1004401.0003.04 Draft St. Andrew Bay Watershed Characterization December 2016 Prepared by: St. Andrew Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 5, 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 St. Andrew Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 5, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT Version History Location(s) in Date Version Summary of Revision(s) Document 6/28/2016 1 All Initial draft Watershed Characterization (Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6) submitted to NWFWMD. 7/14/2016 2 Throughout Numerous edits and comments from District staff 11/18/2016 3 Throughout Numerous revisions to address District comments. 11/23/2016 4 Throughout Numerous edits and comments from District staff 12/5/2016 5 Throughout Numerous revisions to address District comments. L:\Publications\4200-4499\4401-0001_NWFWD iii St. Andrew Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 5, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT This page intentionally left blank. iv St. Andrew Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 5, 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 .........................................................................7 2.3 Physical Characteristics ......................................................................................11 2.3.1 Physiographic Region ............................................................................11 2.3.2 Ecoregions ..............................................................................................12 2.3.3 Climate ...................................................................................................15 2.3.4 Geology ..................................................................................................15 2.3.5 Soils ........................................................................................................16 2.4 Hydrologic Characteristics .................................................................................19 2.4.1 Streams and Tributaries ..........................................................................19 2.4.2 Coastal Waterbodies ...............................................................................19 2.4.3 Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) ....................................................22 2.4.4 Lakes ......................................................................................................22 2.4.5 Springs ....................................................................................................24 2.4.6 Groundwater Systems ............................................................................26 2.5 Ecosystem Services ............................................................................................26 2.5.1 Hydrologic Functions .............................................................................27 2.5.2 Nutrient Cycling .....................................................................................29 2.5.3 Sediment Stabilization ............................................................................29 2.5.4 Commercially and Recreationally Important Fisheries ..........................29 2.5.5 Recreation and Aesthetic Value .............................................................32 2.6 Ecological Resources .........................................................................................33 2.6.1 Seagrass Beds .........................................................................................34 2.6.2 Oyster Reefs ...........................................................................................36 2.6.3 Emergent Marsh .....................................................................................36 2.6.4 Palustrine, Riparian, and Floodplain Habitats ........................................38 2.6.5 Steepheads ..............................................................................................38 2.6.6 Coastal Barrier Systems .........................................................................38 2.6.7 Dune and Sandhill Lakes ........................................................................39 2.6.8 Springs ....................................................................................................41 2.6.9 Terrestrial Communities .........................................................................41 2.6.10 Migratory Bird Flyways .........................................................................42 3.0 Current Watershed Conditions and Water Resource Issues ............. 43 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................43 3.2 Water Quality .....................................................................................................43 3.2.1 Impaired Waters .....................................................................................43 viii St. Andrew Bay Watershed Characterization Northwest Florida Water Management District December 5, 2016 DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT 3.2.2 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) .................................................47 3.2.3 Point Source Pollution ............................................................................49 3.2.4 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution ..........................................................56 3.2.5 Ecological Indicators of Water Quality ..................................................64 3.3 Habitat Quality in Receiving Waters .................................................................66 3.3.1 Subtidal Communities ............................................................................66 3.3.2 Intertidal Communities ...........................................................................68 3.3.3 Freshwater Systems ................................................................................68 3.4 Floodplains .........................................................................................................69 3.4.1 Flood Prone Areas ..................................................................................70 3.4.2 Recent Flood Events ...............................................................................70 3.4.3 Floodplain Management .........................................................................71 3.5 Unique Features and Special Resource Management Designations ..................71 3.5.1 Conservation Lands ................................................................................71 3.5.2 Critical Habitat and Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas (SHCAs) .................................................................................................74 3.5.3 Aquatic Preserves ...................................................................................74 3.5.4 Gulf Ecological Management Sites (GEMS) .........................................75 3.5.5 Northwest Florida Greenway Project .....................................................75 4.0 Implementation and Achievements of the Previous SWIM Plan ...... 77 4.1 Previous SWIM Plan Issues and Priorities .........................................................77 4.2 Progress toward Meeting Plan Goals and Objectives ........................................78 5.0 Related Resource Management Activities ............................................ 82 5.1 Deepwater Horizon: RESTORE Act, Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), and NFWF Projects ........................................................82 5.1.1 RESTORE ..............................................................................................82 5.1.2 Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) ...................................83 5.1.3 National Fish and Wildlife Federation (NFWF) ....................................84 5.1.4 The Nature Conservancy (TNC): Watershed Management Planning ..................................................................................................85 5.2 Water Quality Monitoring ..................................................................................85 5.2.1 FDEP/NWFWMD ..................................................................................86 5.2.2 FDEP Northwest District .......................................................................86 5.2.3 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) ................................................................................................87 5.2.4 Florida Department of Health (FDOH) ..................................................87