Tampa Bay Ecosystem Services
Usable Water
Human activities produce water pollutants. As water moves through a watershed it is filtered by wetlands, forests, and aquatic areas. Cleaner water is valued by people for recreational activities such as boating, snorkeling, fishing, diving, bird watching, etc. In addition, clean, usable water is important for agriculture; clean water for crops and animals. High levels of nutrient pollution and other contaminants lead to decreased water clarity, algal blooms, fish kills, and the loss of designated, desirable uses of water. The removal of natural filtration areas such as wetlands, forests, and aquatic areas requires construction of additional costly treatment facilities.