Biscayne Bay SalinityPresentation to The Biscayne Bay Regional RestorationPresentation to The Biscayne Bay Regional Restoration
Coordination TeamJanuary 14, 2011
Sarah BellmundEcologist
Biscayne National ParkBiscayne National Park
Karst Features Historic Aerial Photography of a Spring and Seepage 1938
Freshwater Springs"Springs of good water are common and wells are to be had by a comparatively small amount of digging. Many springs burst up Freshwater Springs
in Biscayne Bay, circa 1910
gg g y p g pthrough the bottom of the bay, and we see fresh water boiling up through the salt." J. Buck, 1877 (Buck, reprinted 1979)
Karst Cave in Watershed of the Deering Estateof the Deering Estate
Fresh Marsh
Brackish Marsh
Mangrove
Agriculture
Suburb/UrbanFlood ControlStructure
Bay Changes: overview
1850-1900
Mangrove
River/Creek
1900-1950
Canal
1950-2000
New information in the Salinity Data for Biscayne Bay, New information in the Salinity Data for Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, Barnes Sound, and Manatee BayCard Sound, Barnes Sound, and Manatee Bay
•• Salinity is highest and lowest along the mangrove shoreline and Salinity is highest and lowest along the mangrove shoreline and inshore of other salinity sampling networksinshore of other salinity sampling networks
S li it i bilit i hi h l th th t l thS li it i bilit i hi h l th th t l th•• Salinity variability is higher along the mangroves than at canal mouthsSalinity variability is higher along the mangroves than at canal mouths
•• Salinity between Convoy Pt and Black Pt is different than between Salinity between Convoy Pt and Black Pt is different than between Black Pt and Black Pt and DeeringDeering EstateEstate
•• Salinity measurements are not always comparable between monthly Salinity measurements are not always comparable between monthly synoptic monitoring and continuous 15 monitoringsynoptic monitoring and continuous 15 monitoring
•• As data is averaged in larger and larger groups low salinity events As data is averaged in larger and larger groups low salinity events “get lost”“get lost”
•• An estuarine zone develops in the wet season and may persist into the An estuarine zone develops in the wet season and may persist into the dry season depending on the year. In wet years this estuarine zone dry season depending on the year. In wet years this estuarine zone sometimes persists into January, which also suggests that sometimes persists into January, which also suggests that groundwater is influencing salinity and confirms the view thatgroundwater is influencing salinity and confirms the view thatgroundwater is influencing salinity and confirms the view that groundwater is influencing salinity and confirms the view that redistribution of existing water under CERP would likely be beneficial. redistribution of existing water under CERP would likely be beneficial.
•• Salinity in the southern Sounds is different than in Biscayne BaySalinity in the southern Sounds is different than in Biscayne Bay
S & SS & S•• Salinity in Manatee Bay & Barnes Sound never approaches the Salinity in Manatee Bay & Barnes Sound never approaches the performance measuresperformance measures
CanalCanal
Black CreekC 1
C-100Canal Canal locations locations with respectwith respectC-1
Princeton CanalC-2
Military Canal
Mowery CanalMowery Canal
with respect with respect to salinity to salinity sample sitessample sitesMowery Canal Mowery Canal
CC--103103sample sites sample sites in Biscayne in Biscayne BayBay
Site LocationsWith Primary
BayBay
yCanals
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Average Salinity in Biscayne Bay for Average Salinity in Biscayne Bay for th P i d f R d (2004th P i d f R d (2004 2008)2008)the Period of Record (2004the Period of Record (2004--2008)2008)
Salinity Range in Biscayne Bay for Salinity Range in Biscayne Bay for th P i d f R d (2004th P i d f R d (2004 2008)2008)the Period of Record (2004the Period of Record (2004--2008)2008)
Alternative View of Variability in Biscayne BayAlternative View of Variability in Biscayne Bay
Extreme Salinity in Biscayne Bay andExtreme Salinity in Biscayne Bay andS th S dS th S dSouthern SoundsSouthern Sounds
Percentage of High and Low Salinity In Biscayne Bay 2004-2008
14.00
16.00
10.00
12.00
y ab
ove
6.00
8.00
% ti
me
