Freshwater Flows to Northeastern Florida Bay
Entry ID:
USGS_SOFIA_freshwtr_flow
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Summary
Abstract:
In 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study to gage several major creeks that discharge freshwater into northeastern Florida Bay. This study provides flow, salinity, and water-level data for model development and calibration and also provides baseline data for other physical, biological and chemical studies being conducted in the area. The monitoring network provides coastal discharge ... data for the majority of estuarine creeks in northeastern Florida Bay. The timing and distribution of freshwater deliveries to northeastern Florida Bay have been documented since 1996. In 2003 the USGS coastal and estuarine unit also began calculating nutrient loads at selected sites in northeastern Florida Bay and along the southwestern Everglades coast. The larger network has provided discharge information to researchers to develop nutrient budgets and loading (Rudnick, 1999; Sutula and others, 2003; Davis, 2004; and Levesque, 2004).
In South Florida, changes in water-management practices to accommodate a large and rapidly growing urban population along the Atlantic coast, as well as intensive agricultural activities, have resulted in a highly managed hydrologic system. This managed system altered the natural hydrology of the Everglades ecosystem, including Florida Bay. During the last few decades, Florida Bay has experienced seagrass die-offs and algal blooms. Both are signals of ecological deterioration that has been attributed to increases in salinity and nutrient content of bay waters. With plans to restore water levels in the Everglades to more natural conditions, changes also are expected in the amount and timing of freshwater discharge through the major creeks into Florida Bay. Flow through the estuarine creeks through the Buttonwood Embankment and into Florida Bay is naturally controlled by the water level in the Everglades; regional wind patterns; and to a lesser extent, tides. Florida Bay restoration requires an understanding of the linkage between the amount of freshwater flowing into the bay and the salinity and quality of the bay environment. Historically, there has been no accurate quantification of the amount of freshwater being discharged into Florida Bay from the mainland due to the difficulties of accurately gaging flows in shallow, bi-directional, and vertically stratified streams. The project objectives are to determine the quantity, timing and distribution of freshwater flow into Florida Bay and adjacent estuaries, determine baseline hydrologic conditions and provide information on hydrologic change during the restoration process. This project helps determine how freshwater flow affects the health of Florida Bay, a critical component of the CERP, and how changes in water-management practices upstream (Taylor Slough and C-111 basins) directly influence flow and salinity conditions in the estuary.
The project managers for this study include Eduardo Patino (1995-2000), Clinton Hittle (2001-2003), and Mark Zucker (2003 -present). 
Access Constraints
None. The data secured from the USGS NWISWeb database may include data that have not received Director's approval and as such are provisional and subject to change. The data are released on the condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use.
Use Constraints
None
Data Set Progress
IN WORK
Distribution
Distribution Format:
tab-separated text file
Fees:
None
Personnel
Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
(954) 377-5952
Fax:
(954) 377-5901
Email:
mzucker at usgs.gov
Contact Address:
U.S. Geological Survey
3110 SW 9th Avenue
City:
Ft. Lauderdale
Province or State:
FL
Postal Code:
33315
Country:
USA
Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Email:
alicia.m.aleman at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 610.2
City:
Greenbelt
Province or State:
MD
Postal Code:
20771
Country:
USA
Publications/References
Hittle, Clinton, Patino, Eduardo; Zucker, Mark, 2001, Freshwater flow from estuarine creeks into northeastern Florida Bay, USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report, 01-4164, Reston, VA, U.S. Geological Survey. http://fl.water.usgs.gov/Abstracts/wri01_4164_hittle.html Hittle, Clinton D., Zucker, Mark A., 2004, Northeastern Florida Bay estuarine creek data, Water Years ... 1996-2000, digital data, USGS Digital Data Series, DS 105, Tallahassee, FL, U.S. Geological Survey.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/ds105/
Price, C., Woolverton, J.; Overton, K., 2004, Water Resources Data - Florida Water Year 2004, USGS Water Data Report, FL-04-2A, Florida, U.S. Geological Survey.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2004/wdr-fl-04-2a
Fourqurean, J. W., Robblee, M. B., 1999, Florida Bay: a history of recent ecological changes, Estuaries, v. 22, n.2B, New York, Springer New York.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/e9r6455l267113w1/fulltext.pdf
Rudnick, D. T., Chen, Z.; Childers, D. L.; Boyer, J. N.; Fontaine, T. D., 1999, Phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to Florida Bay: the importance of the Everglades watershed, Estuaries, v. 22, n. 2B, New York, New York, Springer New York.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/651uk34018663707/fulltext.pdf
Levesque, Victor A., 2004, Water Flow and Nutrient Flux from Five Estuarine Rivers along the Southwest Coast of the Everglades National Park, USGS Scientific Investigations Report, 2004-5142, Reston, VA, U.S. Geological Survey.
http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/sir/2004-5142>
Davis, S. E. III, Cable, J. E.; Childers, D. L.; Coronado-Molina, C.; Day, J. W.; Hittle, C. D.; Madden, C. J.; Reyes, E.; Rudnick, D.; Sklar, F., 2004, Importance of storm events in controlling ecosystem structure and function in a Florida Gulf Coast estuary, Journal of Coastal Research, v. 20, n. 4, Royal Palm Beach, FL, Coastal Education and Research Foundation (CERF).
Price, C., Overton, K., 2005, Manuscripts from Water Resources Data for Florida, 2005, Volume 2A, South Florida Surface Water USGS Water-Data Report FL-05-2A, USGS Water-Data Report, FL-05-2A, Florida,
U.S. Geological Survey, The data are part of the Stage, Discharge, and Water Quality of Steams section.
http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/reports/wtr_resources_data/WY05/...
Price, C., Overton, K., 2005, Water Resources Data, Florida, Water Year 2005, USGS Water Data Report, Issue_Identification: v. 2A: South Florida Surface Water, Florida, U.S. Geological Survey, Prepared in cooperation with the State of Florida and with other agencies.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-fl-05-2a/
Sutula, M. A., Perez, B. C.; Reyes, E.; Childers, D. L.; Davis, S.; Day, J. R.; Rudnick, D.; Sklar, F., 2003, Factors affecting spatial and temporal variability in material exchange between the Southern Everglades wetlands and Florida Bay (USA), Esturaine, Coastal and Shelf Science, v. 57, issues 5-6, Amsterdam. The Netherlands, Elsevier B. V.
The abstract is available online but the full article must be purchased or a journal subscription is required. http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622823...
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2008-11-04
Last DIF Revision Date:
2009-06-02
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