JAN 16 2017
City of St. Petersburg Assisting With Discovery of Dead And Sick Pelicans; Testing Water for Cause
After more than one dozen pelicans have been found dead or sick in or near local waterways, the City of St. Petersburg Public Works Administration, which includes Water Resources and Stormwater departments, are working alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other local partners to remove the birds and identify the cause of the illness.
?We are testing the water for biological indicators and dissolved oxygen content and expect results on Tuesday. Per Mayor Rick Kriseman?s direction, we are also pursuing more extensive testing in order to better determine a cause prior to Florida Fish and Wildlife?s necropsy results,? said Interim Director of Water Resources John Palenchar.
A cold-weather fish kill near Riviera Bay Lake last week was also accompanied by reports of sick pelicans. John Norris, Director for Stormwater, Pavement and Traffic Operations for the city said that more than one ton of fish were removed from the lake by his crew. ?We have not yet determined if there is a connection between the fish kill in Riviera Bay and the pelicans found sick or dead in other parts of the city,? said Norris.
The Department of Environmental Protection has also been notified, although there are no reports of a recent spill or discharge into our waterways.
In an abundance of caution, signs with the following message have been posted along waterways from St. Petersburg?s downtown to Weedon Island.
WARNING
Unknown Potential Health Risk
DO NOT PLAY SWIM OR FISH IN THIS AREA
Due to recent Bird illnesses in this vicinity, residents and cautioned to avoid contact with surface water until further notice. Water Samples are being taken and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is being apprised of the situation. FWCC can be contacted at 888-404-FWCC. The City Water Resources Department can be contacted at 727-893-7261.
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Updated: Jan. 17, 2017 01:22:54 PM
http://www.stpete.org/internal-news-detail_T2_R313.php
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Riviera Bay, Coffee Pot Bayou Water Test Results Near Normal; Bird Testing Continues
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (January 17, 2017) ? Initial test results from water samples taken from waters in and around Coffee Pot Bayou and Riviera Bay have shown no abnormalities.
?From all we?ve seen, the water there is in overall good shape,? said Interim Water Resources Director John Palenchar. ?But we will continue testing, and so the signs will stay up for awhile.?
Warnings for recreational water users about the dead pelicans (first seen at a retention pond near Riviera Bay, then over the past weekend in and around Coffee Pot Bayou) were posted along the shore line from North Shore Park through Coffee Pot Bayou. The signs informed residents about the enhanced and cooperative testing being spearheaded by the city of St. Petersburg and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC). The City has also brought in an independent biologist to further study what?s causing the birds to be sick.
Initial water samples from the retention pond where the sick birds were first encountered showed low levels of dissolved oxygen. Samples from nearby Riviera Bay and waters further south into Coffee Pot Bayou had normal levels of oxygen. In addition, the other tested elements fell within normal parameters for recreational waterways, with the exception of a lone site near the Coffee Pot Bayou boat ramp that showed poor water quality.
?We will continue to work with the FWCC and our independent partners to pinpoint the problem,? said Palenchar. Palenchar added that the incident is in no way related to last summer?s heavy rains and the subsequent discharge of potentially treated sewage water.
The latest information can be found at
www.stpete.org/water/waterquality.php. More information will be released when it becomes available.
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Updated: Jan. 17, 2017 05:22:14 PM
http://www.stpete.org/internal-news-detail_T2_R317.php
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St. Petersburg Brings in Additional Assistance to Investigate Sick Pelicans ?Update #1
St. Petersburg, FL (January 17, 2017) - In an effort to expedite and enhance current testing and investigation into a troubling discovery of sick birds near local waterways, the city of St. Petersburg is calling in an independent ecologist to assist.
Scientists with Arcadis U.S., based in Melbourne, Florida, have joined with St. Petersburg Water Resources and investigative crews from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to gather clues into what is causing the Pelicans? sickness.
?We want to have experts evaluating this,? said John Palenchar, Interim Water Resources Director, ?Independently tasked to find out ? as soon as possible ? what?s causing this.?
St. Petersburg has been dealing with this situation since last week, when a fish-kill was reported on January 12, at a stormwater retention pond in the Riviera Bay area.
?RBLake #1? is a freshwater stormwater pond with many exotic tilapia, which are susceptible to low temperature and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) issues. Adequate dissolved oxygen is necessary for good water quality, as well as a necessary element to all forms of life. Natural stream purification processes require adequate oxygen levels in order to provide for aerobic life forms. As dissolved oxygen levels in water drop below 5.0 mg/l, aquatic life is put under stress. The lower the concentration, the greater the stress. Oxygen levels that remain below 1-2 mg/l for a few hours can result in large fish kills.
Preliminary data from that pond showed readings at approximately 0.32 mg/l, with 4,900 pounds of fish removed from Riviera Bay Lake.
FWCC have taken water and algae samples to test for quality and is also testing the birds that died to determine cause of death.
