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Tampa Bay Tributaries Watershed

This Basin: Lake Griffin Bass fishing makes a comeback

The Tampa Bay Tributaries Basin surrounds the east side of Tampa Bay, the largest open-water estuary in the state. At 2,200 square miles, the basin is nearly five times larger than Tampa Bay; it contains 252 waterbodies, including 49 lakes, four springs, and eight estuaries. More than 100 tributaries in the basin flow into Tampa Bay, including four major rivers-Hillsborough, Alafia, Little Manatee, and Manatee-and more than 40 meandering, brackish creeks and coastal streams. Both water quality and ecological health in Tampa Bay are affected by activities in these watersheds, which contribute significant freshwater flows to the bay. The bay contains more than 200 commercial and recreational fish species, and its mangrove-blanketed islands support the most diverse colonial waterbird rookeries in North America.

Follow the links below to learn more about each watershed in the basin.

Hillsborough River Watershed

Alafia River Watershed

Little Manatee River Watershed

Manatee River Watershed

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