Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Synthesis: Springs Management and Research
Needs
Mark Brown
&
Richard Hamann
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Introduction and Background:
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Nutrient Sources
Fertilizer Use
Livestock
Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Discharges
Septic Tanks
Atmospheric Deposition
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Transport and Delivery:
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Direct discharge to surface waters
Generation of stormwater runoff that flows to surface waters
Generation of stormwater that percolates to groundwater
Infiltration to groundwater (e.g., the leaching fertilizer, cattle
Thus…potentials of management rainwater to a groundwater
aquifer).
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Complex System of Controls:
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Federal– Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act
State– Florida Air and Water Pollution Control Act
Florida Water Resources Act
Septic Tank Regulations
Growth Management Acts
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Local- Comprehensive Plans and Land Development
Regulations
Other Local Environmental Regulations
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Potentials for management… 1:
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Permitting of Wastewater Discharges
Discharges to surface waters
Discharges to ground waters
• Water Quality Standards (surface and ground water)
“use” oriented
Both numeric and narrative standards
“… in no case shall nutrient concentrations of a body of water be altered so
as to cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna”
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Potentials for management… 2:
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Agricultural Discharges
Confined feeding operations
Agricultural BMPs (fertilizer & waste management)
• Stormwater Management (WMD)
New construction 7 redevelopment only
• Land Use Planning & Regulation
Primarily local government (Local Comp Planning)
• Total Maximum Daily Load
Applicable to springs? …based on impairment
Basin-wide assessments & Action Plans?
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Potentials for management… 3:
Components of Basin-management Action Plans (B-MAPS)
• Allocations among stakeholders
• Listing of specific activities to achieve reductions
• Project initiation and completion timeliness
• Identification of funding opportunities
• Agreements
• Local ordinances
• Local water quality standards and permits
• Follow-up monitoring
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Uncertainties that affect management:
• Definition of the springsheds
• Relative importance of loadings near springs versus loadings far
from springs
• The data used to calculate loadings from land uses (EMCs)
• Actual quality of recharge to the Floridian Aquifer
• The delay between present day actions and future impacts
(legacy loading)
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Research Needs:
• Sources and Sinks
Role of temporal and spatial variability
Role of in-system sinks and potentials for saturation
• Spring Biota
Understanding nutrient limitations
Native, non-native and invasive interactions
• Ecosystem Functions
Interactive effects of multiple stressors
Top down/bottom up control effected by nutrients
Impacts of “plant management”
Nutrient Effects on Springs Biota
Thank You…Questions?