State of the Bay Update

Estero Bay Agency on Bay Management 2009

Whitney Gray and Jim Beever Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council State of the Bay Update 2009

Water Quality

• Parameters and Standards

Hydrology

•Flows and Salinity

Wildlife

•Listed Species, Seagrass, and Fisheries

Social

• Population, Recreation, and Building Permits

2009 State of Estero Bay Update The Estero Bay Watershed

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Koreshan House Calusa Indians Ponce de Leon

Tamiami Trail

FGCU Construction

Southwest Florida International Airport Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Mosquito Spraying 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Changes in Water Quality Standards Parameter State Standards EPA 2004 2009 2004 2009 Chlorophyll‐a 11 mg/mL3 estuarine No mention in 62‐302 (2008) 0.4 ug/L rivers/streams 0.4 ug/L rivers/streams 20 mg/mL3 streams Copper 3.7 mg/mL3 marine 3.7 ug/L estuarine 0.125 mg/L estuarine 3.1 ug/L estuarine 3.7 mg/mL3 fresh 0.125 mg/L fresh 9.0 ug/L fresh Dissolved oxygen 404.0 mg/L estuarine 505.0 mg/L estuarine 505.0 mg/L estuarine 505.0 mg/L estuarine 4.0 mg/L fresh 5.0 mg/L fresh 5.0 mg/L fresh 5.0 mg/L fresh 200 count/100 mL estuarine (2004 State Of the Bay) 400 count/100 mL (Impaired Fecal coliform Waters Rule in 2002) 200 count/100 mL 200 count/100 mL estituarine (2004 State Of the Bay) 400 count/100 mL (Impaired Waters Rule in 2002) 200 count/100 mL 0.7‐3.5 mg/L estuarine = caution >3.5 mg/L = impaired (2004 SOB) 0.9 mg/L (Summary Table for Total nitrogen Narrative In development Nutrient Criteria in 2002) 0.9 mg/L 0.1‐0.5 mg/L estuarine = caution >0.5 = impaired (2004 SOB) 40 Total phosphorus Narrative In development ug/L (Summary Table in 2002) 40 ug/L 25‐100 NTU estuarine = caution >100 = impaired (Summary Table in Turbidity No mention No mention 2002)1.9 NTU rivers/streams

Note: mg/mL3 = ug/L (micrograms/Liter)

62‐302 = Surface Water Quality Standards (FDEP 2008) 62‐303 = IidImpaired Waters Ru le (FDEP 2002) Summary Table for Nutrient Criteria (USEPA 2002) Gold Book (USEPA 1986) National Recommended Water Quality Criteria (USEPA 2009) 2009 State of Estero Bay Update 2008 Water Quality Status

Total Total Chlorophyll‐a Copper DO Fecal Coliform Turbidity Total Met Nitrogen Phosphorus Estuarine Estero Bay 7

7 Mullock Creek Hendry Creek VV 5 Estero River VV 5 Spring Creek 5

VV 5 Imperial River Fresh

VV 5 Mulloc k Creek 10‐Mile Canal V6 Hendry Creek V6 Spring Creek 6

VVV 4 Imperial River Total Met 11 11 6 4 11 11 11

Water Quality Standard not met for average in 2008 V On the FDEP Verified List for Water Quality Impairments (Florida Department of Environmental Protection 2009; Lee County Environmental Lab 2009)

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Impaired Waters

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Chlorophyll‐a Trends

2006‐2008 Trend Estuarine 9.00 8.00

7.00 Estero Bay

g/M3) 6.00

mm HdHendry CCkreek (

a 5.00 ‐ Mullock Creek 4.00 3.00 Spring Creek 2.00 Imperial River Chlorophyll 1.00 Estero River http://teacherweb.ftl.pinecrest.edu/santar m/Diagrams2001/plantcells.jpeg 0.00 2006 2007 2008

2006‐2008 Trend Fresh 9.00 8.00 7.00

g/M3) 6.00 Ten Mile Canal (m

a 5.00 Hendry ‐ 4.00 Mullock Creek 3.00 Spring Creek

Chlorophyll 2.00 Imperial River 1.00 0.00 2006 2007 2008 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Copper Trends 2006‐2008 Trend Estuarine 1.80 1.60 1.40 Estero Bay 1.20 /L)

gg Hendry Creek

(u 1.00 Mullock Creek 0.80 Spring Creek

Copper 0.60 Imperial River http://www.chemicool.com/elements/images/copp 0.40 er-sulfate.jpg Estero River 0200.20 0.00 2006 2007 2008

