we examined the services and potential relative cost savings for the Tampa Bay community from seagrass expansion (more than 3,200 acres) and coastal marsh restoration (~550 acres). Seagrass expansion has occurred due to a >50% reduction in TN loading since 1980; marsh restoration is the result of multiple restoration projects conducted by public and private entities working together in Tampa Bay. Results of field studies and economic valuation indicate that nutrient management ecosystem services provided by the recovery of seagrass and marsh habitat in Tampa Bay were equivalent to avoiding ~$1 million per year in wastewater treatment plant costs or ~$12 million in stormwater diversion and treatment pond infrastructure. Ancillary benefits of this nutrient removal green infrastructure also include avoidance of a potential $6 million in annual medical bills due to natural atmospheric pollutant removal by vegetation. Ongoing seagrass and wetland functionality research results should allow the community to take advantage of these existing habitats or plan future natural capital restoration in this region for maintaining water quality and a healthy Tampa Bay.