Development of Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Florida's Waters

On November 30, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formally approved the Department’s numeric nutrient standards pertaining to streams, spring vents, lakes, and south Florida estuaries.  At the same time, EPA proposed numeric nutrient criteria for waters not covered under the Department’s rules.  The Department is continuing to develop numeric nutrient standards for all remaining waters not covered under the original rulemaking.

Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Florida Estuaries and Coastal Waters

• Commission Agenda
• Proposed Rule Language

• West Palm Beach Agenda
• Jacksonville Agenda
• Tallahassee Agenda

Workshop Presentations

• Introduction
• Statistical Approaches
• Biological Targets to Evaluate Estuary Health
• Coastal Waters Statewide
• Loxahatchee River Estuary
• Lake Worth Lagoon Estuary
• Halifax River Estuary
• Guana River/Tolomato River/Matanzas River Estuaries
• Nassau River Estuary
• Suwannee Sound, Waccasassa River, and Withlacoochee River Estuaries
• Springs Coast Estuaries

Draft Technical Support Documents

• Loxahatche River (3.2 MB)
• Lake Worth Lagoon (2.3 MB)
• Halifax River (2.6 MB)
• Guana River/Tolomato River/Matanzas River(GTM) (4.3 MB)
• Nassau River (2.3 MB)
• Suwannee Sound, Waccasassa River, and Withlacoochee River (8.0 MB)
• Springs Coast (8.7 MB)

Comparison of FDEP and EPA Numeric Nutrient Criteria Coverage

Map Summary Comparing FDEP and EPA Numeric Nutrient Criteria Coverage

U.S. EPA Actions Regarding Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Florida

• EPA approval of Florida’s numeric nutrient standards
• EPA amended determination letter

EPA’s proposed numeric nutrient criteria

• Technical Support Document for U.S. EPA's Final Rule)
• Technical Support Document Introduction
• Technical Support Document for Estuaries
• Technical Support Document for Coastal Waters
• Technical Support Document for South Florida Inland Flowing Waters
  • Appendices D – G
  • Attachment G: Derivation of the water quality based effluent limit for phosphorus in discharges to the Everglades Protection Area

Note: Appendices A – C are provided in the Technical Support Documents above for Estuaries, Coastal Waters, and South Florida Inland Flowing Waters