ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN, FLORIDA INTERIM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FINDINGS Special Publication SJ 86-SP2 US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Special Publication SJ 86-SP2 ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN, FLORIDA INTERIM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FINDINGS SYLLABUS This special report was prepared in response to Public Law 98-50 which pro- vided funds for this investigation and directed the Corps of Engineers to prepare an interim water quality management plan for the St. Johns River Basin. The St. Johns River Basin study area encompasses an approximately 9,200 square mile drainage area within all or parts of 15 counties that comprise most of the east-central and northeastern parts of Florida. The Upper Basin River Valley originates at an approximate elevation of 25 feet above mean sea level and extends some 113 miles northward to river mile point 191 where surface water elevations fluctuate about mean sea level. The downstream 191 miles of the river have been divided for this study into the Middle Basin to river mile point 101 and the Lower Basin to the Atlantic Ocean. Tidal influences extend southward and upstream through much of the Middle Basin, gradually becoming imperceptible. As a result, the St. Johns River upstream of its mouth and into the Middle Basin exists as a shallow, very wide water- way with estuarine characteristics. The findings of the study are: 1. Technical information is lacking on water quality improvement and environmental enhancement needs and these needs can be more effectively determined upon completion of the needed water quality evaluations described in this report; 2. Information on recreational and other usage of the St. Johns River Waterway System is inadequate, and a review of existing waterway usage and potential demands are needed for water quality management and other purposes; 3. The determination of investigation needs presented in this report provide interim plan findings for obtaining fundamental information upon which a long-range water quality management plan for the basin can be used. DISCLAIMER The contents of this report are produced as received from the contractor. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed are not necessarily those of the St. Johns River Water Management District, nor does mention of company names or products constitute endorsement by the St. Johns River Water Management District. ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN, FLORIDA INTERIM WATER OUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FINDINGS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No, STUDY AUTHORITY 1 STUDY SCOPE 1 DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA 2 PROBLEMS, NEEDS, AND OPPORTUNITIES 11 FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES 12 WATER QUALITY/ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION NEEDS 15 STUDY CONSTRAINTS 29 INTRODUCTION 29 AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES 30 ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (SJRWMD) 30 RESPONSIBILITIES PRIOR AND ONGOING STUDIES 31 COST SHARING 49 COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS 50 BASE AND WITHOUT CONDITIONS 50 INTRODUCTION 50 POPULATION 50 AGRICULTURAL LAND USES 52 CLIMATIC FACTORS 54 GEOLOGY, SOILS AND LANDFORMS 58 NATURAL RESOURCES 62 NUTRIENT CYCLING THROUGH WETLANDS 64 ST. JOHNS RIVER GENERAL HYDROLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS 66 GENERAL WATER OUALITY CHARACTERISTICS 73 WATERWAYS USAGE 86 INTERIM WATER OUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FINDINGS 89 GENERAL 89 ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN, FLORIDA INTERIM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FINDINGS TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) TABLES Table No. Page No. 1 ST. JOHNS RIVER REFERENCE TABLE 3 thru 9 2 BRIDGES CROSSING THE ST. JOHNS RIVER 10 3 RIVERS AND HARBORS ACTS 32 thru 34 4 ST. JOHNS RIVER SURVEY REPORTS AND PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS 35 thru 41 5 FEASIBILITY REPORTS ON THE UPPER ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN (SURVEY REPORT AND GENERAL DESIGN MEMORANDUMS); CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA PROJECT FOR FLOOD CONTROL AND OTHER PURPOSES 42 thru 44 6 CROSS-FLORIDA BARGE CANAL PREVIOUSLY ISSUED REPORTS 45 7 PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM 48 and 49 8 1980 PROJECTED POPULATIONS BY SURFACE WATER SUBBASIN, ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN 51 9 MAJOR AGRICULTURAL USES OF LAND WITHIN THE ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN 53 10 SURFACE WINDS AT SELECT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT 56 PLATES (plates follow text) Title Plate No, STUDY AREA ORIENTATION MAP 1 JACKSONVILLE HARBOR, FLORIDA 2 ST. JOHNS RIVER, FLORIDA, JACKSONVILLE TO LAKE HARNEY 3 CROSS-FLORIDA BARGE CANAL 4 GENERALIZED MAP OF RECHARGE AREAS 5 MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL 1941 - 1970 6 GENERALIZED MAP OF RECHARGE AREAS 7 REPORTED FAULTS ALONG THE ST. JOHNS RIVER 8 LANDFORMS IN THE REGION OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER 9 ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN, FLORIDA