DOCSLIB.ORG

Integrated Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Integrated Report FINAL Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida: 2016 Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 Report and Listing Update Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration Florida Department of Environmental Protection June 2016 2600 Blair Stone Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 This Page Intentionally Blank. Page 2 of 298 FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 Letter to Floridians Page 3 of 298 FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 Acknowledgments This document was prepared by staff in the following divisions and offices of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration − Bureau of Laboratories: o Biology Section − Water Quality Standards Program: o Standards Development Section o Aquatic Ecology and Quality Assurance Section − Water Quality Assessment Program: o Watershed Assessment Section o Watershed Monitoring Section − Water Quality Evaluation and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Program: o Ground Water Management Section o Watershed Evaluation and TMDL Section − Water Quality Restoration Program: o Nonpoint Source Management Section o Watershed Planning and Coordination Section Division of Water Resource Management − Domestic Wastewater Program − Industrial Wastewater Program − State Revolving Fund Program − Engineering, Hydrology, and Geology Program − Submerged Lands and Environmental Resources Coordination Program − Water Compliance Assurance Program Office of Water Policy Office of Intergovernmental Programs In addition, DEP thanks staff at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Health, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for their valuable help in updating sections of this report, and the Southwest, Suwannee River, and St. Johns River Water Management Districts for reviewing the report. Page 4 of 298 FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 Table of Contents LETTER TO FLORIDIANS ..............................................................................................................................3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................................3 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...............................................................................................14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................................................................20 Purpose and Contents.......................................................................................................................20 Summary of Statewide Status and Trend Monitoring Results for Surface and Ground Water ...................................................................................................................................21 Summary of Water Quality Standards Attainment for Assessed Rivers/Streams, Lakes, Estuaries, Coastal Waters, and Beaches .............................................................................22 Summary of Ground Water Monitoring Results ...........................................................................22 Ongoing and New Issues and Initiatives .........................................................................................23 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................25 Purpose ..............................................................................................................................................25 Federal Assessment and Reporting Requirements ........................................................................25 Florida’s Integrated Approach to Monitoring and Assessment ...................................................26 Integrating the Federal Requirements into Florida’s Watershed Management Approach ...........................................................................................................................................28 The EPA Consent Decree .................................................................................................................29 The New EPA 303(d) Long-Term Vision........................................................................................30 Future Prioritization, 2016 to 2022 .........................................................................................30 Implementation of Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) ..................................................................32 Probabilistic Monitoring ..................................................................................................................32 CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ..............................................................................................33 Overview ............................................................................................................................................33 Population ................................................................................................................................35 Climate ......................................................................................................................................35 Physical Setting ........................................................................................................................36 Surface Water and Ground Water Resources ...............................................................................39 Streams and Rivers ...................................................................................................................39 Lakes .........................................................................................................................................40 Estuaries and Coastal Waters ..................................................................................................41 Wetlands ...................................................................................................................................42 