Environmental Protection
Watershed Monitoring Program
Surface Water | Watershed Monitoring Program | Biven's Arm Quality
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Watershed Monitoring Program
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Watershed Monitoring Program is a cooperative program between the FDEP, the state's five water management districts, and county governments. Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD) is contracted to monitor and assess surface water and groundwater quality as part of the program. Of the state's 30 major basins, there are two located in Alachua County. One is the Orange Creek Basin, which is part of the larger Ocklawaha Basin. The other is the Santa Fe, part of Suwannee River Basin. The program is divided into two networks: Trend and Status.
The Trend network focuses on changes in water quality over time by monitoring the same sites over and over again over a long period of time. ACEPD has been a part of theTrend network since 1989 and monitors field analytes (pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and temperature) at two sites monthly. The Alachua County sites are goundwater sites and include one well in the unconfined Floridan aquifer and one in the intermediate aquifer. ACEPD also monitors water levels at a network of wells to create a map showing the water levels of the aquifer (potentiometric surface map). To find out more visit our Groundwater page.
In contrast to the Trend network, which looks at a water quality in a few select sites over time, the Status network is designed to give a "snapshot" of groundwater and surface water quality, including springs, to characterize water quality during a set period of time. The program is designed to assess the overall water quality of the state within five year cycles, with the objective of representing the "big picture" statewide and regional water quality concerns. Within both the Santa Fe and Orange Creek Basin, there are five water resources from which random samples are collected: 1) unconfined aquifers, 2) confined aquifers, 3) lakes, 4) small streams, and 5) large rivers. Each source is sampled during a specific period, depending upon the resource type and location.
At the end of each five-year cycle, after all of Florida's basins are sampled, regional and statewide results are analyzed and reported by FDEP. From 2000 to 2001 over 50 sites were sampled in Alachua County as part of this program. For a full description of this state-wide program and how to obtain data, contact Mary Paulic at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, (850) 245-8560, or visit their web site at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/monitoring/index.htm
Minimum Flows and Levels
State law requires the water management districts to establish Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) for a designated list of springs, rivers, and lakes. The purpose of the MFLs is to provide stronger protection of water and ecological resources by establishing minimum flows and water levels that will prevent significant harm from water withdrawals while also allowing for appropriate consumptive uses.
The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) has adopted minimum flows and levels for the upper Santa Fe River (above Santa Fe Spring) and released their report titled "Technical Report for MFL Establishment for the Upper Santa Fe River" and the peer review of the document. Approximately 25% of the land area of in the Upper Santa Fe River basin is located in Alachua County, with the remainder located mainly in Columbia, Union, and Bradford Counties. SRWMD proposes to complete the MFL rule making process for the Upper Santa Fe River by late 2007 or early 2008.
SRWMD is now working on the MFLs for the lower Santa Fe River (from Santa Fe Springs downstream to its confluence with the Suwannee River), which includes the Ichetucknee River, the Santa Fe River Rise, Poe Springs, Hornsby Spring, and additional unnamed springs on the river. By September 2008, the SRWMD will complete the technical report for establishment of MFLs for the lower Santa Fe River system.
Work on MFLs for Santa Fe Lake and Lake Alto are scheduled for 2011. The St Johns River Water Mangement District (SJRWMD) has not set MFLs on the larger lakes in Alachua County (Newnans, Lochloosa and Orange) at this time. MFLs have been set for Lake Tuscawilla.
