Project Summary

1. Project ID	�
Name	Pensacola Bay System Agricultural Best Management Practice Modeling
Region	Gulf of Mexico Region
State	FL
Location	Pensacola Bay
Date of this update	8/17/00�

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection	�
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)	�

3. Project description (100 words or less)

Problem Statement: The Pensacola Bay System is composed of 7,000 square miles of watershed, 65% of which has its origin in Alabama. The 35% of the watershed that is located in Florida is located primarily in 4 counties - Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton. Utilizing local tax records, FDEP Northwest District biologists have been able to identify that 6,900 parcels of land in these 4 counties are categorized as agricultural. Over 1000 of these parcels are greater than 100 acres. Studies conducted by the National Estuarine Program show that approximately 50 percent of all nitrogen pollution in estuarine systems is a result of non-point source runoff. Additionally, biological sampling conducted during 1998/1999 has indicated that 20 out of 22 streams sampled within the Pensacola Bay System were impaired from agricultural activities. Current efforts include building a farm database showing the location and types of all farms within one square mile "sections" in the Pensacola Bay System. This proposed grant will help continue the development of GIS mapping which will assist in educating the farm communities regarding Best Management Practices (BMP's).

The Pensacola Bay System Action Plan, prepared pursuant to the EPA Clean Water Action Plan Guidelines, recognizes that stormwater runoff from forestry and agricultural operations contributes to water quality problems in the Pensacola Bay Area by increasing sedimentation, turbidity, and nutrients and pesticides which are adsorbed to eroded soil particles (Pensacola Bay Geographic Priority Area, 1998). Monitoring in the Pensacola Bay System is needed to determine and document sources of these pollutants to establish BMP's to improve and protect water quality in the Pensacola Bay system.

The Pensacola Bay system has intense rainfall events. The surrounding land is characterized by highly erodable soils that are often associated with steep slopes. Land disturbance associated with urbanization exaggerates the rate and quantity of soil erosion in the basin. These conditions result in sedimentation problems leading to smothering of biota and habitat. Nutrification is an additional result of loss of vegetated cover in the basin. Excessive nutrients cause a myriad of problems, including algal blooms, unpleasant odors and dissolved oxygen deficits (Pensacola Bay Geographic Priority Area, 1998). Olinger et al. (1975) stated "most of the particulate material entering the Pensacola Bay system from point and nonpoint waste sources and tributary rivers are retained in the system." Although the point source situation has improved since 1975 primarily due to reduction in permitted point source discharges, nonpoint sources have significantly increased. These nonpoint sources include agriculture which contributes suspended sediments from tributaries through agricultural erosion (Pratt et al., 1990). This stormwater runoff highlights the need to determine nonpoint source waste loads (303(d) TMDL) through the monitoring of sedimentation, turbidity, nutrients and pesticides in the tributaries draining to Pensacola Bay. Thus, monitoring for appropriate parameters on a consistent basis will result in identification of problem areas. Once these areas are determined, implementation of BMP's can be executed to help reduce erosion and accompanying nutrients from further degrading the Bay.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

Cash

Federal

Non Federal

State government
Local government
Private industry
Public interest groups

Total


In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date:
• Completion date:
• Current stage (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments