Please note: this presentation has not received Director’s approval

and is subject to revision.

Freshwater Flows Into Northeastern Florida Bay

and Flow Exchange in Florida Bay Channels

OBJECTIVES• Collect continuous stage, velocity and salinity data at major creeks flowing into

northeastern Florida Bay

• Compute discharge at creeks and study the quantity, timing and distribution of that flow

Why is Flow-Salinity-Water level Information Needed?

• Accurate flow information is needed to help understand the circulation, mixing, and salinity dynamics of Florida Bay and the Everglades

• Quantify nutrient, sediment, and biological fluxes

• Flow, stage, and salinity data help verify inland simulations of marsh-flow dynamics

• Evaluate performance of management practices

Overview• Study area

– Monitoring station descriptions

• Quantity, Timing and Distribution– Methods of acoustic flow measurements– Data from creek monitoring sites– Flow characteristics

• CERP/GEER Integration • Collaboration/Data users• Florida Bay Flow Exchange-• Pink Shrimp Studies

Study Area

Monitoring Sites and Structures

~ 5 milesS18C

S175

S197

S332TSB

McCormick Creek

Taylor River

Upstream Taylor

East Creek

Western Extent of Study Area

~ 1.5 miles

Upstream Taylor

Little Madeira BayTaylor River

Buttonwood embankment

Taylor River Study Area

~ 0.5 miles

Mud Creek

Trout Creek

Stillwater Creek

Joe Bay

Central Extent of Study Area

~0.5 miles

JB8W

JB5C

JB2E

JB1E

Stillwater Creek

Oregon Creek

West Highway Creek

East Highway Creek

Eastern Extent of Study Area

~ 1.5 miles

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)

Side LookingDoppler

Quantity of Flow is Measured Using Acoustic Doppler Techniques

~0.5 miles

Flow Exchange Between Joe Bay and Long Sound

Joe Bay

Snag Bay Long Sound

Florida Bay

Timing of Flow

•Seasonal trends

•Storm events

Seasonal Timing of Flow Showing Brackish to Fresh Transition at Taylor River

Stage at Trout Creek During Storm Events

Discharge at Trout Creek During Hurricane Irene

Salinity at Trout Creek During Hurricane Irene

CERP INTEGRATION• The principal goal of restoration • “ to deliver the right amount of water, of

the right quality, to the right places, and at the right time.”

Associated Projects

• NSF funded LTER at FIU

• CERP C-111 Spreader Canal

C-111 SPREADER CANAL PROJECT

Monitoring Flow, Stage, and Salinity in Florida Bay Channels

OBJECTIVES

• Collect continuous stage, velocity and salinity data at six major channels in Florida Bay

• Compute discharge within the channels and study the quantity, timing and distribution of that flow

• Help quantify postlarval Pink Shrimp movement into and out of Florida Bay

Study Area

Conchie

Middle Grounds

Sandy Key

Panhandle

Indian Key

Whale Harbor

• http://sofia.er.usgs.gov