A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Enhanced Water Quality Monitoring and Modeling

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Report No. LOXA05-009

L-40 Canal Sediment Elevation Study: Initial Report

by Orlando Diaz
Everglades Research and Education Center
University of Florida
Belle Glade, Florida

and

Michael G. Waldon
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Boynton Beach, Florida

Cooperative agreement number 40181-4-J021A

January 2006

Summary

There is a concern that discharge from STA-1E may result in re-suspension of high-phosphorus sediments that have accumulated on the bottom of the L-40 Canal over the years since its construction in the early 1950s (Light and Dineen 1994). It is hypothesized that this sediment and phosphorus may then be entrained into the Arthur R. Marshall National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) marsh. This report summarizes initial findings of sediment elevation surveys in the L-40 Canal. The data presented here precede STA-1E discharge, with the exception of 2 weeks of emergency stormwater pumping in September 2004, and small seepage and maintenance pumping. It is observed that canal sediment elevation can be repeatedly measured with a precision of less than or equal to 0.1 foot (1 standard deviation). Future studies will assess changes in sediment elevation following significant STA-1E pumping.

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Table of Contents:

• Summary
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results and Discussion
• Citations
• Table 1. Distance below the G-300 of study cross-sectional transects and structures, and tapedown reference mark elevation estimated from G94-C headwater stage.
• Table 2. Sediment surface elevation (ft) measured at central locations along transects, and spatial (75 foot station not averaged) and temporal elevation averages at these sites.
• Table 3. Deviation of elevation from temporal average elevation (ft).
• Figure 1. Site location map.
• Figure 2. Location of L-40 cross-section sites used in this and previous studies.
• Figure 3. Transect cross-sectional elevation of consolidated sediment surface measured during the initial studies in February 2005.
• Figure 4. Temporal plot of spatial average elevation of 5-points measured at each transect.
• Figure 5. Elevation of consolidated sediment estimated in February 2005 and August 2001.
• Appendix: Survey data and calculations
  • Sediment Surface Elevation Transmittal Forms

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