status and trends of water quality and benthic habitats in the little manatee river environmental...

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Status and Trends of Status and Trends of Water Quality and Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Division Environmental Protection Commission of Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County Hillsborough County 3629 Queen Palm Dr. 3629 Queen Palm Dr. Tampa, FL 33619-1309 Tampa, FL 33619-1309

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Page 1: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Status and Trends of Water Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in Quality and Benthic Habitats in

the Little Manatee Riverthe Little Manatee River

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) DivisionEnvironmental Resources Management (ERM) DivisionEnvironmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County

3629 Queen Palm Dr.3629 Queen Palm Dr.Tampa, FL 33619-1309Tampa, FL 33619-1309

Page 2: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

EPCHC Data Sources AvailableEPCHC Data Sources Available Water Quality DataWater Quality Data

Monthly monitoring at fixed stations (long-term surveillance Monthly monitoring at fixed stations (long-term surveillance network) since the early-1970’s. Includes large number of network) since the early-1970’s. Includes large number of chemical and physical parameterschemical and physical parameters

Hillsborough Independent Monitoring Program (HIMP), Hillsborough Independent Monitoring Program (HIMP), monitoring since 1999. Focused on physical parameters monitoring since 1999. Focused on physical parameters (salinity, DO, pH, temperature). Combination of fixed (salinity, DO, pH, temperature). Combination of fixed stations and 72- hour sensor deployments at randomly-stations and 72- hour sensor deployments at randomly-selected locationsselected locations

Benthic DataBenthic Data Bay-wide benthic and sediment monitoring since mid-1990’s, Bay-wide benthic and sediment monitoring since mid-1990’s,

during fall “index period”during fall “index period”

HIMP monitoring (focused on tidal reaches of Hillsborough, HIMP monitoring (focused on tidal reaches of Hillsborough, Palm Alafia, and Little Manatee rivers) since 1999Palm Alafia, and Little Manatee rivers) since 1999

Page 3: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Available at: http://www.epchc.org/himp.htm

Page 4: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

EPCHC long-term surface water monitoring networkEPCHC long-term surface water monitoring network

TIDALFRESHWATER

Page 5: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

HIMP HIMP Monitoring Monitoring Locations Locations

(Tidal)(Tidal)

Benthic MonitoringStations

HIMP Water QualityMonitoring Stations

Page 6: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Other Information SourcesOther Information Sources

SWFWMD land use mapping program (detailed SWFWMD land use mapping program (detailed land use maps, updated on 5-year cycle)land use maps, updated on 5-year cycle)

U.S. Geological Survey stream gaging program U.S. Geological Survey stream gaging program (long-term trends in river flow)(long-term trends in river flow)

U.S. EPA and FDEP TMDL programs (identify U.S. EPA and FDEP TMDL programs (identify and restore water quality in “impaired” water and restore water quality in “impaired” water bodies not currently meeting federal/state water bodies not currently meeting federal/state water quality standards)quality standards)

Page 7: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Land Use (1999)Land Use (1999)

% of Watershed Altered

47.4 % Agriculture 7.2 % Urbanized 5.7 % Mining

Page 8: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Rainfall / River Flow TrendsRainfall / River Flow TrendsLittle Manatee River

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Sub

-Bas

in A

vera

ge A

nnua

l Rai

nfal

l (In

ches

)

30

40

50

60

70

80

Rainfall - No Trend

Year

Year1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Ave

rage

Ann

ual D

isch

arge

(ft

3/s

ec)

0

100

200

300

400Discharge - No Trend

Page 9: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

20-Year Water Quality Trends20-Year Water Quality Trends& Recent Conditions& Recent Conditions

Period Mid-Depth DOMid-Depth

SalinityStratification

1984 - 2004 No Trend No Trend Decreasing

2004 Average 5.8 ± 0.4 9.6 ± 0.1 0.37 ± 0.15

1984 - 2004 Decreasing No Trend .

