Charlotte

Harbor

Environmental

Center

Water Quality Canal Sampling

Gated access to harbor

Charlotte Harbor Environmental CenterCanal Water Sampling Program

South Gulf Cove•Initiated 2009

•Five Stations sampled in canals

•Quarterly samples by Benchmark technicians

•Benchmark EnviroAnalytical Inc. analysis

•Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Fecal Coliform bacteria

•Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Salinity

•Station Depth, Secchi Depth

•Air/Water Temp., Wind Spd./Dir., Cloud Cover

Processes Affecting Water Quality

• Tides - Not important in this location due to limited access

• Wind - Can cause some local currents

• Circulation - No flushing of canals

• Salinity - Mainly dependent on rainfall, evaporation

• Temperature - Shallow canals, little vertical change

• Sunlight - Plant growth

• Rain and Runoff - Potential source of pollution from land

• Turbidity - Vertical mixing, runoff

• Boating Activity

Station Locations

1

2

3

4

5

Sampling Dates

Feb. 2009

May 2009

Aug. 2009

Nov. 2009

Feb. 2010

May 2010

Nov. 2010

Nov.2011

Feb. 2012

May 2012

Aug.2012

Nov. 2012

Data Interpretation Methods:

IMPORTANT PARAMETERS & RANGES FOR ESTIMATING ESTUARY HEALTH & TROPHIC STATE

FecalESTUARY Coliform FL Trophic State (TSI)HEALTH DO Bacteria Secchi Chl TN TP Calculations

CATEGORIES (mg/l) (cols/100 ml) (m) (ug/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) chl TN TP Ave.Good > 5.0 mg/l Ave <199 >1.5 m <9.9 ug/l <.69 mg/l <.03 mg/l <49 <49 <49 <49

Max <799Fair 2.1-4.9 mg/l 1.1-1.4 m 10-19 ug/l .70-1.1 mg/l .04 -.06 mg/l 50-59 50-59 50-59 50-59

Poor <2.0 mg/l Ave >200 <1.0 m >20 ug/l >1.2 mg/l >.07 mg/l >60 >60 >60 >60Max >800

Dissolved Oxygen: Fish & Wildlife Standards. Bacteria: Public Health Standards. Secchi: FDEP Typical Water Quality Values. Chl & Nutrients: FL Trophic State Index.

Parameters Sampled

<0.69 Good

0.7-1.1 Fair

>1.2 Poor

<30 Good

40-60 Fair

>70 Poor

Parameters Sampled cont.

<199 Good

>200 Poor

2/2012

Sta. 1,3 = 2000

>5.0 Good

2.1-4.9 Fair

< 2 Poor

Parameters Sampled cont.

Nitrogen 1.0 – 1.9 mg/l <.69 – 1.2 mg/l

Phosphorus 0.022 – 0.167 mg/l < 0.03 – 0.06

Fecal Coliform 10 – 120 #/100ml < 200

Dissolved Oxygen 2.6 – 10.4 mg/l > 2 mg/l

pH 7.2 – 8.5 7 Neutral

Salinity 0.7 – 14.3 ppt Brackish

Transparency 20 – 50 % Semi

Summary of Parameter Ranges Observed Desired

Draft Criteria by Reference Period Approach