Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Restoration Plan Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Restoration Plan Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Restoration Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................. 1 Section 1.0 Regional Perspective ............................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Why Springs are Important ...................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Springs Coast Springs Focus Area ........................................................................................... 2 1.4 Description of the Springs Coast Area .................................................................................... 3 1.5 Climate ......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Physiographic Regions .............................................................................................................. 5 1.7 Karst ............................................................................................................................................. 5 1.8 Hydrogeologic Framework ...................................................................................................... 7 1.9 Descriptions of Selected Spring Groups ................................................................................. 9 Section 2.0 Description of the Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Group ………………………………………………………………14 2.1 General Description ................................................................................................................. 14 2.2 Descriptions of Key Springs ................................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 Hunter Spring ................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 House Spring .................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.3 Idiot’s Delight Spring ...................................................................................................... 17 2.2.4 Tarpon Spring ................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.5 Black Spring ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.6 Three Sisters ...................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Crystal River/Kings Bay Contributing Area ....................................................................... 18 2.4 Groundwater Recharge ........................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Springshed Land Use .............................................................................................................. 22 2.6 Aquifer Vulnerability .............................................................................................................. 22 2.7 Human Population .................................................................................................................. 25 2.8 Sediments .................................................................................................................................. 26 2.9 Hydraulics ................................................................................................................................. 28 2.10 Spring Flows ............................................................................................................................. 28 2.11 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................... 30 Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Restoration Plan 2.11.1 Ground Water ................................................................................................................... 30 2.11.2 Surface Water .................................................................................................................... 31 2.11.2.1 General ....................................................................................................................... 31 2.11.2.2 Salinity ....................................................................................................................... 32 2.11.2.3 Nutrients .................................................................................................................... 33 2.11.2.4 Water Clarity ............................................................................................................. 37 2.12 Biota ........................................................................................................................................... 39 2.12.1 Aquatic Vegetation .......................................................................................................... 39 2.12.2 Phytoplanktonic Algae .................................................................................................... 42 2.12.3 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................. 45 2.12.4 Humans ............................................................................................................................. 48 Section 3.0 Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs System Impairments and Threats ....................................................................... 50 3.1 Groundwater Quantity Reductions ....................................................................................... 50 3.1.1 Groundwater Use Permits .............................................................................................. 50 3.1.2 Estimated Groundwater Use .......................................................................................... 50 3.1.3 Net Consumption ............................................................................................................. 50 3.1.4 Groundwater Modeling .................................................................................................. 53 3.1.4.1 USGS (Yobbi 1989) ....................................................................................................... 53 3.1.4.2 SWFWMD Groundwater Flow Model (SWFWMD 2015) ...................................... 54 3.1.5 Inter-Basin Groundwater Transfers ............................................................................... 55 3.1.6 Spring Flow Reductions .................................................................................................. 56 3.1.7 Estimated Water Balance ................................................................................................ 56 3.2 Nutrient Sources, Loads, and TMDLs ................................................................................... 58 3.2.1 General ............................................................................................................................... 58 3.2.2 Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Nutrient Pollution and TMDLs ........................... 60 3.2.3 Chemical and Isotopic Tracers to Evaluate N Sources ............................................... 65 3.2.4 Land Use Activities Contributing N to Groundwater ................................................ 67 3.2.4.1 Nitrogen Source Inventory ......................................................................................... 67 3.2.4.2 Agriculture .................................................................................................................... 69 3.2.4.3 Fertilizer ......................................................................................................................... 70 3.2.4.4 Livestock ........................................................................................................................ 70 Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Restoration Plan 3.2.4.5 Golf Courses .................................................................................................................. 70 3.2.4.6 Wastewater .................................................................................................................... 70 3.2.4.7 On-Site Treatment and Disposal Systems (Septic Tanks) ....................................... 71 3.2.5 Nutrient Summary ........................................................................................................... 72 3.3 Saltwater Intrusion ................................................................................................................... 73 3.4 Water Clarity ............................................................................................................................ 75 3.5 Loss of Native Aquatic Vegetation ........................................................................................ 76 3.6 Manatee Carrying Capacity .................................................................................................... 77 3.7 Development and Recreational Impairments ...................................................................... 78 Section 4.0 Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs Restoration Goals and Recommendations .........................................................................