2011 Restoration Plan for the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River
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Transcript 2011 Restoration Plan for the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
A 5 year Addendum to the 2006 Plan
Patti Gorman
Science Supervisor, Applied Sciences
Water Resources Division
Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council
–
January 30, 2012
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Florida Park Service
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Loxahatchee River District
Palm Beach County
Martin County
University of Florida
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission
Continental Shelf Associates
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
History of Efforts to
Provide Scientific Support
Technical document to support development of
Loxahatchee Minimum Flows and Levels for
the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River
completed in 2002
Restoration Plan for the Northwest Fork of the
Loxahatchee River completed in 2006
Loxahatchee River Science Plan completed in
2010
Addendum to the Restoration Plan for the
Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River
completed in 2011
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
2006 Restoration Plan
Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River
Inter-agency Team
Major Goal was to develop appropriate
restoration flow scenarios
Detailed Integrated Modeling and Science
• Linkages between watershed and river
• Emphasis on hydrology-salinity-ecological indicators
• Management implications elucidated
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Valued Ecosystem
Components for Restoration
Cypress swamp and hydric hammock in
the riverine reach
Cypress swamp in the tidal floodplain
Fish larvae in the low salinity zone
Oysters in the mid-estuary
Seagrasses in the outer estuary
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Preferred Restoration Flow
Scenario
Variable dry season flow between
50 and 110cfs, with a mean
monthly flow of 69 cfs over
Lainhart dam and an additional 30
cfs from the downstream
tributaries when needed
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Loxahatchee Science Plan
Multi-agency team
Developed in response to comments received
during development and review of the 2006
Restoration Plan
Looks at the needs of the entire river and
estuary not just the Northwest Fork
Helped to guide focused science to reduce
uncertainties and close data gaps
Used to prioritize future scientific studies
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
2011 Addendum
Called an addendum because it is not a
reevaluation of flow scenarios
It is a compilation of new knowledge gained in
key areas that were identified as needing more
information
New Research and monitoring was organized
into 6 major categories:
Salinity and Stage
Floodplain Vegetation
Floodplain fish and wildlife
Estuarine Flora and Fauna
Water Quality
Restoration project progress
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
List of Studies
Conducted after 2006 plan - reported in the 2011 addendum
Continuous stage monitoring at transects
1 and 3
Groundwater, soil moisture, and pore
water salinity data collection and analysis
Floodplain vegetation surveys conducted
in 2007, 2009 and 2010
Salinity and inundation of Bald Cypress
and Pond Apple seedlings
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Studies (continued)
Loxahatchee River Vegetation Demonstration
Research Project
Fish distribution and movement related to flow
and stage
Floodplain wildlife utilization
Seagrass and oyster monitoring
Oyster restoration
Water quality monitoring
Salinity monitoring
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Addendum Summary
The results of the new analysis strengthened the
validity of the flow scenarios developed in the
2006 plan
Flow-salinity relationships re-evaluated and confirmed
Confirmed that groundwater contributions to the river can be a
significant source of water to the river especially in the dry
season
Inundation of saltwater on the floodplain during high tides, not
diffusion of saltwater in the river channel into the aquifer
contributed to high porewater salinity in the floodplain
Bald cypress showed an increase in seedling production in the
upper tidal reach
Alligators and small mammals seem to be the best wildlife
indicators for the river
New seagrass maps showed an increase in acreage
WQ was generally good, N&P below EPA and LRD targets
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Timeline and Next Steps
Analysis, synthesis and reporting of these
studies completed during 2011
First DRAFT report reviewed by internal and
external team September – October, 2011
Final DRAFT compiled and distributed to
Coordinating Council January 11, 2012
Presentation and discussion today
(January 30th, 2012)
Incorporate input from Coordinating Council
Web post final document
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Staff in the Coastal Ecosystems Section
of the Water Management District, in
particular my co-project lead Fawen
Zheng
Dick Roberts – FPS JDSP(retired)
Rob Rossmanith – FPS District 5
Bud Howard - LRD
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
W A T E R
M A N A G E M E N T
D I S T R I C T
Thank You
Questions?
Patti Gorman
Science Supervisor, Applied Sciences
Water Resources Division