2006‐2008 TdTrend FhFresh No data for Estero Bay 1.80 1.60 1.40

)) 1201.20 Ten Mile Canal

(ug/L 1.00 Hendry Creek

0.80 Mullock Creek

Copper 0.60 Spring Creek 0.40 Imperia l River 0.20 0.00 2006 2007 2008 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Dissolved Oxygen Trends 2006‐2008 Trend Estuarine 7.00

6.00

5.00 Estero Bay

L) Hendry Creek // 4004.00

(mg Mullock Creek 3.00

DO Spring Creek 2.00 Imperial River 1.00 Estero River http://www.abc.net.au/science/ 0.00 news/stories/s1599675.htm 2006 2007 2008

No data for Mullock Creek 2006‐2008 Trend Fresh 7.00

6.00

5.00 Ten Mile Canal 4.00 Hendry Creek (mg/L) 3.00 Mullock Creek DO 2.00 Spring Creek Imperial River 1001.00

0.00 2006 2007 2008 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Fecal Coliform Trends 2006‐2008 Trend Estuarine 600 mL) 500 Estero Bay 400

nies/100 Hendry Creek oo 300 Mullock Creek (col

Spring Creek 200 Imperial River coliform

100 Estero River http://www.ars.usda.gov/images/docs/8057_8251/ ecal 2005-06-20-coliforms.jpg FF 0 2006 2007 2008

2006‐2008 Trend Fresh 600 mL) 500

400 Ten Mile Canal ies/100 Hendry Creek 300 (colon Mullock Creek 200 Spring Creek coliform 100 Imperial River cal ee F 0 2006 2007 2008

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Total Nitrogen Trends

2006‐2008 Trend Estuarine 1.40

1.20 N)

as 1.00 Estero Bay /L gg Hendry Creek

(m 0.80

Mullock Creek http://www.lee- 0.60 county.com/gov/dept/NaturalResources/Water Spring Creek nitrogen Quality/Pages/FertilizeSmart/fertilizesmart_ima 0.40 ges/menu_top_pic_fertilizer.jpg Imperial River

Total 0.20 Estero River 0.00 2006 2007 2008

2006‐2008 TdTrend FhFresh 1.40

1.20 N)

as

L 1.00

// Ten Mile Canal

(mg 0.80 Hendry Creek 0.60 Mullock Creek nitrogen 0.40 Spring Creek

otal Imperial River TT 0200.20

0.00 2006 2007 2008 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Total Phosphorus Trends

2006‐2008 Trend Estuarine 0.12 P) 0.10 as Estero Bay g/L 0080.08 mm (

Hendry Creek 0.06 Mullock Creek Spring Creek 0.04

phosphorus Imperial River tal

oo 0020.02

T Estero River www.lee-county.com 0.00 2006 2007 2008

2006‐2008 Trend Fresh 0.12 P)

as

0.10

g/L Ten Mile Canal

mm 0080.08 (

Hendry Creek 0.06 Mullock Creek 0.04 Spring Creek phosphorus

0.02 Imperial River otal TT 0.00 2006 2007 2008

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Turbidity Trends

2006‐2008 Trend Estuarine 5.00 4.50 4.00 Estero Bay 3.50 Us) TT 3003.00 Hendry Creek (N

2.50 Mullock Creek 2.00 Spring Creek

Turbidity 1.50 Imperial River 1.00 http://recon.sccf.org/definitions/jars-turbidity- 0.50 Estero River 192x144.jpg 0.00 2006 2007 2008

2006‐2008 TdTrend FhFresh 5.00 4.50 4.00

s) 3.50

UU Ten Mile Canal 3.00 (NT

Hendry Creek 2.50 2.00 Mullock Creek 1.50

Turbidity Spring Creek 1.00 Imperial River 0500.50 0.00 2006 2007 2008

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Parameter Estero Estero Hendry Imperial Spring Ten Mile Basin CHNEP Water Quality Bay River Creek River Creek Canal Net BOD Status and Trends Data 0 ‐3 ‐3 Chl‐a corr 2 ‐10 12 for Estero Bay Basin Cl 1995‐2005 Color 022 DO 64 1 2 2 1025 F Coli 01001 NH3 •Ten Mile Canal showed the ‐2 ‐1 ‐3 ‐6 highest number of parameters NO23 ‐40 ‐100‐2 ‐7 that had degraded. NO3 ‐2 ‐200‐1 ‐5 pH 0134 •Estero River and Spring Creek PO4 0 ‐1 ‐20‐1 ‐4 showed the fewest parameters Salinity 9 9 that had degraded. SO4 Temp ‐100‐1 •Ten Mile Canal also showed the TkN ‐1 ‐1 ‐1 ‐2 ‐5 highest number of parameters TN ‐2 ‐1 ‐10 1‐3 that had improved. TOC TP 1 1 •Hendry Creek showed the fewest TSS 11 0 2 1 5 parameters that had improved. Turb 55 0 1 0 011

positive trend neutral trend negative trend 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Estero Bay Tributary Flows 700.00

