ALBERT

Description: The impact of recent changes in climate on the arctic environment and its ecosystems appear to have a dramatic affect on natural populations (National Research Council Committee on the Bering Sea Ecosystem 1996) and pose a serious threat to the continuity of indigenous arctic cultures that are dependent on natural resources for subsistence (Peterson D. L., Johnson 1995). In the northeast Pacific, winter storms have intensified and shifted southward causing fundamental changes in sea surface temperature patterns (Beamish 1993, Francis et al. 1998). Since the mid 1970’s surface waters of the central basin of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) have warmed and freshened with a consequent increase in stratification and reduced winter entrainment of nutrients (Stabeno et al. 2004). Such physical changes in the structure of the ocean can rapidly affect lower trophic levels and indirectly affect fish and marine mammal populations through impacts on their prey (Benson and Trites 2002). Alaskan natives expect continued and perhaps accelerating changes in resources due to global warming (DFO 2006).and want to develop strategies to cope with their changing environment.

Description: Boat wakes in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) of North Carolina occur in environments not normally subjected to (wind) wave events, making sections of AIWW potentially vulnerable to extreme wave events generated by boat wakes. The Snow’s Cut area that links the Cape Fear River to the AIWW is an area identified by the Wilmington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as having significant erosion issues; it was hypothesized that this erosion could be being exacerbated by boat wakes. We compared the boat wakes for six combinations of boat length and speed with the top 5% wind events. We also computed the benthic shear stress associated with boat wakes and whether sediment would move (erode) under those conditions. Finally, we compared the transit time across Snow’s Cut for each speed. We focused on two size classes of V-hulled boats (7 and 16m) representative of AIWW traffic and on three boat speeds (3, 10 and 20 knots). We found that at 10 knots when the boat was plowing and not yet on plane, boat wake height and potential erosion was greatest. Wakes and forecast erosion were slightly mitigated at higher, planing speeds. Vessel speeds greater than 7 knots were forecast to generate wakes and sediment movement zones greatly exceeding that arising from natural wind events. We posit that vessels larger than 7m in length transiting Snow’s Cut (and likely many other fetch-restricted areas of the AIWW) frequently generate wakes of heights that result in sediment movement over large extents of the AIWW nearshore area, substantially in exceedance of natural wind wave events. If the speed, particularly of large V-hulled vessels (here represented by the 16m length class), were reduced to pre-plowing levels (~ 7 knots down from 20), transit times for Snow’s Cut would be increased approximately 10 minutes but based on our simulations would likely substantially reduce the creation of erosion-generating boat wakes. It is likely that boat wakes significantly exceed wind wave background for much of the AIWW and similar analyses may be useful in identifying management options.

Description: This report is the second in a series from a project to assess land-based sources of pollution (LBSP) and effects in the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER) in St. Thomas, USVI, and is the result of a collaborative effort between NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the University of the Virgin Islands, and The Nature Conservancy.Passive water samplers (POCIS) were deployed in the STEER in February 2012. Developed by the US Geological Survey(USGS) as a tool to detect the presence of water solublecontaminants in the environment, POCIS samplers were deployed in the STEER at five locations. In addition to the February 2012 deployment, the results from an earlier POCIS deployment in May 2010 in Turpentine Gut, a perennial freshwater stream which drains to the STEER, are also reported.A total of 26 stormwater contaminants were detected at least once during the February 2012 deployment in the STEER. Detections were high enough to estimate ambient water concentrations for nine contaminants using USGS sampling rate values. From the May 2010 deployment in Turpentine Gut, 31 stormwater contaminants were detected, and ambient water concentrations could be estimated for 17 compounds.Ambient water concentrations were estimated for a numberof contaminants including the detergent/surfactant metabolite 4-tert-octylphenol, phthalate ester plasticizers DEHP and DEP, bromoform, personal care products including menthol, indole, n,n-diethyltoluamide (DEET), along with the animal/plant sterol cholesterol, and the plant sterol beta-sitosterol. Only DEHP appeared to have exceeded a water quality guideline for the protection of aquatic organisms.

