<p><strong>FINAL </strong><br><strong>Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida: </strong><br><strong>2016 Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 Report and Listing Update </strong></p><p><strong>Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration </strong><br><strong>Florida Department of Environmental Protection </strong></p><p><strong>June 2016 </strong></p><p><strong>2600 Blair Stone Rd. </strong><br><strong>Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 </strong></p><p><em>FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 </em></p><p>This Page Intentionally Blank. </p><p><em>Page 2 of 298 </em><br><em>FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 </em></p><p><strong>Letter to Floridians </strong></p><p><em>Page 3 of 298 </em><br><em>FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 </em></p><p><strong>Acknowledgments </strong></p><p>This document was prepared by staff in the following divisions and offices of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): </p><p><strong>Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration </strong></p><p>− <strong>Bureau of Laboratories: </strong></p><p>o</p><p>Biology Section </p><p>− <strong>Water Quality Standards Program: </strong></p><p>oo</p><p>Standards Development Section Aquatic Ecology and Quality Assurance Section </p><p>− <strong>Water Quality Assessment Program: </strong></p><p>oo</p><p>Watershed Assessment Section Watershed Monitoring Section </p><p>− <strong>Water Quality Evaluation and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Program: </strong></p><p>oo</p><p>Ground Water Management Section Watershed Evaluation and TMDL Section </p><p>− <strong>Water Quality Restoration Program: </strong></p><p>oo</p><p>Nonpoint Source Management Section Watershed Planning and Coordination Section </p><p><strong>Division of Water Resource Management </strong></p><p>− <strong>Domestic Wastewater Program </strong>− <strong>Industrial Wastewater Program </strong>− <strong>State Revolving Fund Program </strong>− <strong>Engineering, Hydrology, and Geology Program </strong>− <strong>Submerged Lands and Environmental Resources Coordination Program </strong>− <strong>Water Compliance Assurance Program </strong></p><p><strong>Office of Water Policy Office of Intergovernmental Programs </strong></p><p>In addition, DEP thanks staff at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Health, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for their valuable help in updating sections of this report, and the Southwest, Suwannee River, and St. Johns River Water Management Districts for reviewing the report. </p><p><em>Page 4 of 298 </em><br><em>FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 </em></p><p><strong>Table of Contents </strong></p><p><a href="#3_0"><strong>L</strong></a><a href="#3_0"><strong>ETTER TO </strong></a><a href="#3_0"><strong>F</strong></a><a href="#3_0"><strong>LORIDIANS</strong></a><a href="#3_0"><strong>..............................................................................................................................3 </strong></a><a href="#3_1"><strong>A</strong></a><strong>CKNOWLEDGMENTS</strong><a href="#3_1"><strong>..................................................................................................................................3 </strong></a><a href="#14_0"><strong>L</strong></a><strong>IST OF </strong><a href="#14_0"><strong>A</strong></a><strong>CRONYMS AND </strong><a href="#14_0"><strong>A</strong></a><strong>BBREVIATIONS</strong><a href="#14_0"><strong>...............................................................................................14 </strong></a><a href="#20_0"><strong>E</strong></a><strong>XECUTIVE </strong><a href="#20_0"><strong>S</strong></a><strong>UMMARY</strong><a href="#20_0"><strong>..............................................................................................................................20 </strong></a><br><a href="#20_1"><strong>Purpose and Contents.......................................................................................................................20 </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Summary of Statewide Status and Trend Monitoring Results for Surface and </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Ground Wate</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>r</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>..................................................................................................................................21 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Summary of Water Quality Standards Attainment for Assessed Rivers/Streams, </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Lakes, Estuaries, Coastal Waters, and Beaches.............................................................................22 </strong></a><a href="#0_1"><strong>Summary of Ground Water Monitoring Results...........................................................................22 </strong></a><a href="#0_2"><strong>Ongoing and New Issues and Initiatives.........................................................................................23 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>C</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>HAPTER </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>1: I</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>NTRODUCTIO</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>N</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>.....................................................................................................................25 </strong></a><br><a href="#0_3"><strong>Purpose ..............................................................................................................................................25 </strong></a><a href="#0_4"><strong>Federal Assessment and Reporting Requirements........................................................................25 </strong></a><a href="#0_5"><strong>Florida’s Integrated Approach to Monitoring and Assessment...................................................26 </strong></a><a href="#0_6"><strong>Integrating the Federal Requirements into Florida’s Watershed Management </strong></a><a href="#0_6"><strong>Approach ...........................................................................................................................................28 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_7"><strong>The EPA Consent Decre</strong></a><a href="#0_7"><strong>e</strong></a><a href="#0_7"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_7"><strong>................................................................................................................29 </strong></a><a href="#0_8"><strong>The New EPA 303(d) Long-Term Vision........................................................................................30 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_9"><strong>Future Prioritization, 2016 to 202</strong></a><a href="#0_9"><strong>2</strong></a><a href="#0_9"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_9"><strong>........................................................................................30 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Implementation of Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>)</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>.................................................................32 </strong></a><a href="#0_10"><strong>Probabilistic Monitorin</strong></a><a href="#0_10"><strong>g</strong></a><a href="#0_10"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_10"><strong>.................................................................................................................32 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>C</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>HAPTER </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>2: B</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>ACKGROUND </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>I</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>NFORMATION </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>..............................................................................................33 </strong></a><br><a href="#0_11"><strong>Overvie</strong></a><a href="#0_11"><strong>w</strong></a><a href="#0_11"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_11"><strong>...........................................................................................................................................33 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Population ................................................................................................................................35 </strong></a><a href="#0_12"><strong>Climate......................................................................................................................................35 </strong></a><a href="#0_8"><strong>Physical Setting ........................................................................................................................36 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Surface Water and Ground Water Resources ...............................................................................39 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_13"><strong>Streams and Rivers...................................................................................................................39 </strong></a><a href="#0_14"><strong>Lake</strong></a><a href="#0_14"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_14"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_14"><strong>........................................................................................................................................40 </strong></a><a href="#0_15"><strong>Estuaries and Coastal Water</strong></a><a href="#0_15"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_15"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_15"><strong>.................................................................................................41 </strong></a><a href="#0_5"><strong>Wetlands ...................................................................................................................................42 </strong></a><a href="#0_16"><strong>Aquifers and Springs................................................................................................................43 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................................................44 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_17"><strong>Ground Water...........................................................................................................................44 </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Surface Water–Ground Water Interactions............................................................................45 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>C</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>HAPTER </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>3: I</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>SSUES OF </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>E</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>NVIRONMENTAL </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>I</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>NTEREST AND </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>W</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>ATER </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Q</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>UALITY </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>I</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>NITIATIVES </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>....................46 </strong></a></p><p><em>Page 5 of 298 </em><br><em>FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 </em></p><p><a href="#0_18"><strong>Algal Growth in Springs ..................................................................................................................46 </strong></a><a href="#0_19"><strong>Chemical Wastewater Tracers To Identify Pollutant Source</strong></a><a href="#0_19"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_19"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_19"><strong>....................................................46 </strong></a><a href="#0_20"><strong>Florida Water Resources Monitoring Council Projects................................................................48 </strong></a><a href="#0_21"><strong>Low-Impact Development (LID) Projects and Practice</strong></a><a href="#0_21"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_21"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_21"><strong>.............................................................50 </strong></a><a href="#0_22"><strong>Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) ...................................................................................50 </strong></a><a href="#0_23"><strong>Microbial Source Tracking (MST) Implementation .....................................................................52 </strong></a><a href="#0_24"><strong>Nitrogen Source Inventory and Loading Tool (NSILT) for Nutrient-Impaired </strong></a><a href="#0_24"><strong>Springs ...............................................................................................................................................53 </strong></a><a href="#0_25"><strong>Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) Implementation To Address Nutrient Enrichment.............54 </strong></a><a href="#0_26"><strong>Pesticide Testing in Surface Waters and Spring Waters ..............................................................57 </strong></a><a href="#0_27"><strong>Reduction of Potential Fertilizer Impacts ......................................................................................57 </strong></a><a href="#0_28"><strong>South Florida Canal Aquatic Life Stud</strong></a><a href="#0_28"><strong>y</strong></a><a href="#0_28"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_28"><strong>.......................................................................................59 </strong></a><a href="#0_29"><strong>Triennial Review of Florida’s Water Quality Standards..............................................................60 </strong></a><a href="#0_30"><strong>Increased Water Quality Modeling Coordination between DEP and the WMDs......................61 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>C</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>HAPTER </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>4: O</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>VERVIEW OF </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>W</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>ATER </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>P</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>ROTECTION AND </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>R</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>ESTORATION </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>P</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>ROGRAMS </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>..............................64 </strong></a><br><a href="#0_31"><strong>Florida Water Resource Management Programs..........................................................................64 </strong></a><a href="#0_32"><strong>Overview of Surface Water Monitoring Programs .......................................................................65 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_33"><strong>Watershed-Based Monitoring and Reporting .........................................................................65 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_25"><strong>Overview of Surface Water Protection Program</strong></a><a href="#0_25"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_25"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_25"><strong>........................................................................67 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_34"><strong>Water Quality Standards (WQS) Program..............................................................................67 </strong></a><a href="#0_35"><strong>Watershed Assessment Program..............................................................................................69 </strong></a><a href="#0_36"><strong>Surface Water Improvement and Management Program ......................................................74 </strong></a><a href="#0_37"><strong>Point Source Control Progra</strong></a><a href="#0_37"><strong>m</strong></a><a href="#0_37"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_37"><strong>...............................................................................................76 </strong></a><a href="#0_38"><strong>Nonpoint Source Management Program ................................................................................78 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Wetlands Program............................................................................................................................88 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_17"><strong>Wetlands Inventory and Wetlands Protection.........................................................................88 </strong></a><a href="#0_39"><strong>Historical Wetlands Coverage in Florida................................................................................88 </strong></a><a href="#0_40"><strong>Development of Wetlands Water Quality Standards...............................................................89 </strong></a><a href="#0_41"><strong>Wetlands Management and Protection ...................................................................................89 </strong></a><a href="#0_42"><strong>Integrity of Wetlands Resource</strong></a><a href="#0_42"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_42"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_42"><strong>.............................................................................................94 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>C</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>HAPTER </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>5: S</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>TATEWIDE </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>P</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>ROBABILISTIC AND </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>T</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>REND </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>A</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>SSESSMENTS</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>, 2012–14 ....................................97 </strong></a><br><a href="#0_43"><strong>Background .......................................................................................................................................97 </strong></a><a href="#0_44"><strong>Water Resources Monitore</strong></a><a href="#0_44"><strong>d</strong></a><a href="#0_44"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_44"><strong>...........................................................................................................97 </strong></a><a href="#0_45"><strong>Summary of Status Network Surface Water Result</strong></a><a href="#0_45"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_45"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_45"><strong>...................................................................98 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_46"><strong>Introduction..............................................................................................................................98 </strong></a><a href="#0_47"><strong>Results for Rivers, Streams, Canals, Large Lakes, and Small Lakes ..................................103 </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Sediment Quality Evaluatio</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>n</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>................................................................................................114 </strong></a><a href="#0_48"><strong>Discussion of Rivers, Streams, Canals, Large Lakes, and Small Lakes..............................119 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_49"><strong>Summary of Status Network Ground Water Results..................................................................120 </strong></a></p><p><em>Page 6 of 298 </em><br><em>FINAL 2016 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida, June 2016 </em></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Discussion of Confined and Unconfined Aquifer</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>..............................................................126 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_50"><strong>Summary of Surface and Ground Water Trend Network Result</strong></a><a href="#0_50"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_50"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_50"><strong>...........................................126 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_51"><strong>Overview .................................................................................................................................126 </strong></a><a href="#0_52"><strong>Surface Water Trends ............................................................................................................126 </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Ground Water Trends ............................................................................................................140 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_53"><strong>C</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>HAPTER </strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>6: O</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>VERVIEW OF </strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>S</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>TRATEGIC </strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>M</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>ONITORING AND </strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>A</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>SSESSMENT </strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>M</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>ETHODOLOGY FOR </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_53"><strong>S</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>URFACE </strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>W</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>ATERS</strong></a><a href="#0_53"><strong>...........................................................................................................166 </strong></a><br><a href="#0_54"><strong>Assessment Methodology: The IWR.............................................................................................166 </strong></a><a href="#0_55"><strong>The Watershed Management Approach ......................................................................................167 </strong></a><a href="#0_56"><strong>Implementation of the TMDL Program under the Rotating Basin Approac</strong></a><a href="#0_56"><strong>h</strong></a><a href="#0_56"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_56"><strong>........................168 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_56"><strong>Assessment Periods for the Planning and Verified List Assessments..................................169 </strong></a><a href="#0_57"><strong>Determination of Use Suppor</strong></a><a href="#0_57"><strong>t</strong></a><a href="#0_57"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_57"><strong>..............................................................................................169 </strong></a><a href="#0_58"><strong>Public Participation in the Process .......................................................................................172 </strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>Data Managemen</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>t</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>.................................................................................................................174 </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>Tracking Improvements through Time .................................................................................180 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_60"><strong>C</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>HAPTER </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>7: R</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>ESULTS FOR </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>D</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>ESIGNATED </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>U</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>SE </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>S</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>UPPORT IN </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>S</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>URFACE </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>W</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>ATERS </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>....................................181 </strong></a><br><a href="#0_61"><strong>303(d) Listed Waters ......................................................................................................................183 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_62"><strong>Causes of Impairmen</strong></a><a href="#0_62"><strong>t</strong></a><a href="#0_62"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_62"><strong>...........................................................................................................183 </strong></a><a href="#0_63"><strong>Assessment Results.................................................................................................................184 </strong></a><a href="#0_64"><strong>Impairment Summar</strong></a><a href="#0_64"><strong>y</strong></a><a href="#0_64"><strong>.</strong></a><a href="#0_64"><strong>...........................................................................................................189 </strong></a></p>