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).
Eduardo Patino Clint Hittle; Mark Zucker; Jeff Woods, 2011, Freshwater Flows to Northeastern Florida Bay.Online Links:
Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 1. Longitudes are given to the nearest 1. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Degrees, minutes, and decimal seconds.
The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.
Other parameters not available for all stations include: sampling depth (feet), location in cross section, sample log in ID and date (yyddd) in Ocala lab, number of sampling points, total nitrogen (mg/l), magnesium (mg/l), ammonia (mg/l as NH4), nitrate (mg/l), color water (platinum cobalt units), hardness (mg/l as calcium carbonate), chlorine (mg/l), calcium (mg/l) sulfate (mg/l), sodium (mg/l), potassium (mg/l), fluoride (mg/l), silica (mg/l), strontium (mg/l). Bromide (mg/l), residue sum of constituents (mg/l) and residue (tons per acre-foot).
Project personnel include Marc Stewart, Barclay Shoemaker, Paul Stumpner, Shane Ploos, Christian Lopez, Rich Kachelriess, Carrie Boudreau, Stephen Huddleston, and Jessica Adams
954 377-5952 (voice)
mzucker@usgs.gov
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.
Prior to the development of currently available acoustic instruments, it was very difficult to gage flows in streams discharging into Florida Bay. Standard methods for field data collection and flow computations are impractical and inaccurate because of the low velocities, flow reversal, and bi-directional flow in which high-salinity water flows inland under freshwater flowing out to the bay. With today's state-of-the art acoustic instrumentation, such as the Acoustic Velocity Meter (AVM) and the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), it is possible to accurately gage flows in this environment because of the ability of these instruments to quickly measure low or rapidly changing water velocities, even during stratified or bi-directional flow. AVM systems have proven to be accurate instruments in the measurement of water velocities along a horizontal plane across stream and can be permanently installed to collect continuous velocity data that, along with water-level data, are used to produce continuous records of discharge.
ADCP instruments are used to measure water velocities in three dimensions. These measurements are then used to calculate the total flow through a stream section at a given time. The ADCP uses the Doppler shift from four acoustic beams sent downward in set angles to measure the velocity of water, depth, and distance traveled across the stream transect. Field measurements made with the ADCP's are used to develop relations between AVM velocities and discharge at gaged sites.
With the assistance of Everglades National Park, discharge measurements were made with ADCP's near the mouths of the major streams flowing into Florida Bay. Results of these measurements verified the applicability of ADCP's for discharge measurements under these environmental conditions, provided data on high flows into the bay, and helped in the understanding of flow patterns for each of the measured streams.
Project plans are to instrument selected streams flowing into Florida Bay with AVM's and temperature and specific conductance sensors in order to measure most of the total freshwater flow from the mainland into the bay. Sites are located along the mainland coast of east Florida Bay and represent most of the freshwater flowing south into the bay from Taylor Slough and the C-111 Canal basins. Three of these sites (Trout Creek Canal station and two C-111 Canal stations) are instrumented and maintained by Everglades National Park. Monthly ADCP discharge measurements are planned for rating AVM systems, and monthly collection of water samples are planned for total nutrient analysis.
Person who carried out this activity:
239 275-8448 ext. 11 (voice)
239 275-6820 (FAX)
epatino@usgs.gov
1. Continuous 15 minute-data on flow, water level, salinity and temperature collected from the creek monitoring stations will be either transmitted via satellite to the USGS office in Miami, Florida, or collected during site visits and made available on the USGS SOFIA website.
2. A report on the freshwater flow and salinity data or 'standard data set', to be used in describing Florida Bay for physical, and biological model applications will be produced.
3. As Everglades restoration proceeds, documentation of changes in the flow and salinity to northeastern Florida Bay will be provided.
Data collection includes continuous 15-minute interval measurements of water level, water velocity, salinity, and temperature data and periodic measurements of discharge for acoustic Doppler velocity meter (ADVM) calibrations at West Highway Creek, Stillwater Creek, Trout Creek, Mud Creek, Taylor River at Mouth, upstream Taylor River, McCormick Creek, Jewfish Creek, Joe Bay 8W and Joe Bay 2E. Monitoring stations where only discharge and water-level are collected include East Highway Creek and Oregon Creek. Salinity only sites include Joe Bay 1E and Joe Bay 5C. Field data at the instrumented sites are recorded by an electronic data logger and transmitted every 4 hours by way of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) into the database of the USGS CWRS office. Nontransmitting stations include Joe Bay 1-2E, 5C, 8W, East Highway Creek and Oregon Creek. Boat mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) are used to measure discharge in the estuarine creeks mentioned above. The ADCP uses the Doppler shift in returned acoustic signals reflected by particles suspended in the water to determine the velocity of moving water. Discharge and flow direction are calculated using the doppler software package. The mean channel water velocity is calculated by dividing the total discharge (measured with the ADCP) by the cross-sectional area determined by the water level at the time of measurement. The cross-sectional area is computed by using the site-specific stage area ratings, which is a function of water level. Water-level data are collected with an incremental shaft encoder equipped with a pulley, stainless-steel tape, weight, and float inside an 8 in. (inch) polyvinyl chloride pipe stilling well.