Description: This report contains a chemical and biological characterization of sediments from the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER) in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The STEER Management Plan (published in 2011) identified chemical contaminants and habitat loss as high or very high threats and called for a characterization of chemical contaminants as well as an assessment of their effects on natural resources. The baseline information contained in this report on chemical contaminants, toxicity and benthic infaunal community composition can be used to assess current conditions, as well as the efficacy of future restoration activities. In this phase of the project, 185 chemical contaminants, including a number of organic (e.g., hydrocarbons and pesticides) and inorganic (e.g., metals) compounds, were analyzed from 24 sites in the STEER. Sediments were also analyzed using a series of toxicity bioassays, including amphipod mortality, sea urchin fertilization impairment, and the cytochrome P450 Human Reporter Gene System (HRGS), along with a characterization of the benthic infaunal community. Higher levels of chemical contaminants were found in Mangrove Lagoon and Benner Bay in the western portion of the study area than in the eastern area. The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), chlordane, zinc, copper, lead and mercury were above a NOAA sediment quality guideline at one or more sites, indicating impacts may be present in more sensitive species or life stages in the benthic environment. Copper at one site in Benner Bay, however, was above a NOAA guideline indicating that effects on benthic organisms were likely. The antifoulant boat hull ingredient tributyltin, or TBT, was found at the third highest concentration in the history of NOAA’s National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program, which monitors the Nation’s coastal and estuarine waters for chemical contaminants and bioeffects. Unfortunately, there do not appear to be any established sediment quality guidelines for TBT. Results of the bioassays indicated significant sediment toxicity in Mangrove Lagoon and Benner Bay using multiple tests. The benthic infaunal communities in Mangrove Lagoon and Benner Bay appeared severely diminished.

Description: Porphyrin metabolic disruption from exposure to xenobiotic contaminants such as heavy metals, dioxins, and aromatic hydrocarbons can elicit overproduction of porphyrins. Measurement of porphyrin levels, when used in conjunction with other diagnostic assays, can help elucidate an organism’s physiological condition and provide evidence for exposure to certain toxicants. A sensitive microplate fluorometric assay has been optimized for detectingtotal porphyrin levels in detergent solubilized protein extracts from symbiotic, dinoflagellate containing cnidarian tissues. The denaturing buffer used in this modified assay contains a number of potentially interfering components (e.g., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), dithiothreitol (DTT), protease inhibitors, and chlorophyll from the symbiotic zooxanthellae), which required examination and validation. Examination of buffer components were validated for use in this porphyrin assay; while the use of a specific spectrofluorometric filter (excitation 400 ± 15 nm; emission 600 ± 20 nm) minimized chlorophyll interference. The detection limit for this assay is 10 fmol of total porphyrin per μg of total soluble protein and linearity is maintained up to 5000 fmol. The ability to measure total porphyrins in a SDS protein extract now allows a single extract to be used in multiple assays. This is an advantage over classical methods, particularly when tissue samples are limiting, as is often the case with coral due to availability and collection permit restrictions.

Description: NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 17

Description: The mucus surface layer of corals plays a number of integral roles in their overall health and fitness. This mucopolysaccharide coating serves as vehicle to capture food, a protective barrier against physical invasions and trauma, and serves as a medium to host a community of microorganisms distinct from the surrounding seawater. In healthy corals the associated microbial communities are known to provide antibiotics that contribute to the coral’s innate immunity and function metabolic activities such as biogeochemical cycling.Culture-dependent (Ducklow and Mitchell, 1979; Ritchie, 2006) and culture-independent methods (Rohwer, et al., 2001; Rohwer et al., 2002; Sekar et al., 2006; Hansson et al., 2009; Kellogg et al., 2009) have shown that coral mucus-associated microbial communities can change with changes in the environment and health condition of the coral. These changes may suggest that changes in the microbial associates not only reflect health status but also may assist corals in acclimating to changing environmental conditions. With the increasing availability of molecular biology tools, culture-independent methods are being used more frequently for evaluating the health of the animal host. Although culture-independent methods are able to provide more in-depth insights into the constituents of the coral surface mucus layer’s microbial community, their reliability and reproducibility rely on the initial sample collection maintaining sample integrity. In general, a sample of mucus is collected from a coral colony, either by sterile syringe or swab method (Woodley, et al., 2008), and immediately placed in a cryovial. In the case of a syringe sample, the mucus is decanted into the cryovial and the sealed tube is immediately flash-frozen in a liquid nitrogen vapor shipper (a.k.a., dry shipper). Swabs with mucus are placed in a cryovial, and the end of the swab is broken off before sealing and placing the vial in the dry shipper. The samples are then sent to a laboratory for analysis. After the initial collection and preservation of the sample, the duration of the sample voyage to a recipient laboratory is often another critical part of the sampling process, as unanticipated delays may exceed the length of time a dry shipper can remain cold, or mishandling of the shipper can cause it to exhaust prematurely. In remote areas, service by international shipping companies may be non-existent, which requires the use of an alternative preservation medium. Other methods for preserving environmental samples for microbial DNA analysis include drying on various matrices (DNA cards, swabs), or placing samples in liquid preservatives (e.g., chloroform/phenol/isoamyl alcohol, TRIzol reagent, ethanol). These methodologies eliminate the need for cold storage, however, they add expense and permitting requirements for hazardous liquid components, and the retrieval of intact microbial DNA often can be inconsistent (Dawson, et al., 1998; Rissanen et al., 2010).A method to preserve coral mucus samples without cold storage or use of hazardous solvents, while maintaining microbial DNA integrity, would be an invaluable tool for coral biologists, especially those in remote areas. Saline-saturated dimethylsulfoxide-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (20% DMSO-0.25M EDTA, pH 8.0), or SSDE, is a solution that has been reported to be a means of storing tissue of marine invertebrates at ambient temperatures without significant loss of nucleic acid integrity (Dawson et al., 1998, Concepcion et al., 2007). While this methodology would be a facile and inexpensive way to transport coral tissue samples, it is unclear whether the coral microbiota DNA would be adversely affected by this storage medium either by degradation of the DNA, or a bias in the DNA recovered during the extraction process created by variations in extraction efficiencies among the various community members. Tests to determine the efficacy of SSDE as an ambient temperature storage medium for coral mucus samples are presented here.