2004 Average 7.1 ± 0.3 0.16 ± 0.05 .

Physical Parameters

Tidal

Freshwater

Period Chlorophyll-aTotal

PhosphorusTotal Nitrogen

Fecal Coliforms

1984 - 2004 No Trend Decreasing No Trend No Trend

2004 Average 5.75 ± 1.1 0.34 ± 0.04 0.88 ± 0.12 347 ± 269

1984 - 2004 Decreasing No Trend No Trend Decreasing

2004 Average 1.05 ± 0.3 0.61 ± 0.04 1.51 ± 0.09 1188 ± 419

Tidal

Freshwater

Nutrient & Bacterial Parameters

Page 10: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Water Quality ComparisonsWater Quality ComparisonsTidal River StationsTidal River Stations

(based on 1984 – 2003 EPCHC monitoring data)(based on 1984 – 2003 EPCHC monitoring data)

LocationLocation

Dissolved Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen (mg/L)(mg/L)

SalinitySalinity

(ppt)(ppt)

TotalTotal

PhosphorusPhosphorus

(mg P/L)(mg P/L)

TotalTotal

NitrogenNitrogen

(mg N/L)(mg N/L)

ChlorophyllChlorophyll--aa

((µµg/L)g/L)

Fecal Fecal ColiformsColiforms

(col/100 ml)(col/100 ml)

Little Little ManateeManatee

RiverRiver5.05.0 12.212.2 0.40.4 1.11.1 7.37.3 132132

AlafiaAlafia

RiverRiver4.64.6 18.118.1 1.01.0 1.41.4 20.520.5 228228

Hills-Hills-borough borough RiverRiver

4.64.6 13.413.4 0.30.3 1.11.1 14.714.7 409409

Palm Palm RiverRiver 4.34.3 23.523.5 0.40.4 1.21.2 21.421.4 189189

Page 11: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Recent Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Recent Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Conditions (HIMP Data) - DiurnalConditions (HIMP Data) - Diurnal

HIMP Continuous Monitoring Data (2000 - 2005)

Time of Day

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 0

Me

an D

isso

lve

d O

xyg

en

Co

nc.

(m

g/L

) ±

95%

C.I

.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Instantaneous State Standard

72-Hr Depl. at Mul. Stations (N~200+ per Point)Single Fixed Station (N~790 per Point)

Page 12: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Recent Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Recent Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Conditions (HIMP Data) - DailyConditions (HIMP Data) - Daily

HIMP Continuous Monitoring Data (2000 - 2005)

Date

12/0

0

2/01

4/01

6/01

8/01

10/0

1

12/0

1

2/02

4/02

6/02

8/02

10/0

2

12/0

2

2/03

4/03

6/03

8/03

10/0

3

12/0

3

2/04

4/04

6/04

8/04

10/0

4

12/0

4

2/05

4/05

Me

an D

aily

DO

Co

nc.

(m

g/L

) ±

95%

C.I.

0

2

4

6

8

10

24- Hr MeanState Standard

Rain

fall

20

10

0

Page 13: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Dissolved Oxygen Conditions Dissolved Oxygen Conditions Relative to Other Tidal RiversRelative to Other Tidal Rivers

Study Sites

Lit. Man. R. Alafia R. Hills. R. Palm R.

Rel

ativ

e F

req

uen

cy o

f B

ott

om

Dis

solv

ed O

xyg

en <

2.0

mg

/L

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10DISSOLVED OXYGEN [PPM]

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

CU

MU

LA

TIV

E P

RO

PO

RT

ION

LMRHR

RIVER

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10DISSOLVED OXYGEN [PPM]

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

CU

MU

LA

TIV

E P

RO

PO

RT

ION

LMRAR

RIVER

Page 14: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Impaired Waters, LMR and vicinityImpaired Waters, LMR and vicinityLower LMR & South Fork of LMR

