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Pensacola Watershed Characterization f1004401.0003.02 Draft Pensacola Bay System Surface Watershed Characterization December 2016 Prepared by: Pensacola Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 8, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT This document was developed in support of the Surface Water Improvement and Management Program with funding assistance from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. ii Pensacola Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 8, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT Version History Location(s) in Date Version Summary of Revision(s) Document Initial draft Watershed Characterization (Sections 1, 2, 3, 09/23/2016 1 All 4, and 6) submitted to NWFWMD. 10/18/2016 2 Throughout Numerous edits and comments from District staff. 11/10/2016 3 Throughout Numerous revisions to address District comments. 11/23/2016 4 Throughout Numerous edits and comments from District staff. 12/8/2016 5 Throughout Numerous revisions to address District comments. L:\Publications\4200-4499\4401-0001_NWFWD iii Pensacola Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 8, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT This page intentionally left blank. iv Pensacola Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 8, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT Table of Contents Section Page 1.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 1.1 SWIM Program Background, Goals, and Objectives...........................................1 1.2 Purpose and Scope of 2017 SWIM Plan ..............................................................2 2.0 Watershed Description .............................................................................................4 2.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................4 2.2 Geographic Characteristics...................................................................................5 2.2.1 Geography ................................................................................................5 2.2.2 Land Use and Population .........................................................................8 2.3 Physical Characteristics ......................................................................................13 2.3.1 Physiographic Region ............................................................................14 2.3.2 Ecoregions ..............................................................................................15 2.3.3 Climate ...................................................................................................18 2.3.4 Geology ..................................................................................................19 2.3.5 Soils ........................................................................................................20 2.4 Hydrologic Characteristics .................................................................................22 2.4.1 Major Rivers and Tributaries .................................................................22 2.4.2 Coastal Waterbodies ...............................................................................23 2.4.3 Lakes ......................................................................................................26 2.4.4 Groundwater Systems ............................................................................26 2.5 Ecosystem Services ............................................................................................27 2.5.1 Hydrologic Functions .............................................................................28 2.5.2 Nutrient Cycling .....................................................................................30 2.5.3 Sediment Stabilization ............................................................................30 2.5.4 Commercially and Recreationally Important Fish and Wildlife ............30 2.5.5 Recreation and Aesthetic Value .............................................................33 2.6 Ecological Resources .........................................................................................34 2.6.1 Seagrass Beds .........................................................................................35 2.6.2 Oyster Reefs ...........................................................................................35 2.6.3 Emergent Marsh .....................................................................................36 2.6.4 Coastal Barrier Systems .........................................................................38 2.6.5 Palustrine, Riparian, and Floodplain Habitats ........................................38 2.6.6 Terrestrial Communities .........................................................................39 2.6.7 Migratory Bird Flyways .........................................................................40 3.0 Current Watershed Conditions and Water Resource Issues ..................................41 viii Pensacola Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 8, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................41 3.2 Water Quality .....................................................................................................41 3.2.1 Impaired Waters .....................................................................................42 3.2.2 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Assessments ..............................46 3.2.3 Point Source Pollution ............................................................................53 3.2.4 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution ..........................................................60 3.2.5 Ecological Indicators of Water Quality ..................................................69 3.3 Habitat Quality in Receiving Waters .................................................................71 3.3.1 Subtidal Communities ............................................................................71 3.3.2 Intertidal Communities ...........................................................................73 3.3.3 Freshwater Systems ................................................................................73 3.4 Floodplains .........................................................................................................74 3.4.1 Flood Prone Areas ..................................................................................75 3.4.2 Recent Flood Events ...............................................................................75 3.4.3 Floodplain Management .........................................................................76 3.5 Unique Features and Special Resource Management Designations ..................77 3.5.1 Conservation Lands ................................................................................77 3.5.2 Critical Habitat and Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas ....................79 3.5.3 Aquatic Preserves ...................................................................................80 3.5.4 Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWs) .....................................................81 3.5.5 Gulf Ecological Management Sites (GEMS) .........................................83 4.0 Implementation and Achievements of the Previous SWIM Plan ..........................84 4.1 Previous SWIM Plan Issues and Priorities .........................................................84 4.2 Progress Toward Meeting Plan Goals and Objectives .......................................86 5.0 Related Resource Management Activities .............................................................90 5.1 Deepwater Horizon: RESTORE Act, Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), and NFWF Projects ........................................................90 5.1.1 RESTORE ..............................................................................................90 5.1.2 National Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) .................................91 5.1.3 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) ...................................93 5.1.4 The Nature Conservancy (TNC): Watershed Management Planning ..................................................................................................94 5.2 Water Quality Monitoring ..................................................................................95 5.2.1 FDEP/NWFWMD ..................................................................................95 5.2.2 FDEP Northwest District .......................................................................96 5.2.3 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) ................................................................................................96 ix Pensacola Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 8, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT 5.2.4 Florida Department of Health (FDOH) ..................................................96 5.2.5 Bream Fishermen Association (BFA) ....................................................97 5.3 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Monitoring ...........................................97 5.4 Water Quality Restoration and Protection Programs .........................................97 5.4.1 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) .................................................98 5.4.2 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
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