Draft Ochlockonee River and Bay Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan July 2017 NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD George Roberts Jerry Pate John Alter Chair, Panama City Vice Chair, Pensacola Secretary-Treasurer, Malone Gus Andrews Jon Costello Marc Dunbar DeFuniak Springs Tallahassee Tallahassee Ted Everett Nick Patronis Bo Spring Chipley Panama City Beach Port St. Joe Brett J. Cyphers Executive Director Headquarters 81 Water Management Drive Havana, Florida 32333-4712 (850) 539-5999 Crestview Econfina Milton Tallahassee 180 E. Redstone Avenue 6418 E. Highway 20 5453 Davisson Road Carr Building, Suite 225 Crestview, Florida 32539 Youngstown, FL 32466 Milton, FL 32583 3800 Commonwealth Blvd. (850) 683-5044 (850) 722-9919 Tel. (850) 626-3101 Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 921-2986 Ochlockonee River and Bay SWIM Plan Northwest Florida Water Management District July 7, 2017 DRAFT 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 Ochlockonee River and Bay SWIM Plan Northwest Florida Water Management District July 7, 2017 DRAFT Table of Contents Section Page 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 SWIM Program Background, Goals, and Objectives ............................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose and Scope ................................................................................................................. 2 2.0 Watershed Description ..................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Hydrologic Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Major Streams and Tributaries ........................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Lakes .................................................................................................................. 9 2.2.3 Springs ............................................................................................................. 12 2.2.4 Palustrine Wetland, Riparian, and Floodplain Habitats ................................... 12 2.2.5 Coastal Waterbodies ........................................................................................ 12 2.3 Land Use and Population ..................................................................................................... 14 2.4 Natural Communities ........................................................................................................... 17 3.0 Watershed Assessment and Water Resource Issues ...................................................................... 20 3.1 Water Quality ....................................................................................................................... 20 3.1.1 Impaired Waters ............................................................................................... 20 3.1.2 Pollution Sources ............................................................................................. 24 3.2 Natural Systems ................................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Floodplains and Floodplain Management ............................................................................ 32 4.0 Watershed Protection and Restoration ........................................................................................... 34 4.1 Management Practices ......................................................................................................... 34 4.1.1 Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement ............................................................ 34 4.1.2 Wastewater Management and Treatment Improvements ................................. 38 4.1.3 Ecological Restoration ..................................................................................... 39 4.1.4 Land Conservation ........................................................................................... 40 4.1.5 Public Awareness and Education ..................................................................... 41 4.1.6 Needs and Recommendations for Further Analysis ......................................... 41 4.2 Implementation .................................................................................................................... 42 4.3 Priority Projects .................................................................................................................... 46 Stormwater Planning and Retrofit................................................................................. 47 Septic Tank Abatement ................................................................................................. 48 Advanced Onsite Treatment Systems ........................................................................... 49 Agriculture and Silviculture BMPs ............................................................................... 50 Basinwide Sedimentation Abatement ........................................................................... 51 Riparian Buffer Zones ................................................................................................... 52 Hydrologic and Wetland Restoration ............................................................................ 53 Estuarine Habitat Restoration ....................................................................................... 55 Strategic Land Conservation ......................................................................................... 57 Watershed Stewardship Initiative ................................................................................. 58 Sub-basin Restoration Plans ......................................................................................... 59 Lake Jackson Management Plan ................................................................................... 60 Wastewater Treatment and Management Improvements .............................................. 61 Interstate Coordination .................................................................................................. 62 Analytical Program Support.......................................................................................... 63 Comprehensive Monitoring Program............................................................................ 65 4.4 Project Development Guidelines .......................................................................................... 66 4.5 Funding Sources ................................................................................................................... 67 5.0 References ...................................................................................................................................... 72 i Ochlockonee River and Bay SWIM Plan Northwest Florida Water Management District July 7, 2017 DRAFT List of Tables Table Page Table 2-1 2012-2013 Land Use and Land Cover in the Ochlockonee River and Bay Watershed ....... 14 Table 2-2 Watershed Population Estimates: 2010-2030 ........................................................................ 15 Table 3-1 TMDLs Adopted by the FDEP ............................................................................................... 22 Table 3-2 Domestic Wastewater Facilities ............................................................................................. 27 Table 4-1 Generalized Buffer Zone Dimensions .................................................................................. 37 Table 4-2 SWIM Program Priorities, Objectives, and Management Options for the Ochlockonee River and Bay Watershed ................................................................................................................... 43 Table 4-3 Recommended Projects: Ochlockonee River and Bay SWIM Plan ......................................... 46 Table 4-4 Funding Sources and Eligibility ........................................................................................... 67 Table A-1 Project Implementation .......................................................................................................... 2 List of Figures Figure Page Figure 2-1 Proportion of the Ochlockonee River and Bay Watershed by State and Florida Counties .... 4 Figure 2-2 Features of the Ochlockonee River and Bay Watershed within Florida ................................ 5 Figure 2-3 Topography ............................................................................................................................ 8 Figure 2-4 Lake Jackson and Vicinity ................................................................................................... 10 Figure 2-5 Lake Iamonia Vicinity.......................................................................................................... 11 Figure 2-6 Lake Talquin ........................................................................................................................ 11 Figure 2-7 Wetlands and Floodplains .................................................................................................... 13 Figure 2-8 Coastal Natural Features .....................................................................................................