Characterization of the Hydrology, Water Chemistry, and Aquatic Communities of Selected Springs in the St
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Characterization of the Hydrology, Water Chemistry, and Aquatic Communities of Selected Springs in the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida, 2004 By G.G. Phelps, Stephen J. Walsh, Robert M. Gerwig, and William B. Tate Prepared in cooperation with the St. Johns River Water Management District Open-File Report 2006-1107 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Phelps, G.G., and others, 2006, Characterization of the hydrology, water chemistry, and aquatic communities of selected springs in the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida, 2004: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1107, 51 p. iii Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Previous Studies ...................................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................4 Site-Numbering System .......................................................................................................................4 Environmental Setting .........................................................................................................................4 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................4 Hydrologic and Water-Chemistry Data ............................................................................................4 Aquatic Community Data ....................................................................................................................6 Characterization of Springs .........................................................................................................................8 Silver Springs.........................................................................................................................................8 Hydrology and Water Chemistry ...............................................................................................9 Aquatic Communities ................................................................................................................13 De Leon Spring ....................................................................................................................................16 Hydrology and Water Chemistry .............................................................................................16 Aquatic Communities ................................................................................................................18 Gemini Springs ....................................................................................................................................23 Hydrology and Water Chemistry .............................................................................................24 Aquatic Communities ................................................................................................................25 Green Spring ........................................................................................................................................26 Hydrology and Water Chemistry .............................................................................................27 Aquatic Communities ................................................................................................................29 Comparisons among Springs .....................................................................................................................30 Hydrology and Water Chemistry ......................................................................................................31 Aquatic Communities .........................................................................................................................31 Summary........................................................................................................................................................32 Selected References ...................................................................................................................................34 Appendix A. Water-Chemistry Data, 2004 ...............................................................................................40 Appendix B. Compounds Commonly Detected in Wastewater ...........................................................44 Appendix C. Pesticides Analyzed .............................................................................................................46 Appendix D. Macroinvertebrate Taxa Reported in this Study .............................................................48 Appendix E. Scientific Names, Authorities and Dates of Original Descriptions, and Common Names of Fishes Reported in this Study ....................................................................50 Figures 1. Map showing locations of Upper Floridan aquifer springs .............................................................3 2. Graph showing monthly rainfall at DeLand and Sanford, Florida, 1940-2004 ...............................5 3. Graph showing monthly rainfall at Ocala, Florida, 1940-2004 ..........................................................5 4. Photograph showing Silver Springs group .........................................................................................8 5. Graph showing discharge from the Silver Springs group, 1940-2004 ............................................9 iv 6. Graph showing nitrate-nitrogen concentrations for Silver Springs, De Leon Spring, and Gemini Springs ........................................................................................................................10 7. Map showing location of De Leon Spring ........................................................................................16 8. Photograph showing De Leon Spring pool .......................................................................................16 9. Photograph showing De Leon Spring dam .......................................................................................16 10. Photograph showing view downstream from De Leon Spring to Spring Garden Lake ............17 11. Graph showing discharge from De Leon Spring, 1965-2004 ..........................................................17 12. Graph showing delta 18O of nitrate as a function of delta15N of nitrate for samples collected in 2004 .............................................................................................................................18 13. Photograph showing periphyton sampler at De Leon Spring, August 11, 2004 ..........................22 14. Map showing locations of Gemini Springs and Green Spring ......................................................23 15. Map showing Gemini Springs .............................................................................................................23 16. Photograph showing view from Gemini Springs to the dam and Lake Monroe .........................23 17. Graph showing total combined discharge from Gemini Springs, 1995-2004 ..............................24 18. Photograph showing Gemini Springs south vent ............................................................................24 19. Photograph showing view toward old springhead at Gemini Springs ........................................26 20. Photograph showing view toward Gemini Springs south vent .....................................................26 21. Photograph showing periphyton sampler at Gemini Springs near the dam, August 11, 2004 ...............................................................................................................................26 22. Map showing Green Spring ................................................................................................................26 23. Photograph showing view from culvert to Green Spring pool ......................................................27 24. Photograph showing view from steps at Green Spring toward culvert ......................................27 25. Graph showing Green Spring discharge, 2000-2004 .......................................................................27 26. Photograph showing Green Spring (water