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Zachary T. Sampson - Environment Reporter
Zachary T. Sampson

Environment Reporter

I grew up in Rhode Island, on a bay similar to Tampa's. I'm fascinated by where we're from — how places shape us and we shape them. In Florida, our life turns on nature, from the gulf to rivers and flatwoods and swamps. I want my coverage to be just as expansive. Do you have a place to show me or a story to tell? Reach out. I'm friendlier than my face suggests. We can also talk about baseball, but it might be hard to get me to stop.

  1. Failure at Piney Point: Florida let environmental risk fester despite warnings
    Earlier today• Environment
    A drone image shows a partially drained wastewater reservoir at Piney Point, with Tampa Bay visible in the distance.
  2. DeSantis steering more money to Piney Point, wants to close site
    Apr. 13• Environment
    Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the situation at Piney Point at a press conference in Manatee County on April 4.
  3. Forecasting what comes next from Piney Point for Tampa Bay
    Apr. 12• Environment
    A model from researchers at the University of South Florida simulates the first days of a pollutant plume off Piney Point. Orange and yellow indicate higher concentrations.
  5. Piney Point wastewater releases to Tampa Bay slow substantially, state says
    Apr. 8• Environment
    Effluent flows from a pipe into a drainage ditch at Port Manatee South Gate on Tuesday across from the old Piney Point phosphate plant property.
  6. Piney Point releases to Tampa Bay rise above 170 million gallons
    Apr. 7• Environment
    Effluent flows from a pipe into a drainage ditch at Port Manatee South Gate on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
  7. Evacuation over as officials say risk of Piney Point catastrophe has lowered
    Apr. 6• Environment
    Seasonal algae floats in the water off Port Manatee on Tuesday as wastewater is released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant into Tampa Bay. Evacuation orders were ended as the risk of an immediate crisis appears to have subsided. A nearby stretch of U.S. 41 that had been closed for days between Manatee and Hillsborough counties was also reopened, another signal of improving conditions at the site.
  8. Piney Point wastewater leak continues but no new breach is found
    Apr. 5• Environment
    Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, addresses the media Monday about the crisis at the former Piney Point phosphate plant, along with Manatee County officials.
  9. ‘50,000 bags of fertilizer:’ What could Piney Point do to Tampa Bay?
    Apr. 5• Environment
    Aerial view looking toward Tampa Bay from Piney Point on Sunday in Palmetto.
  10. Manatee plant potential collapse: What you need to know
    Apr. 4• Environment
    Aerial view overlooking the site of the Piney Point wastewater release on Sunday, April 4, 2021 in Palmetto.
  11. Five questions answered about Piney Point leak in Manatee County
    Apr. 4• Environment
    A view of a phosphogypsum stack at HRK Holdings’ property off Buckeye Road on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Palmetto, Manatee County, where wastewater is suspected to be leaking at the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto, records show.
  12. Evacuations expand as Manatee phosphate plant collapse ‘imminent’
    Apr. 4• Breaking News
    Acting Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes discusses how high the flood of polluted waters could rise due to an “imminent” collapse at the old Piney Point phosphate plant during a Saturday news conference at the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center in Brandeton.
  13. Leak at old phosphate plant could cause discharges into Tampa Bay
    Apr. 2• Environment
    A view of a phosphogypsum stack complex, far background, at HRK Holdings’ property off Buckeye Road in Palmetto on Tuesday. Wastewater is suspected to be leaking there at the old Piney Point phosphate plant.
  14. Water release starts in effort to avoid old Tampa Bay phosphate plant catastrophe
    Apr. 2• Environment
    A view of a phosphogypsum stack complex at HRK Holdings’ property in Palmetto on Tuesday.
  15. Collapse a ‘real possibility’ at old phosphate plant on Tampa Bay, engineer says
    Apr. 2• Environment
    A view of a phosphogypsum stack at HRK Holdings’ property off U.S. 41 in Palmetto.
  16. Plastic liner known to be in poor shape before Piney Point leak, records show
    Apr. 2• Environment
    A view of a phosphogypsum stack, far, background, and water management at HRK Holdings’ property in Palmetto.
  17. Fearing disaster near phosphate plant, Manatee County orders evacuation
    Apr. 2• Breaking News
    Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, speaks during a press conference regarding a leak near the old Piney Point phosphate plant site in Palmetto on Friday, April 2, 2021.
  18. Florida manatee die-off may slow, wildlife official says. But it’s not over yet.
    Mar. 29• Environment
    A manatee swims through the water in Crystal River in 2011.
  19. Some dried-up wetlands from Tampa Bay ‘Water Wars’ have recovered, officials say
    Mar. 24• Environment
    On the left is a photo showing a section of the Cypress Creek Wellfield in September 1999, according to Tampa Bay Water. On the right is the same area in September 2010.
  20. Federal officials to help study why so many Florida manatees are dying
    Mar. 23• Environment
    A manatee inspects snorkeler Julie Barney, of Vero Beach, right, and her mother, Laura Rogers, of Vero Beach, while swimming near the entrance to Three Sisters Springs on on Kings Bay in Crystal River in 2014.
  21. Searching the ocean for one of the world’s rarest whales
    Mar. 22• Environment
    North Atlantic Right Whale #3720 and her calf. This still image is from a drone video taken by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources under NOAA Permit 20556.
  22. How can you make your garden work for Florida’s environment?
    Mar. 17• Business
    A group of ibis feed in a front yard designed with native plants in Tarpon Springs.
  23. Who’s behind a thorny Florida property rights bill? A real estate empire
    Mar. 16• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, sits at the Capitol in Tallahassee during session earlier this month.
  24. Florida manatees are dying at a worrisome rate. Many appear to be starving.
    Mar. 11• Environment
    Florida has seen an alarming rise in manatee deaths in 2021.