The same procedures will be followed as in FY 2004. During routine station visits, the in-situ instruments are cleaned, calibrated (ifnecessary), and verified with laboratory standards. In essence, fouling and electronic errors are observed and datum corrections applied accordingly. An independently calibrated YSI instrument is used during each field trip to verify in-situ salinities and temperatures. The independent YSI sensor is checked against a NIST laboratory certified thermometer in the lab periodically.
A coastal network map with links to the National Water Information System (NWIS) has been developed and is available at <http://fl.water.usgs.gov/Miami/hurricane>
Data collection includes continuous 15-minute interval measurements of water level, water velocity, salinity, and temperature data and periodic measurements of discharge for acoustic Doppler velocity meter (ADVM) calibrations at West Highway Creek, East Highway Creek, Oregon Creek, Stillwater Creek, Trout Creek, Mud Creek, Taylor River at Mouth, upstream Taylor River, McCormick Creek, Joe Bay 2E, and Jewfish Creek. Field data at the instrumented sites are recorded by an electronic data logger and transmitted every 4 hours by way of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) into the database of the USGS CWRS office. Non-transmitting stations where only discharge and water level are collected include East Highway Creek, Oregon Creek, Joe Bay 1E, Joe Bay 5C, and Joe Bay 8W. Periodic discharge measurements will be performed at East Creek in Little Madeira Bay as time permits. Boat mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) are used to measure discharge in the estuarine creeks mentioned above. The ADCP uses the Doppler shift in returned acoustic signals reflected by particles suspended in the water to determine the velocity of moving water. Discharge and flow direction are calculated using the Doppler software package. The mean channel water velocity is calculated by dividing the total discharge (measured with the ADCP) by the cross-sectional area determined by the water level at the time of measurement. The cross-sectional area is computed by using the site-specific stage area ratings, which is a function of water level. Water-level data are collected with an incremental shaft encoder equipped with a pulley, stainless-steel tape, weight, and float inside an 8 in. (inch) polyvinyl chloride pipe stilling well. Salinity and temperature data are collected with YSI instrumentation (i.e. 600R, Optical Monitoring System). During routine station visits, these in-situ instruments are cleaned, calibrated (if necessary), and verified with laboratory standards. In essence, fouling and electronic errors are observed and datum corrections are applied accordingly. An independently calibrated YSI instrument is used during each field trip to verify in-situ salinities and temperatures. The independent YSI sensor is checked against a NIST laboratory certified thermometer in the lab periodically.
Published unit values of water level, discharge, salinity, and temperature through water year 2005 are available on the SOFIA website. See the individual sites for the water year data available. Manuscripts will be published in the USGS Surface Water Data Book.
1. Gaging freshwater flows in to northeastern Florida Bay
a. Continuation of data collection at the sites.
b. Discharge measurements will be performed at East Creek in Little Madeira Bay to continue rating development. East Creek, a previously non-gaged station, was instrumented with an ADVM that incorporates an up-looking acoustic beam. The goal is to compute discharge at East Creek and compare the results against regression-determined discharge.
2. Network Optimization Project in Southern Florida
The major tasks include: a. Continuation of data gathering (historical data, site information, GIS data, and qualitative data); b. Begining the statistical analysis c. Completing the first report focusing on methods and statistical analysis
Person who carried out this activity:
954 377-5952 (voice)
mzucker@usgs.gov
Hittle, Clinton Patino, Eduardo; Zucker, Mark, 2001, Freshwater flow from estuarine creeks into northeastern Florida Bay: USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4164, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.Online Links:
Hittle, Clinton D. Zucker, Mark A., 2004, Northeastern Florida Bay estuarine creek data, Water Years 1996-2000: USGS Digital Data Series DS 105, U.S. Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL.Online Links:
Price, C. Woolverton, J.; Overton, K., 2004, Water Resources Data for Florida, 2004, Volume 2A: South Florida Surface Water: USGS Water Data Report FL-04-2A, U.S. Geological Survey, Florida.Online Links:
Fourqurean, J. W. Robblee, M. B., 1999, Florida Bay: a history of recent ecological changes: Estuaries v. 22, n.2B, Springer New York, New York.Online Links:
Rudnick, D. T. Chen, Z.; Childers, D. L.; , 1999, Phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to Florida Bay: the importance of the Everglades watershed: Estuaries v. 22, n. 2B, Springer New York, New York, New York.Online Links:
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, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.Online Links:
Davis, S. E. III Cable, J. E.; Childers,, 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, p. 1198-1208, Coastal Education and Research Foundation (CERF), Royal Palm Beach, FL.Online Links:
The full article is available via journal subscription or single article purchase. The abstract may be viewed on the website below.