Description: Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys were conducted from NOAA’s state-of-the-art Fisheries Survey Vessel (FSV) Bell M. Shimada during a six-day transit November 1-5, 2010 between San Diego, CA and Seattle, WA. The objective of this survey was to locate and characterize deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems at several recommended sites insupport of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. Deep-sea corals and sponges were photographed and collected whenever possible using the Southwest Fisheries Science Center’s (SWFSC) Phantom ROV ‘Sebastes’ (Fig. 1).The surveyed sites were recommended by National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) scientists at Monterey Bay NMS, Gulf of the Farallones NMS, and Olympic Coast NMS (Fig. 2). The specific sites were: Sur Canyon, The Football, Coquille Bank, and Olympic Coast NMS. During each dive, the ROV collected digital still images, video, navigation, and along-track conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD), and optode data. Video and high-resolution photographs were used to quantify abundance of corals, sponges, and associated fishes and invertebrates to the lowest practicable taxonomic level, and also to classify the seabed by substrate type. A reference laser system was used to quantify area searched and estimate the density of benthic fauna.

Description: We have recently exchanged and integrated into a single database tag detections for conch, teleost and elasmobranch fish from four separately maintained arrays in the U.S. Virgin Islands including the NMFS queen conch array (St. John nearshore), NOAA’s Biogeography Branch array (St. John nearshore & midshelf reef); UVI shelf edge arrays (Marine Conservation District, Grammanik & other shelf edge); NOAA NMFS Apex Predator array COASTSPAN (St. John nearshore). The integrated database has over 7.5 million hits. Data is shared only with consent of partners and full acknowledgements. Thus, the summary of integrated data here uses data from NOAA and UVI arrays under a cooperative agreement.The benefits of combining and sharing data have included increasing the total area of detection resulting in an understanding of broader scale connectivity than would have been possible with a single array. Partnering has also been cost-effectiveness through sharing of field work, staff time and equipment and exchanges of knowledge and experience across the network. Use of multiple arrays has also helped in optimizing the design of arrays when additional receivers are deployed. The combined arrays have made the USVI network one of the most extensive acoustic arrays in the world with a total of 150+ receivers available, although not necessarily all deployed at all times. Currently, two UVI graduate student projects are using acoustic array data.

Description: This report presents an initial characterization of chemical contamination in coral tissues (Porites astreoides) from southwest Puerto Rico. It is the second technical report from a project to characterize chemical contaminants and assess linkages between contamination and coral condition. The first report quantified chemical contaminants in sediments from southwest Puerto Rico. This document summarizes the analysis of nearly 150 chemical contaminants in coral tissues. Although only eight coral samples were collected, some observations can be made on the correlations between observed tissue and sediment contaminant concentrations. The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), typically associated with petroleum spills and the combustion of fossil fuels, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the coral tissues were comparable to concentrations found in adjacent sediments. However, the concentration of a chemical contaminant (e.g., PAHs) in the coral tissues at a particular site was not a good predictor of what was in the adjacent sediments. In addition, the types of PAHs found in the coral tissues were somewhat different (higher ratios of alkylated PAHs) than in sediments. The levels of PCBs and DDT in coral tissues appeared higher just outside of Guanica Bay, and there was evidence of a downstream concentration gradient for these two contaminant classes. The trace elements copper, zinc and nickel were frequently detected in coral tissues, and the concentration in the corals was usually comparable to that found in adjacent sediments. Chromium was an exception in that it was not detected in any of the coral tissues analyzed. Additional work is needed to assess how spatial patterns in chemical contamination affect coral condition, abundance and distribution.

