Revised Lists of Impaired Waters for the
Group 5 Basins - Cycle 2
Revised Assessments for Waters Potentially Impaired
for Criteria Expressed Relative to Natural Background for the Group 5
(Cycle 2) Basins
The criteria for assessing several
parameters are dependent on the comparison of values against background
or natural background. It is challenging to determine what represents
“background” for some of the systems in Florida requiring very
site-specific data collections. The parameters that fall into this
category are pH, alkalinity, turbidity, and specific conductance. For
the determination of impairment, the FDEP performs a preliminary
assessment for these parameters according to the following:
Assessment Criteria Implemented for Select
Parameters through the IWR database
| Parameter |
Waterbody Class |
Criteria |
Assessment |
| pH |
Class I & IIIF |
pH measurement < 6.0 > 8.5 S.U. |
Potentially Impaired |
| pH |
Class II and IIIM |
pH measurement < 6.5 > 8.5 S.U. |
Potentially Impaired |
| Alkalinity |
Class I & IIIF |
Alkalinity results < 20 mg/L |
Potentially Impaired |
| Specific Conductance |
Class I & IIIF |
SpCond measurements > 1275 umohs/cm |
Potentially Impaired |
| Turbidity |
Class I, II, IIIF & IIIM |
Turbidity measurements > 29 NTU |
Potentially Impaired |
IIIF - Predominantly Fresh Waters
IIIM - Predominantly Marine Waters
The WBIDs in the revised lists below are considered to be
impaired based on the preliminary assessment of these parameters
using data within the verified period. The Department requests
information from stakeholders that may assist in determining the
appropriate assessment of these parameters for these waterbodies.
Specifically, information on the presence of pollutant sources and
background conditions that could be used for comparison. Since the above
criteria do not fully implement the criteria as stated in 62-302 F.A.C.,
these WBIDs are placed into category 3c and included on the planning
list if the impairment cannot be verified. This action ensures that the
waterbodies are included for strategic monitoring during the next cycle
and background conditions can be established.
Note: In an attempt to make commenting on the lists
easier, we have designed these lists to provide information
regarding the DRAFT assessments and the REVISED assessments. The
first two columns in each list indicate whether or not the
assessment was on the DRAFT list and/or the REVISED list and the
comments provide information on why the assessment may have changed.
To determine what is NEW from the draft lists, one can look at those
rows where the first column is blank and the second column contains
an ‘R’. These represent what is being proposed as the final
assessments for the Group 5 basins through the second cycle.
Revised Assessment Lists
For best results, print on legal size paper (8.5 x 14).
* Note: There is no natural background
list for the
Florida Keys Basin.
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Revised Period of Record Waterbody Assessment
Decisions for the Group 5 (Cycle 2) Basins
The Department announces the availability of revised lists of water
quality assessments for waterbodies in the Group 5 Basins based on
“period of record data” for: Perdido, Upper East Coast, Springs
Coast, Indian River Lagoon, Everglades, and the Florida Keys. These
lists are referred to as the period of record (POR) lists.
The presentation of this information in this manner is new, so
please review the following text which should provide sufficient detail
to describe this latest addition to the Impaired Waters Assessment
process.
Waterbodies are assessed using the available data within the Verified
Period for parameters listed in 62-302 and 62-303, Florida
Administrative Code. As specified in the Impaired Waters Rule (62-303,
FAC), the Department assesses water quality based on the most recent
data collected, namely a 7.5 year period. However, as part of our
assessment process, the Impaired Waters Rule also requires us to
consider additional data from outside of this time period that would
provide additional information relevant to the assessment of a
waterbody's health. This additional step is referred to as the “period
of record” review and involves evaluating all available data including
older data if it is “representative of current conditions”. However,
like all data used in our assessments, the data must meet data quality
requirements. In many instances, the Department is unable to determine
the quality of older data. For those waterbody assessments where the
assessment decision would change based on the inclusion of older data,
the Department seeks comment on the whether such data are representative
of current conditions of either the waterbody or the watershed's
pollution sources.
In an attempt to make commenting on the lists easier, we have
designed these lists to provide information regarding the DRAFT
assessments and the REVISED assessments. The first two columns in each
list indicate whether or not the assessment was on the DRAFT list and/or
the REVISED list and the comments provide information on why the
assessment may have changed. To determine what is NEW from the draft
lists, one can look at those rows where the first column is blank and
the second column contains an ‘R’. These represent what is being
proposed as the final assessments for the Group 5 basins through the
second cycle.
Revised Period of Record Lists for Group 5 Basins
For best results, print on legal size paper (8.5 x 14).
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Revised Waterbody Category 4d or 4e Assessment
Decisions for the Group 5 (Cycle 2) Basins
Waterbodies are assessed using the available data for parameters
listed in 62-302 and 62-303, Florida Administrative Code. Many
assessments indicate that the waterbody is attaining water quality
standards. Assessments can also indicate impairment for a particular
water quality standard or pollutant. There are also circumstances where
the pollutant causing the impairment cannot be identified, such as for
violations of dissolved oxygen that are caused by hydrologic
modification. In other cases, an impaired waterbody already has a
restoration effort underway to fix the impairment. Additionally, there
may not be enough water quality data to evaluate the health of a
waterbody using the methodology in the Impaired Waters Rule (62-303, FAC).
Because of these varying circumstances, FDEP and the Environmental
Protection Agency have developed an integrated assessment approach with
several different assessment categories.
Water bodies that are assessed and found to be healthy are placed in
Categories 1 and 2 indicating attainment of the water quality standard
for the particular parameter. Assessments included in Category 3 are for
waterbodies that do not have sufficient data or information to be
assessed using the Impaired Waters Rule methodology. Waterbodies that
are included in Category 4 do not attain the water quality standard for
the particular parameter, but a Total Maximum Daily Load will not be
scheduled at this time for various reasons. Subcategories 4a, 4b, and 4c
have been determined to not need a TMDL because one has already been
completed, restoration efforts are documented and underway, or the water
quality standards exceedances have been documented to be a natural
phenomenon. Subcategories 4d or 4e are still under investigation to make
a determination whether a TMDL is necessary.
Category 4d – represents waterbodies that have been identified
as not meeting water quality standards applying the Impaired Waters
rule; however a causative pollutant cannot be identified.
This category is typically applied to waterbodies that are determined
to be impaired for dissolved oxygen or biology based on the
macroinvertebrate community. In these instances, the Department is
required by state law to identify the pollutant causing the impairment
such that a Total Maximum Daily Load can be developed. Often after
reviewing all available information, the Department or local
stakeholders are unable to identify the cause of the impairment and the
waterbody is put into Category 4d. Waterbodies placed into Category 4d
will then be targeted for monitoring before the next cycle of
assessments for that waterbody.
Category 4e – represents waterbodies that have been identified
as impaired applying the Impaired Waters rule; however there are
on-going or recently completed restoration activities to restore the
waterbody.
The Department will not list waterbodies as impaired or develop TMDLs
for waters that will attain water quality standards in the future and
reasonable progress towards attainment will be made prior to the next
assessment cycle (62-303.100(5) F.A.C.). Therefore waterbodies that meet
this condition are placed into category 4e.
The Department is seeking comment on all of the revised assessment
decisions for the Group 5 waters. Please note that the Department will
submit water bodies in Category 4d, 4e, and 5 (on the Verified list) to
EPA for inclusion on Florida’s 303(d) list in accordance with the
Federal Clean Water Act. We very much appreciate public input on the
waterbodies we are placing into these categories. We welcome any
questions or comments you may have on this new enhancement of Florida’s
listing process for its watershed restoration program.
Note: In an attempt to make commenting on
the lists easier, we have designed these lists to provide
information regarding the DRAFT assessments and the REVISED
assessments. The first two columns in each list indicate whether or
not the assessment was on the DRAFT list and/or the REVISED list and
the comments provide information on why the assessment may have
changed. To determine what is NEW from the draft lists, one can look
at those rows where the first column is blank and the second column
contains an ‘R’. These represent what is being proposed as the final
assessments for the Group 5 basins through the second cycle.
Revised Lists of Waters in Assessment Category 4d or 4e for Group 5
Basins
For best results, print on legal size paper (8.5 x 14).
