South Florida Canal
Aquatic Life Study
The South Florida Canal Aquatic Life Study aims to perform a
comprehensive assessment of south Florida canals and the aquatic
life associated with those canals (in freshwater portions only).
The objectives associated with the
study are:
• Assess aquatic life in South
Florida canals;
• Determine interrelationships
between aquatic life in canals
and other variables that affect
that aquatic life;
• Evaluate the differences in
conditions for South Florida
canals; and
• Collect information that can be
used to guide management
decisions.
Collaborative Approach
• DEP intends to seek the input and assistance from local stakeholders with expertise on
the assessment of aquatic life in South Florida canals and/or responsibility for their
operation and maintenance.
• Using existing and historical data sources to establish site locations for study and
provide supplemental data.
• Holding public workshops to solicit input on the study design and potential areas
of collaboration.
• Potential partnerships: FWC (fish community data), Loxahatchee River District
(C18 WQ data), SFWMD – dbHydro (flow, herbicide, and pesticide data), MiamiDade (WQ data), and Broward (WQ data) counties.
South Florida Canal Aquatic Life Study, Phase 1
Water Quality Sampling
• Monthly collections for the
following:
• Preserved Nutrients:
• TKN, TP, NOx, TOC
• Color and Turbidity
• Chlorophyll a
• Quarterly sonde deployments
to collect diurnal DO data,
with profile data taken before
and after deployment
• Information on herbicide and
pesticide applications as well
as flow data accessed through
SFWMD’s dbHydro database
Biological Sampling – Habitat Assessment
• Map approximate amount of productive
habitat (snags, roots/undercut banks,
leaf packs or mats, aquatic plants, and
rock) in a 100-meter transect.
• Score site on primary habitat
components (in-stream features):
• substrate diversity,
• substrate availability,
• water velocity, and
• habitat smothering/pools
• Score site on secondary habitat
components (morphological and riparian
zone features):
• artificial channelization,
• bank stability,
• riparian buffer zone width, and
• riparian zone vegetation quality
Conducting a habitat assessment at E4 Canal
Biological Sampling – Plant Community
• The Linear Vegetation Survey (LVS) is a rapid assessment tool for evaluating
ecological condition based on vascular plants.
• Plant species (submersed, floating, and emergent plants) are identified and
percent cover estimated within 10-meter sections of the 100-meter
transect.
• The community composition is evaluated using each plant species’
Coefficient of Conservatism.
Biological Sampling – Attached Algal Communities
• Rapid Periphyton Survey
• 11 transects are established across a canal
at 10-meter intervals.
• Determine the presence and thickness of
algae at 9 points along transects.
• Thickness is quantified by a ranking
system, from 0-6
• N – no algae, or algae from 0 to 1mm
• 3 – >1mm to 6mm
• 4 – >6 to 20mm
• 5 – >20mm to 10cm
• 6 – >10cm
• An algae sampled is collected for
identification if 20% of the 99 points have
a thickness rank of 4, 5, or 6.
Biological Sampling – Phytoplankton and Zooplankton
• Phytoplankton
• Persistent phytoplankton blooms are an indicator of floral imbalances.
• An unacceptable phytoplankton bloom occurs when an algal species
prevents or interferes with the designated use of a waterbody.
• Autecological information for the dominant bloom species, chlorophyll a,
and bloom persistence used to evaluate.
• Zooplankton
• Testing new sampling method using bilge pump to collect a vertical profile of
water column.
Biological Sampling – Canal Fauna
• The Stream Condition Index (SCI) is a
biological assessment procedure that
measures the degree to which flowing
waters support a healthy, wellbalanced biological community, as
indicated by benthic
macroinvertebrates.
• Uses 10 metrics to quantitatively
describe stream community
structure and function
• Scores between 0 and 100
• Scores of 40 or higher of at least
two temporally independent SCIs
with the two most recent SCI
scores greater than 35 indicate a
balanced faunal community.
DEP staff performing a dipnet “sweep” of
macroinvertebrate habitat.
Biological Sampling – Fish Community
• In partnership with FWC, three canals
will be sampled quarterly using
established electrosampling protocol.
• Approximately 25 randomly
selected transects per canal
• Fish individually measured and
weighed (or batch weighed for
smaller specimens)
• Data assessment to include total
catch per unit effort, relative
abundance, species richness, and
other metrics or indices of
condition as needed.
Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) Study
• To quantitatively assess the influence of routine canal maintenance, including factors
such as water level manipulations and aquatic vegetation removal (both in-canal
habitat and riparian zone), a BACI Study will be conducted.
• Triplicate (three contiguous 100m stretches) bioassessment stations will be
established, both away from and within areas receiving treatment (routine
management activities), which will be sampled pre- and post-treatment to determine
effects of the human management activities over time.
• Possible study site: Picayune Strand’s Southern Golden Gate Estates canals.
Expected Output from BACI Study
Southern Golden Gate Estates canal
Any Questions?