salin
ity
% ≥ 40% ≤ 4
2.00
4.00
0.000 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70
Biscayne Bay Site Locations
Aggregated Aggregated SalinitySalinitySalinity Salinity by 2psu by 2psu
showing difference along showing difference along the mangrove sitesthe mangrove sitesthe mangrove sitesthe mangrove sites
for season 2004for season 2004--20082008
Biscayne National ParkBiscayne National Park Salinity Project
Dry Season and Wet SeasonDry Season and Wet Season20042004 2008200820042004--20082008
Aggregated Aggregated SalinitySalinity
by 2psu by 2psu showing difference inshowing difference inshowing difference in showing difference in
Southern Estuaries Sites Southern Estuaries Sites along the mangrove sitesalong the mangrove sitesfor season 2004for season 2004 20082008for season 2004for season 2004--20082008
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Estuarine Zone Estuarine Zone Wet SeasonWet SeasonWet Season Wet Season
20052005Area meeting t ti it irestoration criteria
along Biscayne Bay western shoreline
July 2005June 2005
August 2005 September 2005 October 2005
Estuarine Zone Dry Season 2005Estuarine Zone Dry Season 2005--0606Area meeting restoration criteria along Biscayne Bay western shorelineArea meeting restoration criteria along Biscayne Bay western shorelineg g y yg g y y
November 2005November 2005November 2005November 2005November 2005November 2005
December 2005 January 2006November 2005
5 000
6,000
7,000Biscayne Bay Monthly Salinity Compared to Performance Measures
Est. Area of Measured Salinity <20 psu (acres)Performance Measure Area (acres) (area targeted for salinity <20 psu)
3,000
4,000
5,000
y <2
0 ps
u
0
1,000
2,000
J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
Acr
es S
alin
it
J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
140Monthly Canal Discharge in Kaf (summed S20F, S20G, S21A, S21, S123)
80
100
120
e fe
et (K
af)
20
40
60
Thou
sand
acr
e
0J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Ground Water and Salinity Ground Water and Salinity in Biscayne Bayin Biscayne Bay
Fresh Groundwater moving up through the bottom of Biscayne Bay*Courtesy Greg Graves
Mowry Canal Seepage Meter Fluxes Offshore Groundwater Levels
And Wind Direction
n ° 300
400
Win
d D
irect
ion
100
200
VD)
5 2
W
0
100
feet
(192
9 N
GV
1234
cm/d
ay)
0
1
Wat
er L
evel
in f
-3-2-10
Flux
(c
-2
-1W 10 GW -1 Flux A (cm/day) Flux B (cm/day)
08/01/05
09/01/05
10/01/05
11/01/05
12/01/05
01/01/06
W -2
Groundwater ConclusionsGroundwater Conclusions•• Shoreline sites in Biscayne Bay between Convoy Pt. and Shoreline sites in Biscayne Bay between Convoy Pt. and Black Pt. are statistically lower in salinity than those sites Black Pt. are statistically lower in salinity than those sites between Black Pt. and between Black Pt. and DeeringDeering Estate but have a higher Estate but have a higher variance.variance.
•• Groundwater lags surface water flow into the BayGroundwater lags surface water flow into the Bay•• Groundwater Represents a means of affecting bay salinity Groundwater Represents a means of affecting bay salinity well into the dry seasonwell into the dry seasonwell into the dry seasonwell into the dry season
•• Groundwater flux occurs as head builds up while the salinity Groundwater flux occurs as head builds up while the salinity control gates are closedcontrol gates are closed
•• Groundwater flux occurs with an east windGroundwater flux occurs with an east wind•• Groundwater flux occurs with an east windGroundwater flux occurs with an east wind
Management ImplicationsManagement ImplicationsG d i d i d h fl i i bl hG d i d i d h fl i i bl h•• Groundwater is dynamic and the flow is variable so that Groundwater is dynamic and the flow is variable so that groundwater models need to be based on measured data from groundwater models need to be based on measured data from at least a full year and include stage as well as conductivity. at least a full year and include stage as well as conductivity.
ld d h h bl l blld d h h bl l bl•• Holding groundwater as high as possible as long as possible Holding groundwater as high as possible as long as possible represents as means of decreasing dry season salinity without represents as means of decreasing dry season salinity without additional additional freshwater.