Description: National Status and Trends Program for Marine Environmental Quality

Description: In May 2006, the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS), in conjunction with the EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory (NHEERL), conducted an assessment of the status of ecological condition of soft-bottom habitat and overlying waters throughout the mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) portion of the eastern U.S. continental shelf. The study area encompassed the region from Cape Cod, MA and Nantucket Shoals in the northeast to Cape Hatteras in the south, and was defined using a one nautical mile buffer of the shoreline extended seaward to the shelf break (~100-m depth contour). A total of 50 stations were targeted for sampling using standard methods and indicators applied in prior NOAA coastal studies and EPA’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) and National Coastal Assessment (NCA). A key feature adopted from these studies was the incorporation of a random probabilistic sampling design. Such a design provides a basis for making unbiased statistical estimates of the spatial extent of ecological condition relative to various measured indicators and corresponding thresholds of concern. Indicators included multiple measures of water quality, sediment quality, and biological condition (benthic fauna). Through coordination with the NOAA Fisheries Service/Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NFS/NEFSC), samples of summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) also were obtained from 30 winter 2007 bottom-trawl survey stations in overlapping portions of the study area and used for analysis of chemical-contaminant body burdens.

Description: EPA 600/R-09/159

Description: Models that help predict fecal coliform bacteria (FCB) levels in environmental waters can be important tools for resource managers. In this study, we used animal activity along with antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA), land cover, and other variables to build models that predict bacteria levels in coastal ponds that discharge into an estuary. Photographic wildlife monitoring was used to estimate terrestrial and aquatic wildlife activity prior to sampling. Increased duck activity was an important predictor of increased FCB in coastal ponds. Terrestrial animals like deer and raccoon, although abundant, were not significant in our model. Various land cover types, rainfall, tide, solar irradiation, air temperature, and season parameters, in combination with duck activity, were significant predictors of increased FCB. It appears that tidal ponds allow for settling of bacteria under most conditions. We propose that these models can be used to test different development styles and wildlife management techniques to reduce bacterial loading into downstream shellfish harvesting and contact recreation areas.

Description: Nonindigenous species (NIS) are a major threat to marine ecosystems, with possible dramatic effects on biodiversity, biological productivity, habitat structure and fisheries. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) has taken active steps to mitigate the threats of NIS in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Of particular concern are the 13 NIS already detected in NWHI and two invasive species found among the main Hawaiian Islands, snowflake coral (Carijoa riseii) and a red alga (Hypnea musciformis).Much of the information regarding NIS in NWHI has been collected or informed by surveys using conventional SCUBA or fishing gear. These technologies have significant drawbacks. SCUBA is generally constrained to depths shallower than 40 m and several NIS of concern have been detected well below this limit (e.g., L. kasmira – 256 m) and fishing gear is highly selective. Consequently, not all habitats or species can be properly represented.Effective management of NIS requires knowledge of their spatial distribution and abundance over their entire range. Surveys which provide this requisite information can be expensive, especially in the marine environment and even more so in deepwater. Technologies which minimize costs, increase the probability of detection and are capable of satisfying multiple objectives simultaneously are desired.This report examines survey technologies, with a focus on towed camera systems (TCSs), and modeling techniques which can increase NIS detection and sampling efficiency in deepwater habitats of NWHI; thus filling a critical data gap in present datasets. A pilot study conducted in 2008 at French Frigate Shoals and Brooks Banks was used to investigate the application of TCSs for surveying NIS in habitats deeper than 40 m. Cost and data quality were assessed. Over 100 hours of video was collected, in which 124 sightings of NIS were made among benthic habitats from 20 to 250 m. Most sightings were of a single cosmopolitan species, Lutjanus kasmira, but Cephalopholis argus, and Lutjanus fulvus, were also detected.The data expand the spatial distributions of observed NIS into deepwater habitats, identify algal plain as an important habitat and complement existing data collected using SCUBA and fishing gear. The technology’s principal drawback was its inability to identify organisms of particular concern, such as Carijoa riseii and Hypnea musciformis due to inadequate camera resolution and inability to thoroughly inspect sites. To solve this issue we recommend incorporating high-resolution cameras into TCSs, or using alternative technologies, such as technical SCUBA diving or remotely operated vehicles, in place of TCSs. We compared several different survey technologies by cost and their ability to detect NIS and these results are summarized in Table 3.

Description: This report presents the results of a two-year investigation and summary of oceanographic satellite data obtained from multiple operational data providers and sources, spanning years of operational data collection. Long-term summaries of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and SST fronts, Sea Surface Height Anomalies (SSHA), surface currents, ocean color chlorophyll and turbidity, and winds are provided.Merged satellite oceanographic data revealed information on: (1) seasonal cycles and timing of transition periods; (2) linkages between seasonal effects (warming and cooling), upwelling processes and transport; and (3) nutrient/sediment sources, sinks, and physical limiting factors controlling surface response for Olympic Coast marine environments. These data and information can be used for building relevant hind cast models, ecological forecasts, and regional environmental indices (e.g. upwelling, climate, “hot spot”) on biological distribution and/or response in the PNW.

