Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

One of the reasons for the decrease in seagrass in Old Tampa Bay is an excess of nutrients in the water — a buildup that work on the Courtney Campbell Causeway might alleviate.

“Our residents need to start looking at future risk… start thinking about what happens when sea level rise starts combining with rainier days and stronger storms,” said Cara Wood Serra of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

A new study is looking at ways to protect communities in the Tampa Bay area from future flooding. It focuses on three areas, but its lessons can be used for other flood-prone areas.