Comparison of Salinity at Sites North and South of Black Point
45
50Statistically different at the .05 level
35
40
25
30
Zone 3
15
20Zone 2
5
10
Biscayne National
0
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Ecosystem Components
Glimpses of Biscayne Bay Past
De Brahm 1773Mangrove Fringe
Fresh Water Marsh
Courtesy J. Serafy
Oyster Distribution
Live Oysters in yAll Studies
• Oysters are located where there is freshwater inputfreshwater input
• Oysters can be found in areas with
d t igroundwater springs
Biscayne National ParkBiscayne National Park Salinity Project
0.16
0.20Mangrove Fishes& Salinity Relationships
y =-0 0237Ln(x) +0 09580.08
0.12
Occ
urre
nce
y = -0.0237Ln(x) + 0.0958R2 = 0.4698
0.00
0.04
1.00
0.000 10 20 30 40 50
Salinity
y = 0.0014e0.1363x
R2 0 8395
0.60
0.80
renc
e
R2 = 0.8395
0.20
0.40Occ
urr
0.000 10 20 30 40 50
SalinitySlide courtesy J. Serafy
y = -0.0131x + 0.4467R2 = 0.9402
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
rren
ce
Biscayne Bay Seagrass Fishes
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0 10 20 30 40
Occ
ur
0 10 20 30 40
Salinity
y = -0.0113x + 0.35710.25
0.30
0.35
e yR2 = 0.9024
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
Occ
urre
nce
0.000 10 20 30 40
Salinity
0.70
0.55
0.60
0.65
Occ
urre
nce
y = -0.0008x2 + 0.0391x + 0.1786R2 = 0.8721
0.45
0.50
0 10 20 30 40
Salinity Slide Courtesy J. Serafy
Hypersalinity (> 36 psu)Hypersalinity (> 36 psu)
Reduced abundance of several critical Reduced abundance of several critical forage fishes and invertebrates: pink forage fishes and invertebrates: pink
shrimp, yellowfin mojarra, pinfish, gulf shrimp, yellowfin mojarra, pinfish, gulf p y j p gp y j p gtoadfish.toadfish.
Slide Slide courtesy J. courtesy J. SerafySerafy
QuestionsQuestions
New proposed “optimized” network in Central‐South Biscayne Bay.
T l C i dTotal Continued Instruments
Deployed
31
Total Instruments Dropped
14
Total Instruments 15Added
15
Proposed Net Change in Instruments
+1in Instruments
Proposed Total Deployed Instruments
46
Biscayne National Park Bay Salinity
Manatee Bay & Barnes Manatee Bay & Barnes S dS dSoundSound
Issues Associated with C-111 Spreader and the Southeastern Sounds
• Salinity is very high in Manatee Bay & Barnes Sound for the period of record 2004-2009.
• Diverting water away from Manatee Bay and Barnes Sound would likely have bi tibiotic consequences.
• Manatee Bay used to be fresh prior to the construction of the railroad and US 1.
• The original Everglades National Park Boundary included the lower ModelThe original Everglades National Park Boundary included the lower Model Lands, Manatee Bay, Barnes Sound, Key Largo, and Pennekamp.
• There is not enough water in the southern part of the system, however there is plenty of water in the northern system even before the River of Grass project.
Bottom Line• Southern Biscayne Bay and the Southern Sounds are already marine,
removing water from these areas will exacerbate existing high salinityremoving water from these areas will exacerbate existing high salinity conditions.
• Unless the Phase II of the C-111 project is completed and water that has been removed is replaced Biscayne National Park and Biscayne Bay will be harmed. It i i t t t i t t i th ith th l C 111 th ti• It is important to raise water stages in the either the lower C-111 or the entire C-111 and to bring more water south to both Biscayne National Park and the southeastern sounds.
