SSTATE OF THE RRIVER RREPORT FOR THE LLOWER SST.. JJOHNS RRIVER BBASIN,, FFLORIDA:: WWATER QQUALITY,, FFISHERIES,, AAQUATIC LLIFE,, && CCONTAMINANTS 22000088 Prepared for Environmental Protection Board City of Jacksonville, Florida St. James Building 117 West Duval Street Jacksonville, Florida 32202 By University of North Florida Jacksonville University 1 UNF Drive and 2800 University Boulevard North Jacksonville, Florida 32224 Jacksonville, Florida 32211 August 4, 2008 LOWER ST. JOHNS RIVER REPORT August 4, 2008 STATE OF THE RIVER REPORT FOR THE LOWER ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN: Water Quality, Fisheries, Aquatic Life, and Contaminants Page 1. BACKGROUND........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Introduction to the River Report ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1. Purpose ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.2. Goals and Objectives.................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.3. River Health Indicators and Evaluation............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. St. Johns River Basin Landscape ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.1. Geopolitical Boundaries ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2.2. Existing Land Uses........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2.3. Ecological Zones ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2.4. Unique Physical Features .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3. Human Occupancy of the Region (pre­1800s)......................................................................................................... 9 1.3.1. Native Americans.......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.3.2. Europeans ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 1.4. Early Environmental Management (1800s to 1970s)........................................................................................... 9 1.5. Modern Environmental Management (1980s to 2000s) ...................................................................................11 2. WATER QUALITY ................................................................................................................................................16 2.1. Overview .............................................................................................................................................................................16 2.2. Dissolved Oxygen................................................................................................................................................................17 2.2.1. Description and Significance: DO and BOD......................................................................................................................17 2.2.2. Factors that Affect DO and BOD............................................................................................................................................18 2.2.3. Data Sources..................................................................................................................................................................................18 2.2.4. Limitations.....................................................................................................................................................................................18 2.2.5. Current Status and Trends......................................................................................................................................................18 2.2.6. Future Outlook.............................................................................................................................................................................23 2.3. Nutrients .............................................................................................................................................................................23 2.3.1. Description and Significance: Phosphorus.......................................................................................................................23 2.3.2. Description and Significance: Nitrogen .............................................................................................................................24 2.3.3. Data Sources..................................................................................................................................................................................24 2.3.4. Limitations.....................................................................................................................................................................................25 2.3.5. Current Status and Trends: Phosphorus...........................................................................................................................25 2.3.6. Current Status and Trends: Nitrogen .................................................................................................................................28 2.3.7. Future Outlook.............................................................................................................................................................................33 2.4. Turbidity .............................................................................................................................................................................33 2.4.1. Description and Significance:.................................................................................................................................................33 2.4.2. Data Sources..................................................................................................................................................................................36 2.4.3. Limitations.....................................................................................................................................................................................36 2.4.4. Current Conditions.....................................................................................................................................................................37 2.4.5. Trend and Future Outlook.......................................................................................................................................................37 2.4.6. Recommendation........................................................................................................................................................................37 2.5. Algal Blooms ......................................................................................................................................................................37 2.5.1. Description and Significance..................................................................................................................................................37 2.5.2. Limitations.....................................................................................................................................................................................41 2.5.3. Current Conditions.....................................................................................................................................................................41 2.5.4. Trend................................................................................................................................................................................................41 2.5.5. Future Outlook.............................................................................................................................................................................41 2.5.6. Recommendations......................................................................................................................................................................41 2.6. Bacteria (Fecal Coliform)..............................................................................................................................................41 2.6.1. Description and Significance..................................................................................................................................................41 i LOWER ST. JOHNS RIVER REPORT August 4,