600.00

500.00

400.00 N Estero River CFS in

S Estero River Imperial River

Flow, 300.00 Spring Creek Ten Mile Canal 200.00 Hendry Creek

100.00

0.00 Jul Jul Jul Jan Jan Jan Jun Jun Jun Oct Oct Apr Apr Apr Feb Sep Feb Sep Feb Sep Dec Dec Aug Aug Aug Nov Nov Mar Mar Mar May May May

2006 2007 2008

Imperial River

Estero River

http://www.clubkayak.com/cfkt/trips/ http://lifeinbonitasprings.com/wp- estero_bay.html content/uploads/2009/07/Bonita-Springs- Florida-Imperial-River.jpg 2009 State of Estero Bay Update http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/events/sanctuaries/ Salinity seagrass_meadow650.jpg 2009

State of

Estero

Bay

Update

2006 March September

2007 March September

2008 March September

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Measure: Number of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Family Groups Time Frame: 1991-2001 Data Source: FWC Level of Change: -100% in EBABM area Meeting Recovery? No

Red‐cockaded woodpecker Picoides borealis 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Measure: Number of Successful Bald Eagle Nests Time Frame: 1995-2009 DtData S ource: FWC Level of Change: + 33% in EBABM area Meeting Recovery? Yes according Year Number of Success Nests Rate 1995 9 5 (55%) 1996 10 6 (60%) 1997 10 4 (()40%) 1998 11 7 (64 %) 1999 11 6 (55 %) 2000 14 ? 2001 14 10(71%) 2002 11 2(18%) 2003 9 2(22%) 2004 12 6(50%) 2005 11 ? 2006 10 7(70%) 2007 11 4(37%) 2008 9 6(67%) 2009 12 5(42%) Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Measure: Number of Successful Florida Scrub Jay Nests Time Frame: 1995-2009 Data Source:FWC: FWC Level of Change: -100% in EBABM area Meeting Recovery? No

Year Number of Nests Success Rate 1989 2 2 (100%) 1993 1 unknown 1995 0 0 1999 0 0 2001 0 0 2009 00

Photo by Joe Vidulich

Florida Scrub Jay Aphelocoma coerulescens

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Measure: Acres of gopher tortoise habitat impacted Time Frame: 1999-2009 DSData Source: FWC? Level of Change: -4% in EBABM area by 1999 to 2003 Meeting Recovery? No Photo by Whitney Gray

Date Acres Gopher Acres Gopher Acres Gopher Net Gopher Total Project Tortoise Habitat Tortoise Habitat Tortoise Habitat Tortoise Habitat Impact Impacted Preserved Off‐Site Preserved Onsite Lost 1999 27 4 0 23 76 2000 121 18 5 98 436 2001 387 56 15 316 1,108 2002 00000 2003 43 9 6 28 88 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 8‐year 577 86 26 465 1,707 total Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Time Frame: 1986-1999/2000 Data Source: FWC LlfChLevel of Change: 0 + 15% in EBABM area Meeting Recovery? Not Yet

http://www.ecotrail.com/images/peli cans.jpg

Year Number of Success Rate Rookeries 1986 9 5 (55%) 1999 6 6 (55 %) 2008 13 ? http://fl.water.usgs.gov/cesi/images/wildlife /woodstork1_2.jpg WdiWading Bir d &&B Brown PPlielican RRkiookeries Pelicanus occidentalis 2009 State of Estero Bay Update % Rank Frog Species Occurrence Frog species detected 1 Oak toad, Bufo quericus 17.1 and rank based on 2 Southern toad, Bufo terrestris 10.3 freqqyuency of Florida cricket frog, Pseduacris nigrita occurrence 3 9.0 verrucosa during the 2000 4 Green treefrog, Hyla cinerea 8.8 season. Based on 525 5 Squirrel treefrog, Hyla squirella 767.6 “detection events” Greenhouse frog, Eleutherodactylus 6 6.3 planirostris Narrow-mouthed toad, Gastrophryne 7 5.7 carolinensi s 8 Pinewoods treefrog, Hyla femoralis 4.8 9 Pig frog, Rana grylio 3.8 http://myfwc.org/images/Animals/Frog_f reshwater_Marsh_&_Prairie_Alternate.j 10 Barking treefrog, Hyla gratiosa 3.4 pg 11 Cuban treefrog, Hyla septentrionalis 3.2 Florida chorus frog, Pseduacris nigrita 12 2.9 verrucosa Southern leopard frog, Rana 13 252.5 sphenocephala

