Lake Trafford Watershed Research and Education Program

Agricultural and Biological Engineering SWFREC, UF/IFAS Immokalee

Shallow Area = 1,600 ac Largest lake

south of Okeechobee

Headwaters of Corkscrew Swamp, Imperial River

Lake Trafford

Remove muck (6 ft.) Restore native fisheries

and the lake ecosystem Develop a Watershed

Protection Plan to reduce nutrient inputs◦Re-establish SAV◦ Long-term water quality◦BMPs

SFWMD Lake Trafford Restoration

Lake Trafford Watershed Land Use

Land CategoryArea (ac) %

Water 92 0.5Commercial and Industrial 503 2.7Medium density residential 556 3High density residential 564 3.1Low density residential 625 3.4Undeveloped rangeland/upland forests 1,539 8.4Unimproved pasture/woodland pasture 1,800 9.8Wetlands 6,189 33.6Cropland/improved pasture/tree crops 6,526 35.5Total 18,393 100

Uncertainties in boundary and land use area

Impaired mainly due to Nitrogen and Phosphorus TMDL assessment using HSPF model Current simulated loads ◦ Total N (TN) = 141,543 lbs./yr ◦ Total P (TP) = 14,559 lbs./yr

Load reduction targets ◦ 60% TN ◦ 77% for TP

Allowable loads◦ Total N = 56,617 lbs./yr ◦ Total P= 3,348 lbs./yr

Lake Trafford Water Quality

FDEP (2008)

Uncertainties (model, boundary)

Simulated N and P Inflows

Pe rce nt TP Loads by Existing Conditions

38% 28%

2%

32%

Surf ace Runof f Interf low Basef low Direct Prec ipitation

Pe rce nt TN Loads by Existing Conditions

22%

22%

8%

48%

Surf ace Runof f Interf low Basef low Direct Prec ipitation

Assumptions and uncertainties (model, area, land use)

Lake Trafford N and P Inflows Annual Total TP Loads (lbs) by Existing Land Use

999

822

1000 149 618 1140 3

633

9184

Cropland and Tree Crops Low Density Res idential

Medium Density Residential High Density Res idential

Commercial Upland Fores t

Unimproved Pasture W etland

W ater

Annual TN Loads (lbs) by Existing Land Use

3052 9708 17789

62

20937

53027

17815

11026

7936

Cropland and Tree Crops Low Density Res idential Medium Density Res idential

High Density Res idential Commerc ial Upland Fores t

Unimproved Pas ture W etland W ater

Assumptions and uncertainties (model, area, land use)

Stakeholders, allocation/reductions mechanisms Allocations among affected parties Description of load reduction activities Timetables for implementation/completion Funding mechanisms Applicable signed agreements Local ordinances with actions to be taken or prohibited. Local water quality standards, permits, or load limitation

agreements. Monitoring and follow-up measures.

Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP)

Long-term Plan for Meeting TMDL for the Lake Trafford

Objective 1: Boundary and Fluxes Improve Watershed Boundary and Water/Nutrient Sources

2014-2015 Uncertainties Boundary (agriculture and urban) Inflow locations and sources Flat, significant bi-directional flows Spray field

Steps LIDAR, GIS, Surface Slopes, Flow directions Drainage networks, Stakeholder’s input,

Ground truthing Surface flow inputs and locations

Objective 1: Watershed Boundary Budget*

Option Total FY 15 FY 16 Project Duration Personnel

1a $136,000 $136,000 $0 Feb 2015-Jan 2017 Grad Student (part time)

1b $136,000 $68,000 $68,000 Feb 2015-Jan 2017 Grad Student (part time)

2a $148,000 $148,000 $0 Feb 2015-Jan 2016 Post-doctoral Associate (full time)

2b $148,000 $74,000 $74,000 Feb 2015-June 2016 Post-doctoral Associate (full time)

*Current estimates, assumes fund availability by February 1, 2015

Objective 2:Hydrologic/Water quality Monitoring(2015- -)

Design and implement hydrologic and water quality monitoring system

Identify input locationsSurface (Channelized, Sheet flow)Groundwater

Stakeholder’s meeting - verify inputs Monitoring

Surface and Ground WaterLevels and flows

NH4-N, Nox-N, TKN, and Total P Conc Quantify surface and groundwater

inflows and outflows of water and nutrients

Objective 3: Water and Nutrient Budgets (2016-2017)Lake and Watershed

Budgets for the lake and the watershed using (2015-2016) data Water: Rainfall, Irrigation, ET, inflows, outflows Nutrient: Fertilizer, wastewater, other inflows and outflows

Stakeholder’s meeting, input estimates

Linkages of budget - land use - drainage network

Sources and sinks of nutrients, across boundary fluxes

Relate to TMDL assessment and modeling Calibration/validation of hydrologic/water quality models

Objective 4: Management Strategies (2016 - )Development and Implementation

Adaptive Best Management Practices Agricultural and urban Point and non-point

Beyond BMPs Water storage and treatment on public and

private lands Treatment systems (STAs)

Model-based evaluation Water quality and economics Ranking of alternatives

Stakeholders Urban (Residents, City) Agriculture, Tourism SFWMD, FDEP, County, FDACS, FWC etc