Please note: this presentation has not received Director’s approval and is subject to

revision.

WATER QUALITY IN BIG CYPRESS

NATIONAL PRESERVE

AND EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK--

WATER QUALITY IN BIG CYPRESS

NATIONAL PRESERVE

AND EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK--

Trends and Spatial Characteristics of

Selected Constituents

0 5 MILES

Everglades National Park

Gulf of M

exico

Florida Bay

Everglades Agricultural Area

Miam

i Canal

L2

8N

New

RiverInterceptor

Canal

L28

No

rth

Fe

ed

er

WestFeeder S190

S140A12A2

A1

A3 A13

A4

P37

TSB

P35

P34P36

P33

A9

A5

EP

BR105(A6)

NE1US41

A14

AB

A B C D

S344

S343

S12sS333

S332

Taylor Slough

SharkRiver

Slough

L6

7 E

xt

L28

L67

ABa

rro

n R

ive

r C

an

al

L67

C

75

C-111

Alligator Alley

Tamiami Trail

41

Monroe

NP201

S177

S18C

Big CypressNational Preserve

L31

Water Conservation

Area 3A

Canal

Major features and sampling sites in

Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park

A 5

S332

L28

STATIONLocation and

numberCONTROL STRUCTURE

Location and numberLEVY Location and number

EXPLANATION

LOCATION OFSTUDY AREA

Florida

METHODS AND

APPROACH• Data collected primarily by the South Florida

Water Management District (SFWMD) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

• For analysis of trends, we focused on specific conductance, chloride, sulfate, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen at sites with the longest record of water-quality data.

• For trend analysis, we used the USGS S-ESTREND software--uncensored seasonal Kendall test for specific conductance, chloride, and total nitrogen, and Tobit regression test for sulfate and total phosphorus (which have numerous data reported at "less-than" values).

• For evaluation of spatial patterns in water quality, we used median concentrations of selected constituents over a 10-year baseline period (1991-2000).

• Long-term changes in water levels, flows, water management, and upstream land use can affect water quality in BICY and EVER, based on analysis of available data (1960-2000).

• Specific conductance and concentrations of chloride increased in Taylor Slough and Shark River Slough (P-33) over the period of record: for example, chloride concentrations more than doubled from 1960 to 1990 (see graphs), primarily due to greater canal transport of high-dissolved solids water into the sloughs. Chloride did not show a long-term trend at the Everglades reference site P-34 or at Bridge 105 in BICY.

Chloride Concentrations and Loess Smooth Line

0

20

40

60

90

CH

LOR

IDE

CO

NC

EN

TR

ATIO

N, I

N M

ILLI

GR

AM

S P

ER

LIT

ER

10

30

50

70

80

Taylor Slough Bridge

YEAR

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Shark River Slough at P33

0

50

100

150

Total Phosphorus, Shark River Slough at P33

YEAR1960 1970 1980 1990 20000

0.01

0.04

0.05

TO

TAL

PH

OS

PH

OR

US

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R0.02

0.03

Some of the long-term trends in sulfate and total phosphorus were likely attributable to high percentages of “less-than” and zero values and to changes in reporting levels over the period of record, rather than to real environmental changes.

Total Phosphorus Concentration versus Water Level, Shark River Slough at P33

YEARS

0TO

TAL

PH

OS

PH

PH

OR

US

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.7

1972 19751

3

4

5

6

7

8

GA

GE

HE

IGH

T,

IN F

EE

T

2

0.6

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

DETECTIONS LESS THANVALUES

GAGE HEIGHT

High spikes in nutrient concentrations were evident during dry periods and attributable to increased canal inflows of water that is nutrient-rich relative to marsh inflows, to increased nutrient releases from break-down of organic bottom sediment, or to increased build-up of nutrient waste from concentrations of aquatic biota and wildlife in remaining ponds.