Aquifers and Springs ................................................................................................................43 Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................................................44 Ground Water ...........................................................................................................................44 Surface Water–Ground Water Interactions ............................................................................45 CHAPTER 3: ISSUES OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTEREST AND WATER QUALITY INITIATIVES ....................46 Page 5 of 298 FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 Algal Growth in Springs ..................................................................................................................46 Chemical Wastewater Tracers To Identify Pollutant Sources .....................................................46 Florida Water Resources Monitoring Council Projects................................................................48 Low-Impact Development (LID) Projects and Practices ..............................................................50 Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) ...................................................................................50 Microbial Source Tracking (MST) Implementation .....................................................................52 Nitrogen Source Inventory and Loading Tool (NSILT) for Nutrient-Impaired Springs ...............................................................................................................................................53 Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) Implementation To Address Nutrient Enrichment .............54 Pesticide Testing in Surface Waters and Spring Waters ..............................................................57 Reduction of Potential Fertilizer Impacts ......................................................................................57 South Florida Canal Aquatic Life Study ........................................................................................59 Triennial Review of Florida’s Water Quality Standards ..............................................................60 Increased Water Quality Modeling Coordination between DEP and the WMDs ......................61 CHAPTER 4: OVERVIEW OF WATER PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROGRAMS ..............................64 Florida Water Resource Management Programs ..........................................................................64 Overview of Surface Water Monitoring Programs .......................................................................65 Watershed-Based Monitoring and Reporting .........................................................................65 Overview of Surface Water Protection Programs .........................................................................67 Water Quality Standards (WQS) Program ..............................................................................67 Watershed Assessment Program ..............................................................................................69 Surface Water Improvement and Management Program ......................................................74 Point Source Control Program
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Decision Document Regarding Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Section 303(D) List Amendments for Basin Group
    DECISION DOCUMENT REGARDING FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION’S SECTION 303(d) LIST AMENDMENTS FOR BASIN GROUP THREE Prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4 Water Management Division May 12, 2010 Florida §303(d) List Decision Document May 12, 2010 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary 3 II. Statutory and Regulatory Background 6 A. Identification of Water Quality Limited Segments (WQLSs) for Inclusion on the Section 303(d) List 6 B. Consideration of Existing and Readily Available Water Quality-Related Data and Information 6 C. Priority Ranking 7 III. Analysis of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Submission 7 A. Florida’s Group Three 2010 Update 8 1. Florida’s Water Quality Standards and Section 303(d) List Development 8 2. List Development Methodology and Data Assessment 10 3. Public Participation Process 11 4. Consideration of Existing and Readily Available Water Quality-Related Data and Information 12 B. Review of FDEP’s Identification of Waters 14 1. Review of FDEP’s Data Guidelines 15 2. No Pollutant Identified for Impairment 18 3. Aquatic Life Use Impairment 18 4. Primary and Secondary Recreational Use Support 23 5. Fish and Shellfish Consumption Use Support 24 6. Drinking Water Use Support and Protection of Human Health 25 1 Florida §303(d) List Decision Document May 12, 2010 C. Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters 26 1. FDEP’s Addition of Water Quality Limited Segments 26 2. Section 303(d) List Delistings 26 3. Other Pollution Control Requirements 27 4. EPA Identified Waters 30 5. Priority Ranking and Targeting 30 IV.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Resources of Duval County, Florida
    Water Resources of Duval County, Florida By G.G. Phelps U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4130 Prepared in cooperation with the City of Jacksonville, Florida Tallahassee, Florida 1994 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center Suite 3015 Open-File Reports Section 227 N. Bronough Street Box 25286, MS 517 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 II CONTENTS Contents Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope.....................................................................................................................................1 Study Area and Population........................................................................................................................2 Water Use in Duval County ......................................................................................................................4 The Hydrologic Cycle ...............................................................................................................................6
