surface water monitoring (continued)
Potential water quality or ecological changes related to surface water supplies are monitored by Tampa Bay Water’s comprehensive Hydrobiological Monitoring Programs (HBMP) that were developed for the Tampa Bypass Canal/Alafia River project and the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant. These permit-required programs monitor conditions in the lower Hillsborough River, the Alafia River, the Tampa Bypass Canal/McKay Bay, and areas in Hillsborough Bay near Apollo Beach and Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station.
Monitoring programs were designed with assistance from the HBMP Focus Group, whose members also help ensure that environmental resources are protected by annually reviewing monitoring data and providing input on any recommended changes to the program. The HBMP Focus Group includes consultants and university experts, representatives of federal, state and local environmental agencies, and various environmental organizations.