Water Level in Big Cypress Swamp, Concentrations of Total Phosphorus

(multiplied times 1,000), and Sulfate (multiplied times 100),

Tamiami Trail at Bridge 105

1996 F M A M J J A S O N D

1997 F M A M J J A S O N D

1998 F M A M J J A S O N D

0

100

200

300

400

500

5

7

9

GA

GE

HE

IGH

T,

IN F

EE

T

TO

TAL

PH

OS

PH

OR

US

(X

1,0

00)

AN

D S

UL

FAT

E (

X 1

00),

IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R

J J J

6

8

10

SULFATE

TOTALPHOSPHORUS

GAGEHEIGHT

• Long-term changes in water quality over the period of record are less pronounced in the western Everglades and the Big Cypress Swamp, however, seasonal and drought-related changes are evident.

• Water quality varies spatially across the region because of natural variations in geology, hydrology, and vegetation, and because of differences in water management and land use.

• Concentrations of total phosphorus generally are higher in Big Cypress Swamp (median values, 1991-2000, were mostly above 0.015 mg/L) than in the Everglades (median values, 1991-2000, mostly below 0.01 mg/L), probably because of higher phosphorus in natural sources such as shallow soils, rocks, and ground water in the Big Cypress region than in the Everglades region.

A10

A7A8

Big Cypress Swamp

Palm BeachCounty

Broward County

Collier County

Hendry County

Mo

nro

e C

ou

nty

Mia

mi-

Da

de

Co

un

ty

Tamiami Trail

75

41

Everglades National Park

Gu l f o f M

e x i c o

0 5 M I L E S

P35

Taylor Slough

SharkRiver

Slough

BR105(A6)

Big CypressNational Preserve

US41

(0.007)

P36(0.006)

P33(0.005)

P34(0.005)

P37(0.001)

TSB(0.004)

S332(0.007)

EP(0.004)

S18C(0.007)

S177(0.007)

NE1(0.007)NP201

(0.004)

S333(0.011)

(0.010)

A9(0.016)

(0.019)

A4(0.010)

A5(0.018)

(0.008)S12A

(0.01)S12D

A14(0.009)

A13(0.012)

A3(0.009)

A12(0.016)

A2(0.016)

A1(0.018) S190

(0.05)

EXPLANATIONSTATIONP34

(0.005)

Total Phosphorus

75

41

Everglades National Park

Gu l f o f M

e x i c o

0 5 M I L E S

Taylor Slough

SharkRiver

Slough

Big CypressNational Preserve

P35

BR105(A6)

US41

(2)

P36(3)

P33(5)P34

(0.0)

P37(0.0)

TSB(2)

S332(4)

EP(10)

S18C(12)

S177(4)

NE1(2)

NP201(5)

S333(10)

(0.4)

A9(0.0)(0.1)

A4(0.8)

A5(0.0)

(0.0)S12A

S12D

A14(0.0)

A13(0.0)

A3(0.0)

A12(0.3)A2

(0.4)

A1(0.3)

S190(10)

EXPLANATION

STATIONP35(2)

Concentrations of sulfate, on the other hand, are higher in EVER (median values in Shark River Slough, 1991-2000, mostly above 2 mg/L sulfate), than in BICY (median values, 1991-2000, less than 1 mg/L sulfate), probably because of the canal transport system that conveys more water from agricultural sources into EVER than into BICY.

Sulfate Concentrations

Concentrations of chloride are also higher in EVER (median values in Shark River Slough, 1991-2000, mostly above 50 mg/L chloride), than in BICY (median values, 1991-2000, at most sites less than 20 mg/L chloride), probably because of the canal transport system that conveys more water from agricultural sources into EVER than into BICY.

