Chassahowitzka River Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan A Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan August 2017 Chassahowitzka River SWIM Plan Chassahowitzka River SWIM Plan Springs Coast Steering Committee Members Each spring system in the Springs Coast region is a unique, complex system with different sets of challenges. To address these issues, the Springs Coast Steering Committee (SCSC) was formed of local, regional and state agencies. The first goal of the SCSC is to develop management plans tailored for each spring system to identify issues, objectives, projects and responsibilities. This document serves as satisfaction of that first goal for the Chassahowitzka River. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not discriminate on the basis of disability. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions, including access to and participation in the District’s programs and activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the District’s Human Resources Office Bureau Chief, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604-6899; telephone (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (FL only), ext. 4703; or email [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice). i Chassahowitzka River SWIM Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 6 The Springs Coast ............................................................................................................................ 6 Springs Coast Steering & Management Committees ......................................................................... 8 Springs Coast Technical Working Group ....................................................................................... 10 The SWIM Act & SWIM Priority Water Bodies ................................................................................. 10 What Makes a Healthy Spring? ....................................................................................................... 11 System Description ........................................................................................................................ 13 Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. 17 Ecology ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Historical Context .......................................................................................................................... 31 Land Use ........................................................................................................................................ 36 Issues and Drivers ............................................................................................................................. 42 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................. 42 Water Quantity ............................................................................................................................... 48 Natural Systems .............................................................................................................................. 52 Management Actions ......................................................................................................................... 55 Quantifiable Objectives ................................................................................................................. 55 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................. 56 Water Quantity ............................................................................................................................... 57 Natural Systems .............................................................................................................................. 59 Projects and Initiatives ....................................................................................................................... 61 Ongoing Projects and Initiatives ........................................................................................................ 61 Water Quality Projects ................................................................................................................... 61 Water Quantity Projects ................................................................................................................. 66 Natural Systems Projects ................................................................................................................ 77 ii Chassahowitzka River SWIM Plan Proposed Priority Projects and Initiatives .......................................................................................... 79 Water Quality Projects ................................................................................................................... 79 Water Quantity Projects ................................................................................................................. 83 Natural Systems Projects ................................................................................................................ 86 References ........................................................................................................................................ 89 Appendix A: Technical Working Group Participant List ..................................................................... 93 Appendix B: Permitted Point Sources ................................................................................................ 99 Appendix C: Jurisdictional Authority .............................................................................................. 104 Appendix D: List of Acronyms ......................................................................................................... 112 Appendix E: Partners and Programs ............................................................................................... 115 Appendix F: Draft Potential Projects and Initiatives to Support Management Actions ...................... 126 iii Chassahowitzka River SWIM Plan List of Figures Figure 1: Water Quality Projects by Management Action Category .................................................... 3 Figure 2: Water Quantity Projects by Management Action Category .................................................. 4 Figure 3: Natural Systems Projects by Management Action Category ................................................. 5 Figure 4: First Magnitude Springsheds in the Springs Coast Region ................................................... 6 Figure 5: Chassahowitzka Watershed and Springshed Boundaries ..................................................... 7 Figure 6: Aerial View of the Chassahowitzka River System ............................................................... 13 Figure 7: Springs of the Chassahowitzka River System ...................................................................... 14 Figure 8: Chassahowitzka Springs Locations ..................................................................................... 18 Figure 9: Generalized Hydrogeology of the Chassahowitzka Springshed ......................................... 19 Figure 10: SAV Sampling Transects along the Chassahowitzka River System .................................... 24 Figure 11: Sediment Thickness at Sampled Locations Along the Chassahowitzka River .................... 26 Figure 12: Macroinvertebrate Sampling Zones for the Chassahowitzka River System ....................... 27 Figure 13: Historical aerial image of the upper Chassahowitzka River and surrounding lands from November 1944 ................................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 14: Historical aerial image of the upper Chassahowitzka River and surrounding lands from April 1974 .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Figure 15: The Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps conservation land (SWFWMD), with the Withlacoochee State Forest (FDACS), Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), and Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area (FWC) noted adjacent................................................... 37 Figure 16: Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Boundary ......................................................... 38 Figure 17: Population growth for Citrus and Hernando Counties from 1970–2012 ............................. 39 Figure 18: Land use categories within the Chassahowitzka springshed ............................................ 41 Figure 19: Chassahowitzka River Water Quality Data Stations ........................................................... 43 Figure