Origins and Delineation of Saltwater Intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer and Changes in the Distribution of Saltwater in Miami-Dade County, Florida
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Prepared in cooperation with Miami-Dade County Origins and Delineation of Saltwater Intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer and Changes in the Distribution of Saltwater in Miami-Dade County, Florida Well field Sewage Cl/Br ratio = 300 to 800 Freshwater Biscayne Aquifer Infiltration Limestone CaCO3 + + from tidal Quartz Sand SiO2 Little or no ion exchange marshes seaward of the ion Freshwater exchange front inflow Freshwater/saltwater interface Ion exchange Leading edge front of saltwater Encroachment NaCl, B, Br, Leakage from front from ocean K, Li, SO4 Depleted Residual unprotected Mg 3 4 along the base HCO B SO saltwater canals Ca Li K of the aquifer Na Saltwater EnrichedCl, Br = Conservative Pinecrest sand member Quartz sand SiO2 Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5025 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Conceptual diagram of sources and mechanisms of the saltwater that has intruded parts of aquifers in southeast Florida, and changes in water chemistry that may result from this intrusion. Origins and Delineation of Saltwater Intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer and Changes in the Distribution of Saltwater in Miami-Dade County, Florida By Scott T. Prinos, Michael A. Wacker, Kevin J. Cunningham, and David V. Fitterman Prepared in cooperation with Miami-Dade County Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5025 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014 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 http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://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. Suggested citation: Prinos, S.T., Wacker, M.A., Cunningham, K.J., and Fitterman, D.V., 2014, Origins and delineation of saltwater intrusion in the Biscayne aquifer and changes in the distribution of saltwater in Miami-Dade County, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5025, 101 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145025. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Acknowledgments The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of information provided by EAS Engineering, Inc., the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Manage- ment, and the South Florida Water Management District. We greatly appreciate the cooperation of the following property owners who allowed us to make measurements on their lands: the AA Baker Group, LTD, the Archdiocese of Miami, Alamo Rent A Car, Barry University, FRS Hold- ings, Inc., the City of Homestead, Homestead Miami Speedway, Hallandale Beach Elementary School, the Miami-Dade County Department of Public Schools, Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department, the South Florida Water Management District, and Palmer Trinity School. Bob Brown of the Archdiocese of Miami; Edward Swakon of EAS Engineering, Inc.; Dr. Claudius Carnegie, Jorge Corrales, and Greg Mohr of the Miami-Dade County Department of Public Schools; Maria Idia Macfarlane, Sonia Villamil, and Virginia Walsh of the Miami- Dade Water and Sewer Department; and Steve Krupa of the South Florida Water Management District were instrumental in helping us gain access to numerous properties where the time- domain electromagnetic soundings were completed. Maria Idia Macfarlane of the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department helped to oversee much of the well installation. Jorge Corrales helped collect many of the surface geophysical measurements that were made on lands owned by the Miami-Dade County Department of Public Schools. Michael J. Alexander, proj- ect manager of the Homestead Miami Speedway, not only provided necessary access to speed- way properties for measurements but also helped make necessary contacts with other properties owners in the area. Jim Happell of the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, John Stowell of Mount Sopris Instrument Company, and Roy Sonenshein of the National Park Service, Everglades National Park provided substantive reviews. The authors also would like to acknowledge the contributions of staff members of the U.S. Geological Survey. Michele Markovits helped with many aspects of this study, including the geochemical sampling, geophysical data collection, data entry, and sample preparation and analysis. Adam Foster provided substantive geochemical advice and helped to compile sample results in the database. Robert Valderrama completed most of the processing of time series elec- tromagnetic induction log sets, and Brian Banks collected the most recent logs for these data- sets. Ronald Bruce Irvin provided quality assurance of these log sets and partially automated the application of necessary adjustments. Lee Massey and Corey Whittaker helped to collect water samples. Brian Banks, Adrian Castillo, Eric Carlson, and Jeff Robinson helped to collect time-domain electromagnetic soundings. Jeff Robinson also collected many of the borehole logs as the new monitoring wells were being installed and helped to oversee some of the well installation. Ronald Bruce Irvin created the necessary scripts, software, and files to convert the static “Manual Water-Level Measurements in South Florida” website into a dynamic website that serves routinely collected salinity information as well as most of the salinity information collected during this study. The new website has proven to be valuable to local water manag- ers as they seek greater understanding of the changes in the extent and magnitude of saltwater intrusion in the Biscayne aquifer. Ronald Bruce Irvin also oversaw quality assurance for the time-series electromagnetic induction logs used during this study. Michael W. Bradley, Ed Busenberg, Richard H. Coupe, Kim H. Haag, Steven Hinkle, Carole Johnson, Robert Renken, Dorothy Sifuentes, Rick M. Spechler, David Sumner, Kimberly A. Swidarski, Kim Walten- baugh, and Peggy Widman provided invaluable support during the review, approval, and publi- cation process of this report. iv Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................6 Approach ................................................................................................................................................6 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................6 Hydrologic Controls .....................................................................................................................6 Topography and Physiography ..................................................................................................7 Climate ...........................................................................................................................................7 Water Use in Miami-Dade County ............................................................................................7 Hydrogeology/Hydrostratigraphic Framework .....................................................................10 Previous Studies .................................................................................................................................11 Origin of Saltwater Intrusion in Southeastern Florida ...........................................................................12 Mechanisms of Saltwater Intrusion ................................................................................................12 Upconing of Relict Saltwater from Previous Sea-Level High Stands ...............................12 Encroachment of Seawater along the Base of the Biscayne Aquifer ..............................13 Infiltration of Saltwater from Saltwater Marshes ................................................................13 Seepage from Streams or Canals in which Saltwater has Migrated Inland ...................13 Effects of Urban and Hydrologic Development on Saltwater Intrusion ....................................16 Predevelopment Conditions .....................................................................................................17 Relation of Urban Development to Saltwater Intrusion ......................................................17 Data Collection and Analysis .....................................................................................................................20