The second location is Coffee Pot Bayou, about 3 miles south of Riviera Bay. Scientists are investigating the probability that the affected birds initially fed on fish at RB Lake#1 and flew to Coffee Pot Bayou, which is near a substantial pelican habitat.
All testing -- by the FWCC, City of St.Petersburg, and now Arcadis -- will be coordinated and used to formulate a plan to keep the birds safe, as well as to alert residents and recreational water users to any potential problems. Further details and results will be released when they become available.
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Updated: Jan. 17, 2017 05:21:21 PM
http://www.stpete.org/internal-news-detail_T2_R314.php
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City Continues Water Testing Regarding Bird Deaths Alongside FWC Investigation
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (January 18, 2017) ? St. Petersburg Public Works employees have collected 15 dead or dying pelicans since January 12. They?ve also stepped up to assist in the investigation as what?s making the birds so sick, working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, local rescue groups and learning institutions.
Since Stormwater, Pavement, and Traffic Operations Director John Norris and his crews responded to fish kill in a retention pond earlier this month near Riviera Bay, St. Petersburg Public Works staffers have assisted with everything from gathering water samples to sign placement ? warning residents and recreational water users of the enhanced testing.
?The good news is that the water is in good shape,? said John Palenchar, Interim Water Resources Director. ?We are continuing with follow-up sampling and data sharing with FWC and our environmental consultant.?
A reminder from the FWC: Citizens observing sick or dead birds or other wildlife are encouraged to make an online bird mortality report or to call FWC?s Fish Kill Hotline at 1-800-636-0511.
The City of St. Petersburg is continually updating our water quality samples and posting the information through the ?Recreational Water Quality? tab at
www.stpete.org/water/waterquality.php.
Further findings will be updated as they become available both at
www.stpete.org and through @StPetePW .
http://www.stpete.org/internal-news-detail_T2_R319.php
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Warning Signs Removed; Water Quality Testing Continues
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (January 19, 2017) ? Following recent tests on water in and around Coffee Pot Bayou which have come back within normal ranges, Public Works crews have removed the warning signs around the shoreline. The warning signs had been recently placed around Coffee Pot Bayou as tests were being conducted following the discovery of numerous sick and dying brown pelicans.
?The water quality is not in question in Coffee Pot Bayou,? stated John Palenchar, Interim Water Resources Director. ?And we are working with all concerned to try and find out what made the birds sick.?
A total of 17 pelicans have been sent to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) Wildlife Lab in Gainesville for necropsy. Samples taken during necropsy will be sent to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) in Georgia for further testing and additional samples will be sent to FWC?s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg to be tested for algal toxins. Busch Gardens is sending blood, fecal, and tissue samples to the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to be tested for algal toxins. Toxin analysis to determine if this is potentially related to red tide will be available 2-3 days after samples are received. Results from samples submitted to SCWDS will take longer, possibly weeks.
Today, biological testing experts from Arcadis are taking further samples for their independent testing.
?There is no pre-conceived notion as to what may be going on out here,? said Scott Lehman, Arcadis Senior Asset Consultant. ?Our intent is to be that third party review to see if we find anything independent of what the city is finding.?
So far, Palenchar says the city has found that the water quality is ?well within the parameters for recreational usage.?
The test results from the independent consultant Arcadis will likely be ready by early next week.
For updates, visit
www.stpete.org/water/waterquality.php or follow us @StPetePW .
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Updated: Jan. 19, 2017 11:22:52 AM
http://www.stpete.org/internal-news-detail_T2_R320.php
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Water Quality Tests Continue After Nanoplankton And Red Tide Found
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (January 20, 2017) ? Warning signs have been removed from waters along Coffee Pot Bayou, but state-sponsored and independent scientists continue to study the water quality following the recent rash of pelican deaths.
Initial test results, compared with a recent baseline series of samples provided by the city of St. Petersburg, showed water was within recreational use parameters. Despite increased water testing in the area, recent events have not caused a decrease in visitors to Coffee Pot Park. Activity by residents on social media indicate that there is more fish and wildlife activity in the waters over the past week.
A water sample collected Thursday, January 19, by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff at Riviera Lake #1, the site of an initial cold weather inversion-related fish kill last week which led to discoveries of sick or dead brown pelicans, has turned up bloom concentrations of nanoplankton. Meanwhile, a water sample collected at Bayou Grande, meanwhile, where a dead white pelican was found, showed background concentrations of Karenia brevis, or red tide. Results of those tests, as well as necropsies on the dead pelicans, should be ready by next week. Research teams from the city, state and an independent study group will continue to monitor the waters for any unusual activity during the weekend.
The latest information is available at
www.stpete.org/water/waterquality.php.
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Updated: Jan. 20, 2017 05:21:26 PM
http://www.stpete.org/internal-news-detail_T2_R322.php
http://www.stpete.org/internal-news.php