    [Show full text]
  • NORTH FLORIDA TPO Transportation Improvement Program FY 2021/22 - 2025/26
    NORTH FLORIDA TPO Transportation Improvement Program FY 2021/22 - 2025/26 Draft April 2021 North Florida TPO Transportation Improvement Program - FY 2021/22 - 2025/26 Table of Contents Section I - Executive Summary . I-1 Section II - 5 Year Summary by Fund Code . II-1 Section III - Funding Source Summary . III-1 Section A - Duval County State Highway Projects (FDOT) . A-1 Section B - Duval County State Highway / Transit Projects (JTA) . B-1 Section C - Duval County Aviation Projects . C-1 Section D - Duval County Port Projects . D-1 Section E - St. Johns County State Highway / Transit Projects (FDOT) . E-1 Section F - St. Johns County Aviation Projects . F-1 Section G - Clay County State Highway / Transit / Aviation Projects (FDOT) . G-1 Section H - Nassau County State Highway / Aviation / Port Projects (FDOT) . H-1 Section I - Area-Wide Projects . I-1 Section J - Amendments . J-1 Section A1 - Abbreviations and Acronyms (Appendix I) . A1-1 Section A2 - Path Forward 2045 LRTP Master Project List (Appendix II) . A2-1 Section A3 - Path Forward 2045 LRTP Goals and Objectives (Appendix III) . A3-1 Section A4 - 2020 List of Priority Projects (Appendix IV) . A4-1 Section A5 - Federal Obligation Reports (Appendix V) . A5-1 Section A6 - Public Comments (Appendix VI) . A6-1 Section A7 - 2045 Cost Feasible Plan YOE Total Project Cost (Appendix VII) . A7-1 Section A8 - Transportation Disadvanagted (Appendix VIII) . A8-1 Section A9 - FHWA Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (Appendix IX) . A9-1 Section A10 – Transportation Performance Measures (Appendix X). A10-1 Section PI - Project Index . PI-1 Draft April 2021 SECTION I Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PURPOSE The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a staged multi-year program of transportation project improvements to be implemented during the next five-year period in the North Florida TPO area which will be funded by Title 23 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Pottsburg Julington Fecal Coliform TMDL
    FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Bureau of Watershed Restoration NORTHEAST DISTRICT • LOWER ST. JOHNS BASIN Final TMDL Report Fecal Coliform TMDL for Pottsburg Creek (WBID 2265B) and Julington Creek (WBID 2351) Kyeongsik Rhew September 2009 Final TMDL Report: Lower St. Johns Basin, Pottsburg Creek (WBID 2265B) and Julington Creek (WBID 2351), Fecal Coliform, September 2009 Acknowledgments This Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analysis could not have been accomplished without significant contributions from staff in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Northeast District Office, Watershed Assessment Section, and Watershed Evaluation and TMDL Section. Editorial assistance provided by Jan Mandrup-Poulsen and Linda Lord. For additional information on the watershed management approach and impaired waters in the Lower St Johns River, contact: Amy Tracy Florida Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Watershed Restoration Watershed Planning and Coordination Section 2600 Blair Stone Road, Mail Station 3565 Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 Email: [email protected] Phone: (850) 245–8506 Fax: (850) 245–8434 Access to all data used in the development of this report can be obtained by contacting: Kyeongsik Rhew Florida Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Watershed Restoration Watershed Evaluation and TMDL Section 2600 Blair Stone Road, Mail Station 3555 Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 Email: [email protected] Phone: (850) 245–8461 Fax:
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida: Sections 303(D), 305(B), and 314 Report and Listing Update
    2020 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida: Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 Report and Listing Update Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration Florida Department of Environmental Protection June 2020 2600 Blair Stone Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 floridadep.gov 2020 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2020 This Page Intentionally Blank. Page 2 of 160 2020 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2020 Letter to Floridians Ron DeSantis FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF Governor Jeanette Nuñez Environmental Protection Lt. Governor Bob Martinez Center Noah Valenstein 2600 Blair Stone Road Secretary Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 June 16, 2020 Dear Floridians: It is with great pleasure that we present to you the 2020 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida. This report meets the Federal Clean Water Act reporting requirements; more importantly, it presents a comprehensive analysis of the quality of our waters. This report would not be possible without the monitoring efforts of organizations throughout the state, including state and local governments, universities, and volunteer groups who agree that our waters are a central part of our state’s culture, heritage, and way of life. In Florida, monitoring efforts at all levels result in substantially more monitoring stations and water quality data than most other states in the nation. These water quality data are used annually for the assessment of waterbody health by means of a comprehensive approach. Hundreds of assessments of individual waterbodies are conducted each year. Additionally, as part of this report, a statewide water quality condition is presented using an unbiased random monitoring design. These efforts allow us to understand the state’s water conditions, make decisions that further enhance our waterways, and focus our efforts on addressing problems.
