USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

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USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

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05/25/2026

Our final post for National Wetlands Month! 🌿

Many culturally significant sites are located in coastal wetlands—landscapes highly vulnerable to erosion and sea‑level rise.

The USGS Cultural Heritage at Risk Tool (CHART) uses estuarine shoreline change and simple hazard models to identify archaeological and cultural sites at the greatest risk.

Click here to learn more👉: https://ow.ly/nvQB50YR8tJ

📸: These shells are what remains of a Native American shell midden that is located along an actively eroding shoreline in Apalachicola Bay. As the shorelines erodes, the shell middens and artifacts contained within the midden are dispersed along the shoreline and into the estuary, reducing opportunities to research and gain knowledge about the life and culture of America's original people.

05/18/2026

May is National Wetlands Month! 🌿

USGS and NOAA are teaming up to build better coastal predictions by creating national standards for wetland models.

Scientists from the USGS St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) capture the smooth water of the tidal creek reflecting a pastel sky and soft clouds while heading out for field work at early dawn.

This may be a common sight for early-risers since the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and National Wildlife Refuge is a popular destination for recreational activities like fishing, hunting, and boating.

However, wetland loss caused by shoreline erosion threatens this idyllic scene and the extensive salt marsh and habitat for many fish and wildlife species.

Stronger science = stronger coastal communities.

Click the link here to learn more👉: https://ow.ly/asqe50YRPlK

05/11/2026

Happy National Wetlands Month! 🌿

Did you know, wetlands filter water, trap sediment, and store large amounts of carbon below ground?

Studying wetland flooding and the muddy layers beneath the plants helps clarify our understanding of how wetlands support coastal resilience. 🌱💧

Sediments in estuarine and marsh environments contain organic peat, or material derived from the decomposition of plant and animal life, that plays an important role in ecosystem health.

📸: USGS geologist Chris Smith of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center uses a peat auger, a type of coring apparatus, to extract peat cores from the mud during field work in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

05/04/2026

May is National Wetlands Month! 🌿

Explore how coastal wetlands protect communities from storms and sustain vibrant coastal ecosystems.

Dive into the USGS Coastal Wetlands Geonarrative to learn how the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program is advancing science to better understand and protect these vital landscapes here👉: https://ow.ly/PNXQ50YR5oH

📸: Marsh shoreline inundation during high tide north of a marsh sampling site around Middle Bay in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi.

04/30/2026

🌊 Protecting Coral Reefs in Dry Tortugas National Park 🪸

USGS’s St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center and the University of Miami are working together to help guide restoration of threatened elkhorn corals in Dry Tortugas National Park.

During an April research trip, the team placed 34 young corals at sites across the park to study how different genetic lineages grow and survive in today’s warming oceans.

Over the next two years, scientists will measure their progress to help guide National Park Service restoration efforts across Florida and the wider Caribbean.

💙 Science in action to support healthier, more resilient reefs.

Learn more about the research here 👉: https://ow.ly/fNSi50YPajA

📸: Bailey Marquardt, University of Miami Rosenstiel School Ph.D. student; Dry Tortugas National Park.

03/30/2026

The USGS is hiring Hydrologic Technician Field Assistants (GG-5) to work at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.

These positions will:
✅Collect surface-water, ground-water, and quality-water data from gaging stations, wells, or water quality monitoring stations.
✅Assess site locations and field equipment.
✅Performs laboratory analysis of water samples to determine specified sediment, chemical, or biological concentrations or physical characteristics.

This is a temporary excepted service position not-to-exceed 1 year but may be extended without further competition. Employment may not exceed 1,039 hours in a service year.

📍 St. Petersburg, Florida.
📅 Open March 30 - April 10, 2026

🌊 Click the link to learn more about working for the USGS and apply now. 👉https://ow.ly/vBw950YzSlb

📸: USGS SPCMSC boat in the water taking measurements.

02/26/2026

New research from the Florida Keys brings some good news for coral conservation. 🪸

Scientists found that using small amounts of topical antibiotic paste to treat stony coral tissue loss disease did not significantly disrupt coral microbiomes or increase antibiotic‑resistance genes.

That means one of the few tools available to stop this fast‑moving disease appears safe for the corals themselves — an important insight for reef managers working to prevent further losses.

The study, led by partners including Nova Southeastern University and the University of Florida and published in Coral Reefs, even includes a striking image of a diver applying the treatment to a diseased colony in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

What do you think about using antibiotics to protect threatened corals? 🌊🧪

Explore more by clicking the link here: 👉 https://ow.ly/OSO650Yi6bq

📸: Karen Neely/Nova Southeastern University

02/03/2026

🌊SPCMSC scientists Daniel Ciarletta and Rose Palermo joined local and federal partners at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) on January 23, 2026, to help shape the next chapter of coastal science in Southwest Florida.

Fifty years after the original Sanibel Report guided the city's land‑use planning, SCCF is leading a new effort to update the science behind Sanibel and Captiva's coastal management. Ciarletta and Palermo shared expertise on coastal geomorphology, with Palermo leading a session on geoeconomic modeling, and the value of natural infrastructure, such as dunes and beaches.

What are your thoughts on the importance of coastal management? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

01/29/2026

Big news for Everglades research 🌿💧

Scientists just rolled out a major upgrade to the Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN): high-resolution water-level maps on a 50-meter grid. That means clearer insights, better restoration planning, and stronger support for species and habitats across South Florida.

👉 Click the link to explore the update and tools: https://ow.ly/wEta50Y5sEg

01/28/2026

🌊 The beach is always changing!

After a storm sent 7‑foot waves and a meteotsunami into Pinellas County, Florida, the USGS launched its 2026 beach‑survey season. On January 23, two SPCMSC scientists walked Madeira Beach with a GPS backpack to measure how the January 18 storm reshaped the shoreline.

We’re already seeing signs of natural recovery — sand returning to the beach and new sandbars forming in the upper surf zone.

These measurements help keep our coastal hazard models sharp and ready for the next storm.

Address

600 4th Street South
Saint Petersburg, FL
33701

Telephone

+17275028127

Website

http://www.usgs.gov/centers/spcmsc

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