Thomas D. Fontaine, Ph. D., Director, Everglades Systems Research Division,
South Florida Water Management District

How has research supported management actions?

• Provides basis for no "imbalance" phosphorus criteria
  
  
• Provides data for regulatory actions
  
  
• Identifies cost effective strategies to reach P criteria
  
  
• Establishes Total Maximum Daily Loads; predicts effects of management alternatives; predicts recovery times

• Identified that significant changes in WCA-2A Everglades flora and fauna begin to occur at [P] between 10 and 20 ppb.
  (EFA criteria development).
  
  
• Identified that phosphorus alone can cause observed changes in periphyton communities (proof of cause and effect).
  
  
• Confirmed that cattail can out compete sawgrass in high P environments (proof of cause and effect).

• Confirmed that cattail populations were minimal prior to 1960 (evidence that cause is anthropogenic)
  
  
• Confirmed that phosphorus fertilizer is a source of P in WCA-2A (proof of source).
  
  
• Provided and confirmed the design basis of Stormwater Treatment Areas (support of Settlement Agreement)

• Provided the basis for judging compliance of EAA BMPs with required 25% P load reduction and confirms compliant performance to date (support of rule 40E-63).

• Developed models that demonstrate the relationship between phosphorus loads and downstream concentrations (EFA requirement)

• Will identify advanced treatment technologies that combined with BMPs and STAs may reach phosphorus concentration goals (EFA requirement).