Gulf of Mexico

Lng: -81.97119 Lat: 26.44303Back to site data

Description

The Gulf of Mexico receives water from the Caloosahatchee basin, which includes water from the watershed and sometimes from Lake Okeechobee. Salinities are generally high and the gulf waters are low in FDOM, turbidity and chlorophyll a. However, strong storms can elevate turbidity because of wind-driven resuspension. There are low-relief reefs in the Gulf that host a productive food web and include grouper, snapper and other species. These areas are particularly sensitive to excess nitrogen and phosphorus loading. Macroalgae can overgrow reefs during times of high discharge, such as in 2005-2006. 

The City of Sanibel initially supported the purchase of sensors at this site.