Description: Investigators at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory (COL) diagnose and study crustaceans, mollusks, finfish, and a variety of other marine and estuarine invertebrates to assess animal health. This edition updates the Histological Techniques for Marine Bivalve Mollusks manual by Howard and Smith (1983) with additional chapters on molluscan and crustacean techniques. The new edition is intended to serve as a guide for histological processing of shellfish, principally bivalve mollusks and crustaceans. Basically, the techniques included are applicable for histopathological preparation of all marine animals, recognizing however that initial necropsy is unique to each species. Photographs and illustrations are provided for instruction on necropsy of different species to simplify the processing of tissues. Several of the procedures described are adaptations developed by the COL staff. They represent techniques based on principles establishedfor the histopathologic study of mammalian and other vertebrate tissues, but modified for marine and aquatic invertebrates. Although the manual attempts to provide adequate information on techniques, it is also intended to serve as a useful reference source to those interested in the pathology of marine animals. General references and recommended reading listed in the back of the manual will provide histological information on species not addressed in the text.

Description: This edition updates the Histological Techniques for Marine Bivalve Mollusks manual by Howard and Smith (1983) with additional chapters on molluscan and crustacean techniques.

Description: Hurricanes can cause extensive damage to the coastline and coastal communities due to wind-generated waves and storm surge. While extensive modeling efforts have been conducted regarding storm surge, there is far less information about the effects of waves on these communities and ecosystems as storms make landfall. This report describes a preliminary use of NCCOS’ WEMo (Wave Exposure Model; Fonseca and Malhotra 2010) to compute the wind wave exposure within an area of approximately 25 miles radius from Beaufort, North Carolina for estuarine waters encompassing Bogue Sound, Back Sound and Core Sound during three hurricane landfall scenarios. The wind wave heights and energy of a site was a computation based on wind speed, direction, fetch and local bathymetry. We used our local area (Beaufort, North Carolina) as a test bed for this product because it is frequently impacted by hurricanes and we had confidence in the bathymetry data. Our test bed conditions were based on two recent Hurricanes that strongly affected this area. First, we used hurricane Isabel which made landfall near Beaufort in September 2003. Two hurricane simulations were run first by passing hurricane Isabel along its actual path (east of Beaufort) and second by passing the same storm to the west of Beaufort to show the potential effect of the reversed wind field. We then simulated impacts by a hurricane (Ophelia) with a different landfall track, which occurred in September of 2005. The simulations produced a geographic description of wave heights revealing the changing wind and wave exposure of the region as a consequence of landfall location and storm intensity. This highly conservative simulation (water levels were that of low tide) revealed that many inhabited and developed shorelines would receive wind waves for prolonged periods of time at heights far above that found during even the top few percent of non-hurricane events. The simulations also provided a sense for how rapidly conditions could transition from moderate to highly threatening; wave heights were shown to far exceed normal conditions often long before the main body of the storm arrived and importantly, at many locations that could impede and endanger late-fleeing vessels seeking safe harbor. When joined with other factors, such as storm surge and event duration, we anticipate that the WEMo forecasting tool will have significant use by local emergency agencies and the public to anticipate the relative exposure of their property arising as a function of storm location and may also be used by resource managers to examine the effects of storms in a quantitative fashion on local living marine resources.

Description: This chapter describes the procedures for determining the reproductive stage of oysters, mytilid mussels, and dreissenid mussels collected for NOAA’s National Status and Trends Mussel Watch Project. Analyses are conducted on paraffin-embedded tissues sectioned at a 5-μm thickness and stained using a pentachrome staining procedure. Each slide is examined microscopically to determine the animal’s sex and stage of gonadal development. A semi-quantitative ranking is assigned.

Description: The primary purpose of the investigation leading tothe report of which this is the basic data section was todetermine the extent to which salt water had encroachedinto the water-bearing formations of Seminole County andto evaluate the factors governing encroachment. Fieldwork for this study, begun in 1951 by the U. S. GeologicalSurvey in cooperation with the Florida Geological Survey,the Board of County Commissioners of Seminole County,and the city of Sanford, was completed in 1956. The interpretiveresults of the study are given in a report entitled"Ground-Water Resources of Seminole County, Florida, "by Jack T. Barraclough, published by the Florida GeologicalSurvey as Report of Investigations No. 27. (Document has 156 pages.)