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Revised Verified Lists of Impaired Waters for the
Group 5 (Cycle 2) Basins
The Department announces the availability of the revised lists of
impaired waters for the Group 5 Basins: Perdido, Upper East Coast,
Springs Coast, Indian River Lagoon, Everglades, and the Florida Keys.
Public meetings will be held for the Upper East
Coast, Springs Coast, and the Indian River Lagoon basins to present
the revised lists. Note, no public meetings are scheduled to present the
revised lists for the Perdido, Everglades, and Florida Keys basins due
to the minimal amount of changes to the draft lists. If the public has
any questions or comments for these basins feel free to attend one of
the scheduled meetings to gather information.
The revised lists reflect new data that have been received and
incorporated into the assessments, station-WBID assignments that have
been corrected, WBID classifications that have been corrected, and/or
data that have been excluded from assessments based on comments received
from data providers or stakeholders. These assessments reflect the
Department’s current assessments for these waterbodies, but they are
subject to change based on input received during the public comment
period, which ends November 18, 2011. During this period, we ask that
interested parties submit their comments either electronically or by
mail to Julie Espy at the address below. We will consider and provide
prompt responses to all comments received. These lists will then be
updated and finalized for Secretarial adoption. After the lists are
adopted, Department staff will then begin working on TMDL production. A
TMDL represents the maximum amount of pollutant loading that can be
discharged to a waterbody and have its designated uses be met. The final
step in this process will be the development, by watershed stakeholders
and DEP, of a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP). The BMAP will specify
the activities, schedule, and funding sources that point and nonpoint
source dischargers will undertake to restore the water body.
Note: In an attempt to make commenting on the lists easier, we have
designed these lists to provide information regarding the DRAFT
assessments and the REVISED assessments. The first two columns in each
list indicate whether or not the assessment was on the DRAFT list and/or
the REVISED list and the comments provide information on why the
assessment may have changed. To determine what is NEW from the draft
lists, one can look at those rows where the first column is blank and
the second column contains an ‘R’. These represent what is being
proposed as the final assessments for the Group 5 basins through the
second cycle.
For best results, print on legal size paper (8.5 x 14).
Revised Verified Lists for Group 5 Basins
Revised List of Waters to be Proposed
for Delisting from the 1998 303(d) List
The Department announces the availability of the revised list of
waters proposed for delisting for the Group 5 Basins: Perdido, Upper East Coast,
Springs Coast, Indian River Lagoon, Everglades, and the Florida Keys.
Public meetings will be held for the Upper East
Coast, Springs Coast, and the Indian River Lagoon basins to present
the revised lists. Note, no public meetings are scheduled to present the
revised lists for the Perdido, Everglades, and Florida Keys basins due
to the minimal amount of changes to the draft lists. If the public has
any questions or comments for these basins feel free to attend one of
the scheduled meetings to gather information.
The delist lists include waters that were either listed
on the 1998 303(d) List or were subsequently identified as impaired
under the Impaired Waters Rule (IWR) and added to the Verified List and
subsequently Florida’s 303(d) list. These lists contain waterbodies that
have either been determined as meeting their designated use based on the
data requirements of the IWR or have been included in an adopted TMDL.
The revised lists reflect new data that have been received and
incorporated into the assessments, station–WBID assignments that have
been corrected, WBID classifications that have been corrected, and/or
data that have been excluded from assessments based on comments received
from data providers or stakeholders. These assessments reflect the
Department’s current assessments for these waterbodies, but they are
subject to change based on input received during the public comment
period, which ends November 18, 2011. During this period, we ask
that interested parties submit their comments either electronically or
by mail to Julie Espy at the address below. We will consider and provide
prompt responses to all comments received. These lists will then be
updated and finalized for Secretarial adoption.
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For
more information regarding the Department's rotating basin plan, please visit
our "Basin 411" pages.
For
more information, send e-mail to
Julie
Espy (Julie.Espy@dep.state.fl.us)
Watershed Assessment Program
2600 Blair Stone Road - Mail Station 3555
Tallahassee, FL, 32399-2400
Phone: (850) 245-8346
2012 State of Florida