Science-based Decision Making, Data Needs and Monitoring Programs
The task force recognized that renewed investment in a state-wide comprehensive water quality monitoring strategy will be a key part of water quality protection efforts moving forward. Appropriately scaled monitoring data allows water resource managers to evaluate the effectiveness of specific actions/projects intended to provide environmental benefit and are expected to be an essential part of DEP’s science-based decision-making process.
Click on each recommendation below to learn about state actions taken to address it.
Recommendations
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Design monitoring programs to address status and trends for key water quality parameters.
DEP uses a multi-pronged approach to monitor the health of Florida’s waterways.
The probabilistic Status Monitoring Network provides random sampling and assessment of the state's water resources and addresses key water quality parameters such as nutrients, algal toxins, bacteria and metals. This is a cost-effective way to estimate statewide water quality without surveying every well and waterbody.
The Trend Monitoring Network monitors water quality changes over time in rivers, streams, canals and aquifers (via wells) and addresses key water quality parameters such as nutrients, bacteria and metals. To achieve this goal, fixed locations are sampled at fixed intervals. The Trend Network complements the Status Network by providing spatial and temporal information about water resources and potential changes from anthropogenic or natural influences, including droughts and hurricanes.
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Employ monitoring efforts to answer specific questions, address unknowns, allow for improved design and adaptive management of agricultural and urban BMPs.
Funding has been provided to UF/IFAS for both urban and agricultural BMPs. DACS has funded additional research for agricultural BMPs. As appropriate, DEP also assists with funding for this research.
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Greater investments in research to inform monitoring efforts.
Over $25 million in funding has been provided since 2019 by DEP towards increased data collection and support for studies that improve our understanding of water quality issues and HABs.
Additionally, nearly $20 million has been invested in data and analytics to increase interoperability and support future research efforts.
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Expanded water quality monitoring program in the Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie River and Estuary BMAP areas to identify priority areas for project implementation and for subsequent evaluation of project effectiveness in achieving nutrient load reductions.
DEP and SFWMD have added more than 280 new and enhanced monitoring stations in the Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie watersheds.
Multiple nitrogen species have been incorporated into standard monitoring for the NEEPP basins since 2020 and throughout the state (including the status and trends network) within BMAPs.
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Establishment of comparable monitoring and assessment programs in other BMAP areas across the state.
Over 40 new and expanded sites have been added in the SJRWMD as well as dozens of other monitoring sites in Northwest Florida, Southwest Florida and Suwannee River water management districts.
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Incorporation of additional environmental parameters, such as multiple nitrogen species and algal toxins, where appropriate, into monitoring programs to aid understanding of factors that lead to development, maintenance and deterioration of HABs and toxin production.
The Strategic Monitoring Plan identifies waterbodies that need additional data to determine attainment of applicable water quality standards and addresses key water quality parameters. This monitoring helps determine impaired waters for the development of TMDLs, supports evaluations of progress towards restoring impaired waters, and reinforces protection for healthy waterbodies.
DEP incorporated cyanotoxin compounds (not related to HAB response) into its status monitoring program indicator list for canals, streams, rivers and lakes statewide beginning in 2022, and these data are currently being integrated into the Status Network monitoring analyses.