Description: This report will be of substantial value to water managers in developing theSt. Johns River as a multiple resource. Evaluation of the capacity of the river toaccept pollutants without adversely affecting other uses requires detailed data offlow and chemical characteristics and an understanding of how they interact. (66 page document)

Description: Salt-water encroachment is undoubtedly the problem of most concern tousers of ground water in Florida. This is a problem in many coastal areaswhere water levels are lowered excessively by heavy pumping. It is aproblem also in some inland areas where the water-bearing formations containsalty water at relatively shallow depths. Among the coastal areas where wellshave become contaminated with salt water are Pinellas County and the Miamiarea of Dade County. Inland areas where wells are likely to become contaminatedwith salt water include Seminole County and the southwestern partof Volusia County.The purpose of the investigation is to make a detailed study of thegeology and ground-water resources of the county with special emphasis onthe problems associated with declining water levels and salt-watercontamination. This report reviews briefly the progress of the investigationthrough February 1954. (PDF contains 43 pages.)

Description: Prepared by the GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR in cooperation with the FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY the BOARD CF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF SEMINOLE COUNTY and the CITY OF SANFORD

Description: Recently there has been much activity in reclaiming thelow-lying coastal areas of Dade County for residential use,by the addition of fill. The fill is obtained by digging canalsboth normal to and parallel to Biscayne Bay. The canalsserve the additional purpose of providing an access to theBay for boats. A problem needing to be considered is theeffect that these canals will have on the ground-water resources.It is expected that the canals will have little effecton ground water in parts of the county distant from the coast,but their effect in coastal areas is a matter of concern. Inorder to predict what, may happen in the vicinity of thesenew canals if they are not equipped with adequate controlstructures, it is instructive to review what has happened inthe vicinity of similar canals in the past.The U. S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with DadeCounty, the cities of Miami and Miami Beach, the Centraland Southern Florida Flood Control District, and the FloridaGeological Survey has collected water-level and salinitydata on wells and canals in Dade County since 1939. Someof the agencies named, and others, collected similar databefore 1939. Analysis of all the data shows that sea waterin the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bayis the sole source ofsalt-water contamination in the Biscayne aquifer of the DadeCounty area. (PDF has 19 pages.)

Description: PREPARED BY U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN COOPERATION WITH DADE COUNTY, THE CITIES OF MIAMI AND MIAMI BEACH, THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AND THE FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Description: Executive Summary:Information found in this report covers the years 1986 through 2005. Mussel Watch began monitoring a suite of trace metals and organic contaminants such as DDT, PCBs and PAHs. Through time additional chemicals were added, and today approximately 140 analytes are monitored. The Mussel Watch Program is the longest running estuarine and coastal pollutant monitoring effort conducted in the United States that is national in scope each year. Hundreds of scientific journal articles and technical reports based on Mussel Watch data have been written; however, this report is the first that presents local, regional and national findingsacross all years in a Quick Reference format, suitable for use by policy makers, scientists, resource managers and the general public.Pollution often starts at the local scale where high concentrations point to a specific source of contamination, yet some contaminants such as PCBs are atmospherically transported across regional and national scales, resulting in contamination far from their origin. Findings presented here showed few national trends for trace metals and decreasing trends for most organic contaminants; however, a wide variety of trends, both increasing and decreasing, emerge at regional and local levels. For most organic contaminants, trends have resulted from state andfederal regulation. The highest concentrations for both metal and organic contaminants are found near urban and industrial areas.In addition to monitoring throughout the nation’s coastal shores and Great Lakes, Mussel Watch samples are stored in a specimen bank so that trends can be determined retrospectively for new and emerging contaminants ofconcern. For example, there is heightened awareness of a group of flame retardants that are finding their way into the marine environment. These compounds, known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are now being studied using historic samples from the specimen bank and current samples to determine their spatial distribution. We will continue to use this kind of investigation to assess new contaminant threats.We hope you find this document to be valuable, and thatyou continue to look towards the Mussel Watch Programfor information on the condition of your coastal waters. (PDF contains 118 pages)

Description: Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment

Description: In recent years, difficulties encountered in obtaining ground-water supplieswith acceptable chemical characteristics in the Myakka River basin area led tothe implementation of a test drilling program. Under this program, well drillingand data collection were executed in such a manner that all water-producingzones of the local aquifers, together with the quality and quantity of the wateravailable, were effectively identified.A step-drilling method was utilized which allowed the collection offormation cuttings, water samples, and water-level data, from isolated zones inthe well as drilling proceeded. The step drilling procedure is described. Thedriller's logs, geophysical logs, and chemical quality of water tables arepresented.(Document has 66 pages.)

