The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will train students at the Academy of Environmental Science to collect algal samples during future algae blooms in Kings Bay in Crystal River.
Kings Bay has a history of algae blooms that negatively impact water clarity, cause habitat degradation and result in odor problems. Effective watershed management requires the identification of the types of algae. Due to the limited time frame available for sampling and the close proximity of the Academy to Kings Bay, students grades nine through 12 are ideally suited to assist the District’s effort by collecting the algal samples.
“The Southwest Florida Water Management District has always been supportive of our Academy and a true friend of science and environmental education,” said Ben Stofcheck, Academy of Environmental Science administrator. “We are elated that our students have the opportunity to be an integral part of this ‘real-life’ environmental study and exposure to environmental science careers.”
Although algae blooms are caused by current environmental conditions, their timing cannot be predicted. The students will be on-call to take samples of the algae when a bloom occurs.
The samples will be shipped to the University of Florida for identification.
District staff will kick off the partnership on March 1 with a presentation at the Academy that discusses the history of the area, history of algae issues, an overview of the project and basic training on how to collect the samples.