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Bradenton Beach Responds to Bacteria Readings

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BRADENTON BEACH – Last week, the Times reported on dangerously-high levels of enterococcus bacteria have been sampled along the waterfront at Bridge St. and Bay Dr. South in Bradenton Beach. In response to the readings, the city issued the following response:

On Friday, February 14, the city (of Bradenton Beach) was informed by Joe McClash and Andy Mele that Suncoast Waterkeeper performed two water samplings somewhere in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Class 3 body of water adjacent to Bay Drive South.

The city was told that the test result identified the presence of Enterococcus. Enterococci are normally present, as colonizers, in the intestinal tract of human beings and animals, and can be recovered from feces in large quantities.

Mayor John Chappie has been in communication with Tom Larkin at the Manatee County Health Department. Mr. Larkin was made aware of the boating community activities in the waters tested, the Manatee County force main construction activities adjacent to that area and recent boring activities for the undergrounding of utility lines on Bridge Street. Mr. Larkin indicated he was also in communication with Florida Health Beaches Program in Tallahassee regarding this matter.

Mayor Chappie has asked the Bradenton Beach Public Works Department to conduct local inspections at and around the Bridge Street Pier. It was noted a recent CRA meeting that there have been higher counts of pelican fecal matter on the pier and floating dock, which may be the contributing cause for the recent water samplings collected by Suncoast Waterkeeper.

The city of Bradenton Beach has partnered with Southwest Florida Water Management District and invested in the development and creation of a customized stormwater management plan to clean the water going into the water table and the water bodies. The city, through the Community Redevelopment Agency, has invested substantial funds to develop a living shoreline and use nature to promote an environmentally friendly aquaculture.

The CRA recently authorized $5,000 to monitor the water quality impacts of the 2019 clam restoration project conducted in the waters near the pier. That authorization also includes the installation of seagrass cages that promote seagrass growth. The CRA also authorized $10,000 for the purchase and installation of 14 of the larger-sized Mini-Reefs to be placed in the waters off the east end of the Bridge Street Pier through the Center of Anna Maria Island’s Go Green initiative.

The city has partnered with Mote Marine, S.T.A.R.T., Oceans Habitats Inc., Sea and Shoreline LLC, local restaurants and local fishermen for these projects. The city also supports the clam mitigation efforts proposed to the Florida Legislature in House Bill 3829.


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