Description: Charlotte, De Soto, and Hardee counties are east-southeast ofTampa in west-central peninsular Florida, figure 1. In order toplan the future water-resource development of the area, informationabout the water resources is needed. To meet this need, the WaterResources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperationwith the Peace River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida WaterManagement District as part of the statewide cooperative programwith the Division of Geology, Florida Board of Conservation, begana continuing hydrologic data collection program in July, 1963, asan initial step in the investigation and evaluation of the groundwaterresources of Hardee and De Soto counties. A similar hydrologicdata program commenced in Charlotte County in July, 1964.Previous work in Hardee and De Soto counties included aone year reconnaissance by the Division of Water Resources andConservation, Florida Board of Conservation, which concluded inJune, 1963, and resulted in a hydrologic report (Woodard, 1964).As an outgrowth of the hydrologic data program, a Map Seriesreport portraying the chemical character of water in the Floridanaquifer in the southern Peace River basin was prepared in 1967(Kaufman and Dion).The data contained herein constitute the basis for the MapSeries report. Additional selected data, including records of wellsand chemical analyses,, on the ground-water resources of the threecounty area are also included and are published to make the dataavailable.(Document has 28 pages.)

Description: Prepared by the UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY in cooperation with the DIVISION OF GEOLOGY FLORIDA BOARD OF CONSERVATION and the SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Description: The Econfina Creek basin area in northwestern Florida, which includes BayCounty, southeastern Washiigton County, and parts of Calhoun, Gulf, andJackson counties is shown in figure 1. The basin has an abundant supply ofground water and surface water of good quality. This determination is based ona three-year investigation of the water resources of the basin by the U. S.Geological Survey in cooperation with the Division of Geology, Florida Board ofConservation, during the period from October 1961 through June 1964. Thepurpose of this report is to assemble the basic data collected during thisinvestigation for those persons interested in water development or managementin this basin.(Document has 131 pages.)

Description: Prepared by the United States Geological Suvey in cooperation with the Division of Geology, Florida Board of Conservation

Description: A large part of western Manatee County is devoted to the growing ofwinter vegetables and citrus fruits. As in most of peninsular Florida,rainfall in the county during the growing season is not sufficient for cropproduction and large quantites of artesian water are used for irrigation.The large withdrawals of artesian water for irrigation result in a considerabledecline of the artesian head in the western part of the county. This seasonaldecline of the artesian head has become larger as the withdrawal of artesianwater has increased. The lowering of the fresh-water head in some coastal areas in the Statehas resulted in an infiltration of sea water into the water-bearing formations.The presence of salty water in the artesian aquifer in parts of the coastal areaof Manatee County indicates that sea water may also have entered the waterbearingformations in this area as a result of the decline of artesian pressureduring the growing season. The purpose of the investigation is to make a detailed study of the geologyand ground-water resources of the county, primarily to determine whethersalt-water encroachment has occurred or is likely to occur in the coastal area. (PDF contains 38 pages.)

Description: Prepared by the GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Sin cooperation with the FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MANATEE COUNTY and the MANATEE RIVER SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Description: The purpose of the investigation is to make a detailed study of thegeology and ground water in the Ruskin area, especially as related to theproblem of salt-water encroachment. The major objectives of the programincludes:(1) An inventory of wells to determine their number and distribution,their depths and diameters, and other pertinent information.(2) A study of artesian pressures.(3) Analyses of water from selected wells to determine the locationand extent of any areas in which the artesian water is salty.(4) A study of the surface and subsurface geology as related to theoccurrence and movement of ground water.(5) An estimate of the quantity of ground water withdrawn.(PDF contains 24 pages.)

Description: Because the Stuart area is, at times, surrounded on threesides by saline water, the underlying fresh-water aquifer isvulnerable to salt-water encroachment. With progressivelylarger withdrawals of ground water for public and privatesupplies, the possibility of salt-water contamination of freshwatersupplies is increased. (PDF contains 51 pages.)

Description: In December 1956 the U. S. Geological Survey, in cooperationwith the Florida Geological Survey and the Board ofCounty Commissioners of Pinellas County, collected waterleveland chloride content of water in 94 wells in PinellasCounty. First sampled in 1947, resampling and reanalyzing the waterfrom these wells was used to determine the change in the chloridecontent of the ground water from 1947 to 1956. The chloridecontent of ground water is generally a reliable indication ofthe contamination of ground water by sea water, as 90 percent of the dissolved solids of sea water are chloride salts. (PDF contains 15 pages.)