Impaired for DO, Coliforms, & NutrientsTMDLs due in 2008

Page 15: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Tampa Bay WatershedTampa Bay WatershedImpaired WatersImpaired Waters

Page 16: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Little Manatee River Benthic HabitatsLittle Manatee River Benthic Habitats

More coarse-grained (sand) sediments and less silt/clay More coarse-grained (sand) sediments and less silt/clay than the other tidal riversthan the other tidal rivers

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100SILT + CLAY [%]

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

CU

MU

LA

TIV

E P

RO

PO

RT

I ON

PRMCBLMR

AREA

0

10

20

30

40

% C

OM

PO

SIT

ION

LMRAR

Page 17: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Comparison of Benthic Species Diversity Comparison of Benthic Species Diversity

and Abundance to Other Tidal Riversand Abundance to Other Tidal Rivers

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70NUMBERS OF TAXA [S]

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

CU

MU

LA

TIV

E P

RO

PO

RT

ION

LMRHR

RIVER

N+1 NUMBERS M-2

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

CU

MU

LA

TIV

E P

RO

PO

RT

ION

LMRAR

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70NUMBERS TAXA

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

CU

MU

LA

TIV

E P

RO

PO

RT

ION

PRMCBLMR

Page 18: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Summary – LMR Water Quantity and QualitySummary – LMR Water Quantity and Quality

No trends in rainfall or annual river flow, but dry-season No trends in rainfall or annual river flow, but dry-season flow in the LMR has shown an increasing trend since 1940 flow in the LMR has shown an increasing trend since 1940 (SWFWMD studies suggest agricultural irrigation as the (SWFWMD studies suggest agricultural irrigation as the cause)cause)

Over the past 20 years, nutrient and chlorophyll levels have Over the past 20 years, nutrient and chlorophyll levels have improved (declined) at EPC monitoring stations on the LMRimproved (declined) at EPC monitoring stations on the LMR

Two LMR segments currently considered “impaired” (for Two LMR segments currently considered “impaired” (for coliform bacteria, nutrients and DO). TMDLs due in 2008coliform bacteria, nutrients and DO). TMDLs due in 2008

Relative to the other tidal rivers in Hillsborough County, the Relative to the other tidal rivers in Hillsborough County, the LMR appears to have the best water qualityLMR appears to have the best water quality

Page 19: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Summary – Benthic habitats and organisms Summary – Benthic habitats and organisms

Sandy sediments are the predominant habitats in the tidal Sandy sediments are the predominant habitats in the tidal portion of the LMR. Higher silt+clay levels are present in portion of the LMR. Higher silt+clay levels are present in the other riversthe other rivers

Relative to the other tidal rivers in Hillsborough County, Relative to the other tidal rivers in Hillsborough County, benthic species richness and abundance are generally benthic species richness and abundance are generally higher in the LMRhigher in the LMR

Page 20: Status and Trends of Water Quality and Benthic Habitats in the Little Manatee River Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Division Environmental Protection

Future Directions – Watershed ManagementFuture Directions – Watershed Management

• EPC is working with several partners (Hillsborough County, City of EPC is working with several partners (Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, SWFWMD, TBEP, FDEP) to develop a county-wide, multi-Tampa, SWFWMD, TBEP, FDEP) to develop a county-wide, multi-stakeholder watershed management programstakeholder watershed management program

• A primary purpose would be to restore and protect the County’s surface A primary purpose would be to restore and protect the County’s surface (and ground) water resources, to support future environmental and (and ground) water resources, to support future environmental and economic needseconomic needs

• Would help the County comply with Federal and State water quality Would help the County comply with Federal and State water quality protection and restoration (MS4 and TMDL) requirementsprotection and restoration (MS4 and TMDL) requirements

• Will require significant co-ordination among programs in several agencies Will require significant co-ordination among programs in several agencies and departmentsand departments

• Planning, zoning and growth management issues are critical elements of Planning, zoning and growth management issues are critical elements of the watershed management processthe watershed management process