Price, C. Overton, K., 2005, 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, U.S. Geological Survey, Florida.Online Links:
The data are part of the Stage, Discharge, and Water Quality of Steams section
Sutula, M. A. Perez, B. C.; Reyes, E.; Ch, 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, p. 757-781, Elsevier B. V,, Amsterdam. The Netherlands.Online Links:
The full article is available via journal subscription or single article purchase. The abstract may be viewed on the website below.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, Water-Resources Data for the United States: Water Year 2007: USGS Water Data Report Water Year 2007, U.S. Geological Survey, online.Online Links:
The link below goes to selected stations for south Florida
U.S. Geological Survey, 2006, Water-Resources Data for the United States: Water Year 2006: USGS Water Data Report Water Year 2006, U.S. Geological Survey, online.Online Links:
The link below goes to selected stations for south Florida
Zucker, M. Boudreau, C., 2010, Sediment Transport on Cape Sable, Everglades National Park, FL: Joint Federal Interagency Conference, unknown.Online Links:
This paper is from the Proceedings of the Joint Federal Interagency Conference June 27 - July 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV. The Joint Conference included the 9th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference and the 4th Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference.
Woods, J., 2010, Surface water discharge and salinity monitoring of coastal estuaries in Everglades National Park, U.S.A., in support of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan: 3rd International Perspective on Current and Future State of Water Resources and the Environment, unknown.Online Links:
This paper is from the proceedings of the 3rd International Perspective on Current and Future State of Water Resources and the Environment, Chennai, India
Woods, J. Zucker, M., 2007, Estuarine Response in Northeastern Florida Bay to Major Hurricanes in 2005: USGS Circular 1306, Chapter 6, p. 183-190, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA.Online Links:
This article is an excerpt from USGS Circular 1306, pp. 183-190
Farris, G. S.; Smith, G. J.; Crane, M. P.;, 2007, Science and the Storms: The USGS Response to the Hurricanes of 2005: USGS Circular 1306, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA.Online Links:
unknown
Data available for the stations include:
Alligator Creek stage & discharge 4/24/2007 - 9/30//2010 East Creek stage & discharge 5/17/2006 - 9/30/2010 East Highway Creek stage & discharge 8/9/2001 - 9/30/2010 Jewfish Creek stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom saliniity, discharge, filtered discharge 9/30/1997 - 9/30/2010 McCormick Creek stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom salinity, discharge 10/10/1995 - 9/30/2010 Mud Creek stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom salinity, discharge 10/15/1995 - 9/30/2010 Oregon Creek stage & discharge 7/19/2001 - 9/30/2010 Stillwater Creek stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom salinity, discharge 4/28/1999 - 9/30/2010 Taylor River Mouth stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom salinity, discharge 10/2/1995 - 9/30/2010 Trout Creek stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom salinity, discharge 1/21/1996 - 9/30/2010 Upstream Taylor River stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom salinity, discharge 7/30/1997 - 9/30/2010 West Highway Creek stage, surface & bottom temp, surface & bottom salinity, discharge 2/7/1996 - 9/30/2010
Click on the individual stations in the South Florida Hydrology Database for a summary of the available data.
Parameters collected at the stations are stage, salinity (surface and bottom), velocity (published as discharge), and temperature (surface and bottom). Some stations also have filtered discharge.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: none
- Use_Constraints: none
not available (voice)
gs-w-fl_NWISWeb_Maintainer@usgs.gov
Current water level conditions for surface water
Provisional data subject to revision
| Data format: | Real-Time Data for Florida: Streamflow in format unknown |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=basin_cd> |
954 377-5900 (voice)
954 377-5091 (FAX)
GS-FL_FISC_Fort_Lauderdale_Hydrologic_Records_Chief@usgs.gov
USGS South Florida Coastal Real-Time Stations
Provisional data subject to revision
| Data format: | The data for one month for each individual site is available in format html |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://fl.water.usgs.gov/Miami/hurricane/> |
not available (voice)
gs-w-fl_NWISWeb_Maintainer@usgs.gov
Real-Time Ground Water Data
Provisional data subject to revision
| Data format: | Data for 1-31 days before present are contained in each graph or table in format graph, table, tab-separated |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://sofia.usgs.gov/exchange/realtime_gw/index.html> |
not available (voice)
gs-w-fl_NWISWeb_Maintainer@usgs.gov
Water Quality Data
The data secured from the USGS NWISWeb database may include data that have not recieved 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.
| Data format: | Data are available for each collection site in format tab-separated text file |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://sofia.usgs.gov/exchange/zucker_woods_patino/wtrqualindex.html> |
727 803-8747 ext 3028 (voice)
727 803-2030 (FAX)
hhenkel@usgs.gov
South Florida Hydrology Database
The data have no explicit or implied guarantees.
| Data format: | Data for the stations with selectable variables, time frame, output format, and output organization in format ASCII comma-separated values (.csv) or tab-delimited text files |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://sofia.usgs.gov/exchange/zucker_woods_patino/index.php> |
727 803-8747 ext 3028 (voice)
727 803-2030 (FAX)
hhenkel@usgs.gov
Everglads Gage Gazetteer
The data have no implied or explicit guarantees
| Data format: | Each table entry contains the data for a gage site in format html table |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://sofia.usgs.gov/exchange/gazetteer/> |
727 803-8747 ext 3028 (voice)
727 803-2030 (FAX)
sofia-metadata@usgs.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather
Henkel - Webmaster
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