Dissolved Oxygen Criteria in Surface Waters
News and Announcements
Triennial Review of State Surface Water Quality Standards
The Department announces the initiation of the Triennial Review
of state surface water quality standards. The Department has
prepared a
Factsheet and has
conducted three public workshops.
Revised Draft Technical Support Document: Derivation of Dissolved Oxygen
Criteria to Protect Aquatic Life in Florida’s Fresh and Marine
Waters (3.0 MB - July 16, 2012)
Public Workshop Materials
November 29, 2011 Public Meeting of the Peer Review Committee to
Review the Department’s Surface Water Dissolved Oxygen Analyses
Presentations
August 11, 2011 Public Meeting of the Peer Review Committee to
Review the Department’s Surface Water Dissolved Oxygen Analyses
Background and Proposed Rulemaking
The State of Florida has initiated a review of its surface water
criteria for dissolved oxygen (DO). The current surface water quality
criteria for DO, based on early EPA guidance, have been in effect since
the 1970’s. In the past approximately 40 years, considerable knowledge
has been gained concerning the biological response to low DO levels, as
well as the natural DO regime of Florida’s waters. This information has
greatly improved the knowledge base needed to develop more appropriate
revised criteria for Florida’s waters. For example, many natural
waterbodies with healthy biological communities often exhibit DO levels
below the existing DO criteria. Since Florida’s existing DO criteria
would erroneously indicate that these systems are impaired, it can
logically be concluded that the existing criteria are inaccurate, and
that the development of more appropriate DO criteria is needed.
For streams and lakes, the Department is evaluating the DO levels
required to maintain healthy biological communities. For the revisions
to the marine DO criteria, the Department proposes to use an EPA
methodology (the Virginian Province Method) that models the effects of
low DO using acute and chronic toxicity studies, but utilizing the
specific sensitive species found in Florida. Any proposed revisions to
the DO criteria would recognize the inherent natural variability in DO
levels and would protect the designated use of Florida’s surface waters.
Public Meetings and Supporting Documentation
Nationwide
Review of Oxygen Depletion and Eutrophication in Estuarine and
Coastal Waters: Florida (10.5 MB)
June 14, 2011 and June 16, 2011 Public Meetings providing
information on Dissolved Oxygen Analyses
Standards & Assessment
Program
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road - M.S. 6511
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-8064
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2012 State of Florida