Historical Eastern Everglades
•Marsh with tree islandsD l h•Deeper water sloughs
•Creeks drain into bay•Mangroves limited to shoreline
•Salinity lower and more stable
Salinity in Manatee BaySalinity in Manatee Bay--Barnes SoundBarnes Sound
Site CountAverage
(psu)Minimum
(psu)Median (psu)
Maximum (psu)
Range (psu)
st dev
Coef. of Variation
Manatee Bay Bottom 141983 30.96 9.44 30.59 48.44 39 5.96 0.19
Manatee Bay Top 137367 29.38 0.92 29.09 43.19 42.28 6.35 0.22
Barne Sound Bottom 136580 32.69 18.13 33.58 41.79 23.66 4.79 0.15
Barne Sound T 116839 32 09 1 45 32 74 42 16 40 71 4 72 0 15Top 116839 32.09 1.45 32.74 42.16 40.71 4.72 0.15
Site Count Above 40 Below 4 % ≥ 40 % ≤ 4
Manatee Bay Bottom 141449 12941 0 9.15 0.00
Barne Sound Bottom
136044 1439 0 10 8 0 00136044 14395 0 10.58 0.00
Biscayne Bay Salinity Project
Salinity andSalinity andSalinity and Salinity and FlowFlow
Manatee BayManatee Bayandand
Barnes SoundBarnes Sound
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Manatee Manatee Manatee Bay Site 00: Wet Season Salinity in 2 ppt bins
6000
7000
Site00WS04Site00WS05
BayBay3000
4000
5000
# of
read
ings
Site00WS05Site00WS06Site00WS07Site00WS08
S li it i th W tS li it i th W t
0
1000
2000
3000# Salinity in the Wet Salinity in the Wet Season and Dry SeasonSeason and Dry Season
00 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Salinity (ppt)
Manatee Bay Site 00: Dry Season Salinity in 2 ppt bins
12000
••Highest Salinity Occurs Highest Salinity Occurs in the Early Wet Seasonin the Early Wet Season
8000
10000
gs
Site00DS04Site00DS05Site00DS06Site00DS07
••Lowest Salinity is 9 psuLowest Salinity is 9 psu
••Highest Salinity is 48Highest Salinity is 48
2000
4000
6000
# of
rea
ding Highest Salinity is 48 Highest Salinity is 48
psupsu
••Average Salinity is 31 Average Salinity is 31
00 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Salinity (ppt)
psupsu
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Barnes SoundBarnes SoundBarne Sound Site 04: Wet Season Salinity in 2 ppt bins
8000
9000
10000
Site04WS04Site04WS05Sit 04WS06 Barnes SoundBarnes Sound
5000
6000
7000
# of
read
ings
Site04WS06Site04WS07Site04WS08
Salinity in the Wet Salinity in the Wet S d th DS d th D
1000
2000
3000
4000
# Season and the Dry Season and the Dry SeasonSeason
Barne Sound Site 04: Dry Season Salinity in 2 ppt bins
8000
9000
Sit 04DS04
00 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Salinity (ppt)••Highest Salinity Occurs in Highest Salinity Occurs in the Early Wet Seasonthe Early Wet Season
L t S li it i 18L t S li it i 18
5000
6000
7000
eadi
ngs
Site04DS04Site04DS05Site04DS06Site04DS07
••Lowest Salinity is 18 Lowest Salinity is 18 psupsu
••Highest Salinity is 41 Highest Salinity is 41 psupsu
1000
2000
3000
4000
# of
re
••Average Salinity is 33 Average Salinity is 33 psupsu
0
1000
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Salinity (ppt)
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Individual Salinity Measurements for Manatee Bay Individual Salinity Measurements for Manatee Bay Hurricanes Katrina Rita and WilmaHurricanes Katrina Rita and WilmaHurricanes Katrina, Rita, and WilmaHurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
Individual Salinity Measurements for Barnes SoundIndividual Salinity Measurements for Barnes SoundHurricanes Katrina, Rita, and WilmaHurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, ,, ,
Individual Salinity Measurements for Individual Salinity Measurements for Manatee Bay and Barnes SoundManatee Bay and Barnes Sound
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Individual Salinity Measurements for Individual Salinity Measurements for Manatee Bay and Barnes SoundManatee Bay and Barnes Sound
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
Individual Salinity Measurements for Individual Salinity Measurements for Manatee Bay and Barnes SoundManatee Bay and Barnes Sound
Biscayne National Park Salinity Project