INTERIM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FINDINGS TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) APPENDICES APPENDIX A - COMMENTS TO INITIAL DRAFT MATERIALS APPENDIX B - FLORIDA WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, CHAPTER 17-3, FLORIDA RULES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION STUDY AUTHORITY General This special report was prepared under authority contained in the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act, 1984 (Public Law 98-50). PL 98-50 pro- vided funds and directed the Corps of Engineers to prepare an interim water quality management plan for the St. Johns River Basin. House Report No. 98-217 The Energy and Water Development Appropriation Bill, 1984 (HR No. 98-217) provides, "St. Johns River, Fl a - The Committee has included $100,000 and directs the Corps of Engineers to prepare an interim water quality manage- ment plan for the St. Johns River Basin, Fla. This report is to be prepared at full Federal expense and in cooperation with local interests.". STUDY SCOPE This special report includes consideration of the State of Florida's primary interests in establishing an interim water quality plan for the St. Johns River system upon which future development actions within the basin could be evaluated. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA The St. Johns River Basin encompasses an approximately 9,200-square-mile drainage area and is considered the largest river system located entirely within the State of Florida (plate 1). The basin is located within all or parts of 15 counties that comprise most of the east-central and northeastern parts of the State. The St. Johns River is unique in several respects. Its southwestern and western headwater areas occur along the drainage divide with streams flowing directly to Lake Okeechobee. The river's valley head- waters occur in a 400-square-mi 1e freshwater marsh in Indian River County. The southern limits have been determined as the Florida Sunshine Parkway, where this roadway crosses the St. Johns River valley at about river mile point 304. From this locality, the river naturally flows northward via a series of water control canals constructed by agricultural interests and natural sheet flow when water levels become high. Flows are almost comple- tely controlled for about 20 river miles under normal and low flow con- ditions. After passing the last valley barrier, locally known as the Fellsmere Grade, the river water flows via canal and sheet flow about 8 miles before the first discernible channel of the St. Johns River becomes apparent at mile point 275.9. The river then flows via its channel to the vicinity of downtown Jacksonville and then eastward about 25 miles before discharging into the Atlantic Ocean at Mayport (table 1 and plate 2). The approximately 191 miles of the river's main stem located to the north of the bridge crossing of State Road 46 (table 2) is described in this report as the Middle and Lower Basins. This entire segment of the St. Johns River has water surface elevations that fluctuate ahout mean sea level (plate 3). As a result, water surface elevations fluctuate according to the volume of water being discharged, astronomical and storm tides influences affecting the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the northeast Florida coast, and wind effects. For this study, the St. Johns River Basin has been divided into three sub- basins along the main stem of the river. The Upper St. Johns Basin consists of approximately 113 miles of the river valley from the headwater marshes at an elevation of aoout 25 feet, N.G.V.D., to a roadway bridge crossing (State Road 46) at river mile point 191 with a normal surface water elevation very close to mean sea level. The Middle Basin consists of the essentially tidewater influenced river system between mile point 191 and the river's confluence with the Oklawaha River at river mile point 101. The Lower Basin consists cf the 101-mile tidewater influenced river segment that ultimately discharges to the Atlantic Ocean. The Oklawaha River Basin, an approximate- ly 2,750-square-mile subbasin, is the major tributary to the St. Johns River. This fourth major subbasin of the river system has its headwaters at elevations that reach 300 feet above mean sea level along the central high- lands of Florida. The lower part of the Oklawaha River has been improved for use as the Cross Florida Barge Canal where water is controlled through two structures that create a body of water known as Lake Ocklawaha (plate 4). Flows are discharged easterly at Rodman Dam along the natural Oklawaha River and at Buckman Lock along a canal constructed to the St. Johns River near Palatka, Florida. TABLE 1 ST. JOINS RIVER REFERENCE TABLE REFERENCE MILEAGE, TRIBUTARIES, AND OTHER BASIN DATA Reference Slope Extent of Tidal Mean Tide Reference Mileage Length Elevation Ft., MSMSLL Average Fall Discharge Rate (CFSH1) Influence (Mile Range Mileage Fran Waterway Name Miles Source Mouth Feet/Mile Max. Min.. MeaMean Above Mouth) (Feet) Fran Mouth(2) Headwaters ST. JOHNS RIVER LOWER BASIN LOWER BASIN Atlantic Ocean 20 0 0.1 61,100 (-)51,040 5,509 110.0 4.9 0 275.9 Haul over Cr. 1.9 1.9 4.5 2.0 L 273.9 Shipyard Cr. .7 5 0 10.0 .7 3.5 7.8 R 268.1 Old Channel 5.1 5.1 3.4 8.0 L 267.9 Clapboard Cr.