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrology of the Floral City Pool of Tsala Apopka Lake, West-Central Florida
    HYDROLOGY OF THE FLORAL CITY POOL OF TSAIA APOPKA LAKE, WEST-CENTRAL FLORIDA By L.A. Bradner U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4024 Prepared in cooperation with the SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Tallahassee, Florida 1988 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DONALD PAUL MODEL, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director For additional information Copies of this report may be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Books and Open-File Reports Section Suite 3015 Federal Center, Building 810 227 North Bronough Street Box 25425 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract.............................................................. 1 Introduction.......................................................... 2 Historical background............................................ 2 Purpose and scope................................................ 5 Previous studies................................................. 5 Acknowledgments.................................................. 6 Geography and geology................................................. 6 Hydrogeology.......................................................... 6 Water use............................................................. 6 Physical properties of the Floral City Pool........................... 7 Hydrologic conditions................................................. 9 Rainfall and evaporation......................................... 9 Surface water...................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report of Activities Conducted Under the Cooperative Aquatic Plant Control Program in Florida Public Waters for Fiscal Year 2012-2013
    Annual Report of Activities Conducted under the Cooperative Aquatic Plant Control Program in Florida Public Waters for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Invasive Plant Management Section Submitted by: FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Invasive Plant Management Section 3900 Commonwealth Blvd. MS705 Tallahassee, FL 32399 Phone: 850-617-9420 Fax: 850-922-1249 Annual Report of Activities Conducted under the Cooperative Aquatic Plant Control Program in Florida Public Waters for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 This report was prepared in accordance with §369.22 (7), Florida Statutes, to provide an annual summary of plants treated and funding necessary to manage aquatic plants in public waters. The Cooperative Aquatic Plant Control Program administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Florida’s public waters involves complex operational and financial interactions between state, federal and local governments as well as private sector companies. FWC’s aquatic plant management program mission is to reduce negative impacts from invasive nonindigenous plants like water hyacinth, water lettuce and hydrilla to conserve the multiple uses and functions of public lakes and rivers. Invasive plants infest 96% of Florida’s 451 public waters inventoried in 2013 that comprise 1.26 million acres of fresh water. Once established, eradicating invasive plants is difficult or impossible and very expensive; therefore, continuous maintenance is critical to keep invasive plants at low levels to
    [Show full text]
  • Withlacoochee River Watershed Initiative (H066)
    Withlacoochee River Watershed Initiative (H066) Model Scenario Report Prepared by September 20, 2015 Table of Contents Chapter Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 11 INTRODUCTION 13 AUTHORIZATION 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 13 BACKGROUND / PURPOSE 14 SCENARIO LOCATIONS 16 MODEL SIMULATIONS 18 SCENARIO 1: GREEN SWAMP RAILROAD BERMS 21 1.1. DESCRIPTION 21 1.2. MODEL SET-UP 23 1.3. RESULTS 25 1.4. CONCLUSION 29 SCENARIO 2: GREEN SWAMP RAILROAD BRIDGE PILINGS 30 2.1. DESCRIPTION 30 2.2. MODEL SET-UP 31 2.3. RESULTS 33 2.4. CONCLUSION 36 SCENARIO 3: GREEN SWAMP AND SR 471 37 3.1. DESCRIPTION 37 3.2. MODEL SET-UP 38 3.3. RESULTS 39 3.4. CONCLUSION 42 SCENARIO 4: HILLSBOROUGH RIVER OVERFLOW AT US 98 43 4.1. DESCRIPTION 43 4.2. MODEL SET-UP 44 4.3. RESULTS 46 4.4. CONCLUSION 47 Withlacoochee River Watershed Initiative (H066) Model Scenarios Report: September 2015 SCENARIO 5: BRIDGE CROSSINGS NEAR TRILBY AND LACOOCHEE 48 5.1. DESCRIPTION 48 5.2. MODEL SET-UP 50 5.3. RESULTS 51 5.4. CONCLUSION 53 SCENARIO 6: LAKE ORIOLE 54 6.1. DESCRIPTION 54 6.2. MODEL SET-UP 56 6.3. RESULTS 57 6.4. CONCLUSION 61 SCENARIO 7: WYSONG-COOGLER WATER CONSERVATION STRUCTURE 62 7.1. DESCRIPTION 62 7.2. MODEL SETUP 65 7.3. RESULTS 65 7.4. CONCLUSION 70 SCENARIO 8: FLOOD STORAGE 71 8.1. DESCRIPTION 71 8.2. MODEL SETUP 72 8.3. RESULTS 73 8.4. CONCLUSION 74 SCENARIO 9: WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER HIGH INITIAL WATER LEVEL COMPARISONS 75 9.1. DESCRIPTION 75 9.2.
    [Show full text]
  • Continuous Stream Discharge, Salinity, and Associated Data Collected in the Lower St
    Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Continuous Stream Discharge, Salinity, and Associated Data Collected in the Lower St. Johns River and Its Tributaries, Florida, 2016 Open-File Report 2018–1108 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Front: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) site 02246621, Trout River near Jacksonville, Florida. Photo by Corin Downs. Back: Site 022462002, Durbin Creek near Fruit Cove, Florida. Photos by Patrick J. Ryan. Continuous Stream Discharge, Salinity, and Associated Data Collected in the Lower St. Johns River and Its Tributaries, Florida, 2016 By Patrick J. Ryan Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Open-File Report 2018–1108 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey James F. Reilly II, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2018 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.