Chloride Concentrations

75

41

Everglades National Park

Gu l f o f M

e x i c o

F l o r i d a B a y0 5 M I L E S

Taylor Slough

SharkRiver

Slough

Big CypressNational Preserve

P35

BR105(A6)

US41

(65)

P36(63)

P33(63)

P34(18)

P37(25)

TSB(37)

S332(38)

EP(80)

S18C(39)

S177(36)

NE1(65)

NP201(51)

S333(68)

(16)

A9(14)

(13)

A4(22)

A5(9)

(17)S12A

(67)S12D

A14(21)

A13(13)

A3(24)

A12(9)A2

(26)

A1(53)

S190(39)

EXPLANATION

STATIONP34(18)

Trace elements and contaminants such as pesticides and other toxic organics are in relatively low concentrations in BICY and EVER compared with concentrations in parts of the northern Everglades which are near agricultural and urban sources.Most frequently detected pesticides and other organics in water at sites in and near EVER and BICY. Concentrations in ug/L.

Measured ConcentrationDectections Determinations Detections

PerDetermination

AquaticLife

Criteria

0.01

0.00347

0.0036

0.00107

0.0027

0.0033

0.00081

0.00098

0.00361

0.00249

0.001

0.00324

0.019

116

90

83

73

61

43

29

23

20

19

17

16

15

304

99

99

99

99

374

99

99

99

99

55

99

153

0.382

0.909

0.838

0.737

0.616

0.115

0.293

0.232

0.202

0.192

0.309

0.162

0.098

13.2

0.87

0.0635

0.0225

0.0494

0.45

0.0148

0.0054

0.0979

0.0234

0.05

0.0837

0.031

1.8

1.8

7.8

1.6

10

0.1

2

0

0

0

0

0

Number ofExceedances

Atrazine, unfiltered

Atrazine, filtered

Metolachlor, filtered

Deethylatrazine, filtered

Tebuthiuron, filtered

Endosulfan sulfate, unfiltered

EPTC, filtered

2, 6-Diethylaniline, filtered

Simazine, filtered

Chlorpyrifos, filtered

Endosulfan I, unfiltered

Malathion, filtered

Hexazinone, unfiltered

Site

0.056

0.1

Class IIICriteria,

FreshwaterLowestHighestBy Compounds(Values in g/L)

Analysis of Historical Water-Quality Data

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge,

Fiscal Year 2004-05

Analysis of Historical Water-Quality Data

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge,

Fiscal Year 2004-05

PALM BEACH

COUNTY

BROWARD COUNTY

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS

Water Conservation

Area No. 1

Water ConservationArea No. 2A

AT

LA

NT

IC O

CE

AN

LOX3 LOX4LOX5

LOX6

LOX7LOX8LOX10

LOX9

LOX11

LOX13

LOX14

LOX16LOX15

LOX12Z4Z1

Z2

Y4

Z3

X4X1

X2 X3

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Assessment of Groundwater Input

and Biogeochemical

Characteristics of the

Loxahatchee River and Floodplain

Ecosystem,New project,

Fiscal Year 2003-05

Assessment of Groundwater Input

and Biogeochemical

Characteristics of the

Loxahatchee River and Floodplain

Ecosystem,New project,

Fiscal Year 2003-05

Assessment of Groundwater Input and Biogeochemical Characteristics of the

Loxahatchee River and Floodplain Ecosystem

OBJECTIVES:• Characterize wet season and dry season

groundwater fluxes in the river using Radium isotopes.

• Evaluate biogeochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater and pore water on vegetative transects along the north west fork of the river.

Assessment of Groundwater Input and Biogeochemical Characteristics of the

Loxahatchee River and Floodplain Ecosystem

Principal Investigators: Peter Swarzenski ---- GW Flux Bill Orem --------------- Biogeochemical Characteristics Ben McPherson ------ Historical Synthesis

Transect # 9

J. D. Park Picnic Area

1967 Taylor Alexander Transect

Transects extend across the floodplain

and some have a series of shallow

groundwater monitoring wells

Location of 10 Vegetation Transects from the Vegetation Monitoring Study

12

35

7 4

68

9

10