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Wakulla Springs Restoration Plan

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Wakulla Springs Restoration Plan Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan Prepared for The Wakulla Springs Alliance and the Friends of Wakulla Springs Prepared by The Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute August 2014 i Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan Prepared for The Wakulla Springs Alliance and the Friends of Wakulla Springs Prepared by The Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute August 2014 ii Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan Table of Contents Figures .................................................................................................................................................. vii Tables ....................................................................................................................................................... x Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. ES-1 Section 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 List of Accomplishments ........................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Planning Process ........................................................................................................................ 6 Section 2.0 Description of the Wakulla Spring System ..................................................................... 8 2.1 General ......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Location ............................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Ownership and History..................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Physical ........................................................................................................................................ 8 2.3 Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Hydrogeologic Setting ..................................................................................................... 15 2.4 Watershed Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 19 2.5 Springshed Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 20 2.5.1 Aerial Extent ..................................................................................................................... 20 2.5.2 Groundwater Flow Paths and Travel Times ................................................................ 25 2.5.3 Springshed Land Use....................................................................................................... 25 2.5.4 Aquifer Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 25 2.5.5 Population ......................................................................................................................... 30 2.5.6 Water Use .......................................................................................................................... 30 2.5.6.1 Groundwater Withdrawals ......................................................................................... 30 2.5.6.2 Net Water Consumption ............................................................................................. 33 Section 3.0 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................... 35 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 35 3.2 Precipitation and Evapotranspiration ................................................................................... 35 3.3 Evapotranspiration .................................................................................................................. 38 3.4 Groundwater Recharge ........................................................................................................... 38 iii Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan 3.5 Spring Discharge ...................................................................................................................... 38 3.6 Relationship between Groundwater Levels and Spring Discharge .................................. 42 3.7 Inter-Basin Groundwater Transfers....................................................................................... 43 Section 4.0 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 46 4.1 General ....................................................................................................................................... 46 4.2 Water Clarity ............................................................................................................................ 52 4.3 Nitrate-Nitrogen ....................................................................................................................... 54 4.3.1 Atmospheric ...................................................................................................................... 54 4.3.2 Fertilizer ............................................................................................................................. 56 4.3.3 Municipal Wastewater and On-Site Disposal Systems ............................................... 57 4.3.4 Other Nitrogen Sources ................................................................................................... 58 4.3.5 Estimated Nitrogen Budget ............................................................................................ 58 Section 5.0 Biology ............................................................................................................................... 62 5.1 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................. 62 5.2 Macroinvertebrates .................................................................................................................. 64 5.3 Macrofauna ............................................................................................................................... 66 5.3.1 Fish ..................................................................................................................................... 66 5.3.2 Reptiles .............................................................................................................................. 67 5.3.3 Birds ................................................................................................................................... 69 5.3.4 Manatees ............................................................................................................................ 71 5.4 Ecosystem Functions ............................................................................................................... 72 Section 6.0 Human Use ....................................................................................................................... 76 Section 7.0 Regulatory Status ............................................................................................................. 82 7.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 82 7.2 Federal Designations and Protections ................................................................................... 82 7.3 State Designations and Protections ....................................................................................... 83 7.3.1 Minimum Flow and Levels ............................................................................................. 83 7.3.2 Impaired Waters Rule ...................................................................................................... 84 7.3.3 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) ............................................................................ 84 7.3.4 Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) ...................................................................... 84 7.4 County and Municipal Ordinances ....................................................................................... 85 iv Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan 7.4.1 Leon County Springs Protection Measures and Nitrate Reduction Strategies ....... 85 7.4.2 City of Tallahassee Springs Protection Measures and Nitrate Reduction Strategies87 7.4.3 Wakulla County Springs Protection Measures and Nitrate Reduction Strategies . 88 Section 8.0 Description of Impairments ............................................................................................ 90 8.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 90 8.2 Flow Increases and Decreased Water Transparency .......................................................... 92 8.3 Water Quality Impairments .................................................................................................... 93 8.3.1 Dark (Tannic-Stained) Water .........................................................................................
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