    [Show full text]
  • Bridge Restrictions
    BRIDGE RESTRICTIONS - MARCH 2018 <Double-click here to enter title> 520031 610002 «¬97 «¬89 4 2 ESCAMBIA «¬ 189 29 «¬ 85 «¬ ¤£ «¬ HOLMES SANTA ROSA 187 83 «¬ «¬ 81 610001 87 «¬ «¬ 520076 10 ¬ CRN-2 ¨¦§ 90 79 Pensacola Inset ¤£ «¬ OKALOOSA Pensacola/ «¬285 WALTON «¬77 570055 West Panhandle «¬87 ¦¨§293 WASHINGTON ¤£331 ONLY STATE OWNED «¬83 20 ¤£98 «¬ BRIDGES SHOWN BAY 570091 LEGEND Route with 600108 «¬30 460020 Restricted Bridge(s) 460051 368 Route without 460052 «¬ Restricted Bridge(s) 460112 460113 Non-State Maintained Road 460019 ######Restricted Bridge Number 0 12.5 25 50 Miles ¥ Page 1 of 16 BRIDGE RESTRICTIONS - MARCH 2018 610001 610002 <Double-click here to enter title> 520031 «¬2 HOLMES «¬75 JACKSON 530005 520076 530173 ¬79 CRN-2 « 610004 500092 550144 540042 Central Panhandle ¬77 GADSDEN 27 « ¦¨§10 ¤£ WASHINGTON JEFFERSON 460051 19 460052 470029 ¤£ ONLY STATE OWNED 65 BAY «¬ BRIDGES SHOWN CALHOUN «¬71 ¬267 388 « 231 73 59 LEGEND «¬ ¤£ «¬ LEON «¬ Route with Tallahassee Inset 540069 Restricted Bridge(s) 460020 LIBERTY 368 «¬ Route without 22 WAKULLA «¬ 590014 Restricted Bridge(s) 61 «¬ 30 460112 «¬ Non-State Maintained Road 460113 375 460019 GULF «¬ 540032 T ###### Restricted Bridge Number 380049 490018 «¬377 ¤£98 FRANKLIN «¬30 ¤£319 «¬300 0 12.5 25 50 Miles ¥ Page 2 of 16 BRIDGE RESTRICTIONS - MARCH 2018 350030 <Double-click320017 here to enter title> JEFFERSON «¬145 540042 41 19 ¤£ ¤£ 55 2 «¬ ¬47 «¬ 53 6 HAMILTON «COLUMBIA «¬ «¬ 720026 10 ¦¨§ 290030 59 370015 «¬ 350044 540069 MADISON ¤£441 BAKER 370013 290071 CRN-2 370014 270067
    [Show full text]
  • 20-0241 - 20-0631.Pdf
    DEP #20-0208, et al STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION In re : REVISED VERIFIED LIST OF IMPAIRED OGC Nos.: 20-0241 - 20-0631 WATERS FOR GROUP 2 BASINS; FINAL ASSESSMENT OF GROUP 2 BASIN WATERS COVERED BY THE STATEWIDE MERCURY TMDL; AMENDMENT TO THE VERIFIED LIST OF IMPAIRED WATERS FOR GROUP 3 AND 5 BASINS; FINAL ASSESSMENT DETERMINATION FOR TWO WATERS IN THE GROUP 1 BASINS ______________/ ORDER Pursuant to Section 403.067(4), Florida Statutes ("Fla. Stat."), and Chapter 62­ 303, Florida Administrative Code ("F .A.C."), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ("department") is 1) adopting revisions to the Verified List of Impaired Waters for the Group 2 basins which include: Apalachicola - Chipola River, Charlotte Harbor, Lower St. Johns, Middle St. Johns, St. Lucie - Loxahatchee River, and Tampa Bay Tributaries; 2) finalizing the assessment for Group 2 Basin Waters Covered by the Statewide Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load ; 3) adopting an amendment to the Verified List of Impaired Waters for one waterbody in the Group 3 Upper St. Johns basin ; 4) adopting an amendment to the Verified List of Impaired Waters for two waterbodies in the Group 5 Indian River Lagoon basin ; and 5) finalizing the assessment determination for two waterbodies in the Group 1 Ochlockonee - St. Marks basin. The identification of impaired waters is a critical component of the department's comprehensive process to scientifically assess Florida's surface waters and restore 1 those waterbodies not meeting their designated uses (e.g., recreation , a healthy, well­ balanced aquatic ecosystem, etc.). To facilitate this process, the department has divided the surface waters of the State into five basin groups, with one group being assessed each year.
    [Show full text]
  • River Report
    LOWER SJR REPORT 2016 River Report State of the Lower 201620 St. Johns15 River Basin, Florida Water Quality Fisheries Aquatic Life Contaminants Prepared for: Environmental Protection Board, City of Jacksonville, Florida St. James Building, 117 West Duval Street Jacksonville, Florida 32202 By: University of NortH Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224 Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd N., Jacksonville, Florida 32211 Cover image photographer: Michael J. Canella, courtesy of Daniel L. Schafer and www.unfedu.floridahistoryonline, digitally manipulated. LOWER SJR REPORT 2016 Preface The State of the River Report is the result of a collaborative effort of a team of academic researchers from Jacksonville University, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, and Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL. The report was supported by the Environmental Protection Board of the City of Jacksonville and the River Branch Foundation. The purpose of the project is to review various previously collected data and literature about the river and to place it into a format that is informative and readable to the general public. The report consists of four parts – the website (http://www.sjrreport.com), the brochure, the full report, and an appendix. The brochure provides a brief summary of the status and trends of each item or indicator (i.e., water quality, fisheries, etc.) that was evaluated for the river. The full report and appendix were produced to provide more to those interested. In the development of these documents, many different sources of data were examined, including data from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Johns River Water Management District, Fish and Wildlife Commission, City of Jacksonville, individual researchers, and others.
    [Show full text]