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Cockroach Bay - History
Tampa Bay, on Florida's west coast, has been significantly disturbed by development within its watershed during the past 50 years. Mineral extraction, agriculture activities, and rapid urban growth have contributed to the loss of approximately 80% of the seagrasses and 45% of the intertidal wetlands historically present in Tampa Bay.
Project Location

Cockroach Bay is located along the southeastern portion of Tampa Bay.

Site Summary

Estuarine habitat restoration/protection, total project cost between 2.6-2.7 million and will result in the restructuring and replanting of 500 acres of a 651-acre site with habitat mosaics typical of coastal wetlands and uplands and will use wetlands to filter nonpoint source pollution.

Project Description
The project was conducted in two phases. The first phase included site prep and involved developing approximately 200-acres of habitat mosaics through the modification of three mining pits and adjacent agriculture lands and the construction of specialized stormwater treatment ponds.

Phase two involved restoring approximately 300 acres of upland and freshwater transitional and high marsh habitats. The specialized stormwater treatment involves two approaches: (1) stormwater treatment or "polishing" via sediment traps and marsh filters and, (2) a highly engineered stormwater treatment pond to capture and treat runoff from a 210-acre agriculture basin.

A 16 member alliance made up of representatives of federal, state, and local government agencies and private entities led by South West Florida Water Management District took part in the project.


Aquatic Plants of Florida, Inc.
Aquatic Plants of Florida grew and installed 10 species of native coastal plants for Cockroach Bay's restoration, in addition to providing extended on-site maintenance services for selective treatmeant of exotic and invasive species. Plants utilized (i.e. chosen for pollution filtering characteristics and contributions to wildlife) for the project included:

White water lily Marsh hay cordgrass Saltmarsh bulrush
Spikerush Soft-stem bulrush Pickerelweed
Spatterdock Sand cordgrass Black needle rush
Muhly Grass