Description: Prepared by U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Florida Geological Survey and Pinellas County

Description: Practically all water for municipal and industrial usein the Fernandina area is supplied by artesian wells. Inrecent years, the use of artesian water in the area has increasedto meet the needs of expanding industry and increasingpopulation. The total industrial and municipal pumpagehas increased from approximately 35 million gallons per dayin 1941 to approximately 50 million gallons per day in 1959.Correlated with the increase in water use is the constantdecline in the artesian pressure in the area. In many otherareas in Florida, such a decline in artesian pressure hasresulted in salt-water intrusion into the fresh-water supply.An intrusion of salt water in the Fernandina area would contaminatethe existing fresh-water supply and would resultin a hardship for the population and seriously injure theeconomy.Recognizing the threat to the fresh-water supplies ofthis area, the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation withthe Florida Geological Surveymade a reconnaissance to determineifthere has been any intrusion of salt water into thefresh-water supply or if there is any danger of future intrusion. (PDF contains 28 pages.)

Description: Prepared by U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation with The Florida Geological Survey and Florida Department of Water Resources

Description: This report summarizes the results of a characterizationof chemical contaminants in the sediments in southwestPuerto Rico. The report is part of a project to integratevarious analytical specialties to assess linkages betweenchemical contaminants and the condition of coral reefs. In this phase of the project, over 120 chemical contaminants were analyzed in sediments collected, including a number of organic (e.g., hydrocarbons), inorganic (e.g., metals), and biological (bacterial) compounds/analytes. The report also provides a preliminary analysis of the association betweensediment contaminants and coral species richness.Overall, the levels of chemical contaminants in the study area between Guanica Bay and the town of La Parguera were fairly low. At most of the sites sampled, particularlyadjacent to the town of La Parguera, concentrations oforganic and inorganic contaminants were below the median values from NOAA’s National Status and Trends Program, which monitors the Nation’s coastal and estuarine waters for chemical contaminants. Elevated levels of a number of contaminant classes were seen at the two sites sampled within Guanica Bay.An initial analysis of modeled PAH (hydrocarbon) data and coral species richness (reef building species) indicated a strong negative correlation between the presence of PAHs in the sediments and coral species richness. Additional work is needed to assess possible reasons for this observed pattern. (PDF contains 126 pages).

Description: Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment

Description: Karst Educational Posters

Description: Florida’s geology allows for the creation of many interesting featuresincluding sinkholes, underground rivers, springs, and caves. Thesefeatures make up what is called karst topography which forms as flowingwater slowly dissolves the limestone and dolostone. (1 poster)

Description: Karst Educational Posters

Description: Upward leakage of saline water from an artesian aquifer below 1,500 feethas caused an increase in chloride concentration in the lower Hawthorn aquiferfrom less than 1,000 mg/1 (milligrams per liter) to values ranging from about1,300 to 15,000 mg/1. Similarly the higher temperatures of the intruding waterhas caused an increase in water temperatures in the aquifer from 82"F to valuesranging from 83 to 93"F. The intruding water moves upward either through theopen bore hole of deep wells or test holes, or along a fault or fracture system,which has been identified in the area. From these points of entry into the lowerHawthorn aquifer, the saline water spreads laterally toward the south andsoutheast, but is generally confined to components of the fault system.The saline water moves upward from the lower Hawthorn aquifer into theupper Hawthorn aquifer through the open bore hole of wells, which connect theaquifers. This movement has resulted in an increase in chloride from less than200 mg/1 in the unaffected parts of the upper Hawthorn aquifer to valuescommonly ranging from about 300 to more than 3,000 mg/1 in parts of theaquifer affected by upward leakage. The upper Hawthorn aquifer is the principalsource of ground-water supply for public water-supply systems in western LeeCounty.Similar effects have been noted in the water-table aquifer, where chlorideincreased from less than 100 to concentrations ranging from about 500 to morethan 5,000 mg/1. This was caused by the downward infiltration of waterdischarged at land surface from wells tapping the lower Hawthorn aquifer.The spread of saline water throughout most of the McGregor Isles area iscontinuing as of 1971.(40 page document)

Description: Karst Educational Posters

Description: The U. S. Geological Survey made a comprehensiveinvestigation of the water resources of Brevard Countyfrom 1954 to 1958. The purposes of this investigation were:(1) to determine the occurrence and chemical quality ofwater in the streams and lakes, (2) to determine the locationand the thickness of aquifers, and (3) to determine theoccurrence and chemical quality of the ground water. Duringthe period from 1933 to 1954, water records were collectedfrom a few stream-gaging stations and a few observationwells. The purpose of this report is to present basic datacollected during these investigations. (Document has 188 pages.)

Description: The purpose of this report is to present theresults of the initial quantification of backgroundwater quality in each of the state's major potableaquifer systems. Results are presented andinterpreted in light of the influencing factors whichlocally and regionally affect ambient ground-waterquality. This initial data will serve as a baselinefrom which future sampling results can becompared. Future sampling of the Network willindicate the extent to which Florida's regionalground-water resources are improving or decliningin quality. (Document has 378 pages.)