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. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Wastewater from the old Piney Point phosphate plant flow from a pipe into a drainage ditch at Port Manatee South Gate. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Workers unspool a roll of industrial hose near an area where waster from an old phosphate plant flows from a pipe into a drainage ditch at Port Manatee South Gate. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times A cormorant flies off Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Wastewater flows from a pipe into a drainage ditch at Port Manatee South Gate. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times This gallery continues below...
Raw materials are offloaded from the cargo ship Ivy Unicorn at Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Foam congregates on a stand of reeds where wastewater flows from a pipe into a drainage ditch at Port Manatee South Gate. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Remnants of the ferry dock remain just off shore at Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the nearby Piney Point phosphate plant into Tampa Bay. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times A sign is seen in an inlet at a coastal mangrove estuary near Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Tidal water flows into an inlet at a coastal mangrove estuary near Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times This gallery continues below...
Port Manatee is seen from the water. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times A great blue heron rests off a coastal mangrove estuary near Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Port Manatee, as seen from a coastal mangrove estuary. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Mangrove populate a coastal area off Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times An ibis flies over a coastal mangrove estuary off Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times This gallery continues below...
Seasonal algae floats in the water off Port Manatee. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Port Manatee, as seen from Piney Point Road. Wastewater has been released from the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto into Tampa Bay to ease the chance of a catastrophic discharge. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times