Charlotte
Harbor
Environmental
Center
Water QualityCanal Sampling forSouth Gulf Cove
Prepared by Dr. Jon Hubertz
941-505-4089hubertz@embarqmail.com
Gated access to harbor
Charlotte Harbor Environmental CenterCanal Water Sampling Program
South Gulf Cove
•Initiated 2009
•Five Stations sampled in canals
•Quarterly samples by Benchmark technicians
•Benchmark EnviroAnalytical Inc. analysis
•Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Fecal Coliform bacteria
•Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Salinity
•Station Depth, Secchi Depth
•Air/Water Temp., Wind Spd./Dir., Cloud Cover
Processes Affecting Water Quality
•Tides - Not important in this location due to limited access
•Wind - Can cause some local currents
•Circulation - No flushing of canals
•Salinity - Mainly dependent on rainfall, evaporation
•Temperature - Shallow canals, little vertical change
•Sunlight - Plant growth
•Rain and Runoff - Potential source of pollution from land
•Turbidity - Vertical mixing, runoff
•Boating Activity
Station Locations
1
2
3
4
5
Data Interpretation Methods:
Dissolved Oxygen: Fish & Wildlife Standards.
Bacteria: Public Health Standards.
Secchi: FDEP Typical Water Quality Values.
Chl & Nutrients: FL Trophic State Index.
Summary of Average Values over Six Years
1
2
3
4
5
Nitrogen
1.3 mg/l
1.2
1.3
1.2
1.3
Eutrophic
Phosphorus
107mig/l
71
61
42
55
Eutrophic
Salinity
2.4 ppt
2.9
3.9
4.0
3.3
Brackish
Oxygen
6.5 mg/l
7.2
7.4
8.0
7.1
Good
pH
7.8
8.0
8.3
8.4
8.1
Basic
Transparent
35 %
40
31
29
32
< 3 ft.