14 Little grass frog, Limnaoedus ocularis 0.6 http://www.seaworld.org/FLN/images/ Eastern spadefoot toad, Scaphiopus Pigfrog.gif 15 0.4 holbrooki 16 Bull frog, Rana catesbeiana 0.2 Amphibians 17 Giant toad, Bufo marinus 0.2 18 none detected 13.1 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Conservation Land Acquisitions 2000‐2009

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Seagrass Acres in Estero Bay

2009 State of Estero Bay Update 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Landings Year (pounds) Trips Landings/Trip

1998 26,085 949 27

1999 12,224 566 22

2000 11,054 636 17 http://www.captcliff.com/pdfimages/seatrout.jpg 2001 5,975 369 16

2002 8,963 358 25

Seatrout Landings 2003 12,985 392 33 30, 000 2004 4,120 198 21 25,000 2005 12,113 359 34 20,000

s 2006 2,479 149 17 dd 15,000

Poun Landings 2007 1,248 95 13 10,000 2008 3,166 142 22 5,000 1998‐ ‐88% ‐85% ‐19% 2008 0 change 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus 2009 State of Estero Bay Update Landings Year (pounds) Trips Landings/Trip

1998 2,361 ,740 8,889 266

1999 2,217,971 8,549 259

2000 1,205,304 6,194 195

2001 384,724 3,075 125

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/oxford/publications/bluecr 2002 661,615 3,914 169 abpub.html 2003 1,092,288 4,967 220 Blue Crab Landings 2004 1,547 ,053 4,606 336 3,000,000

2,500,000 2005 1,338,285 4,708 284

2,000,000 2006 2,441,143 6,343 385 s dd 1,500,000 2007 1,390,276 5,087 273

Poun Landings 1,000,000 2008 463,839 2,879 161

500,000 1998‐ ‐80% ‐68% ‐39% 2008 0 change 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Blu e Crab Callinectes sapidu s

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Landings Year (pounds) Trips Landings/Trip

1998 2,,,035,783.0 6,755.0 301.4

1999 2,141,311.0 5,904.0 362.7

2000 1,900,655.0 5,586.0 340.3

2001 2,168 ,389 .0 5,045 .0 429.8 http://www.fl-seafood.com/i/mullet.jpg 2002 912,046.0 3,118.0 292.5 Mullet Landings 2003 1,296,915.0 3,828.0 338.8 2,,,500,000 2004 1,229 ,949 .0 4,123 .0 298.3

2,000,000 2005 1,202,347.0 3,888.0 309.2

1,500,000 2006 1,127,618.0 3,669.0 307.3 unds

Po 1,000,000 Landings 2007 1,202,984.0 3,643.0 330.2

500,000 2008 1,247,834.0 3,392.0 367.9 1998‐ ‐39% ‐50% 22% 0 2008 change 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Mullet Mugil cep halus

2009 State of Estero Bay Update http://www.superboat.com/photos/Web-Crowd.jpg

Population Change

600,000

500,000

400,000 Collier dents Hendry Resi Lee of 300,000 Bonita Ft. Myers Number 200,000 FMB

100,000

0 Census 2000 Estimate 11/2008

2009 State of Estero Bay Update htt yg ppy ://m y fwc.com/ima Vessels g sLcPermits/Shrim es/Lic

_ Number of Registrations 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 10,000 0 ppjpg Boat. 2000 Vessel jpg 2001

2002

Registrations Number of Registrations 2003 10,000 15,000 20,000 000 2 30,000 5,000 5, Year 000

0 2004

2005 CANOES

2006 by Vessel

< THAN 12 Use 2007

Registrations 2008

2009 12 ‐ 15 11 " Vessel Pl Commercial

easure

State 16 ‐ 25 11 " Length

(feet)

26 ‐ 39 11 " of

by

Estero com/canoe.jpg http://www.evergladesadventures.

40 ‐ 64 11 " Size

Bay 65 ‐ 109 11 "

Update

110 MORE

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2008 2007 Building Permits

10,000

10,469 8,000

6,000 Permitted

its 2003 nn U 2004 of

2005 4,000 2006 Number 2007 2008 2,000

0

Permit Type

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Conclusions

Water Quality

• Parameters and Standards •Mixed Results – standards are changing; DO looking good; TN looking bad.

Hydrology •Flows and Salinity •Imperial River dominates flows and shows most influence from runoff.

Wildlife

•Listed Species, Seagrass, and Fisheries •Loss of habitat affecting listed species; seagrass holding steady; fisheries in decline.

Social

• Population, Recreation, and Building Permits •All indicators reflect the recent economic downturn following a boom.

2009 State of Estero Bay Update Acknowledgements

• Judy Ott – CHNEP • Lisa Beever –CHNEP • Keith Kibbey –Lee County Laboratory • Karen Bickford – Lee County Natural Resources • FWC

2009 State of Estero Bay Update