Project Work Plan

Greater Everglades Science Program: Place-Based Studies

Project Work Plan FY 2003

A. GENERAL INFORMATION:

Project Title: Analysis of Historical Water-Quality Data

Project start date: 2001 Project end date: 2005
Project Funding: Place-Based Studies
Principal Investigator: Benjamin McPherson
Email address: bmcphers@usgs.gov
Phone: 813-975-8620 ext 126 Fax: 813-975-0839
Mail address: 10500 University Center Drive, Suite 215, Tampa, Fl 33612

Other Investigator(s): Ronald Miller
Email address: rmiller@usgs.gov
Phone: 813-975-8620 ext 124 Fax: 813-975-0839
Mail address:

Project Summary: The project calls for a comprehensive review and analysis of historic water-quality data in Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP), Everglades National Park (ENP) and other Department of the Interior (DOI) lands in south Florida; the project will provide a basis for an evaluation of how water quality may be affected by the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program (CERP).

Project Objectives and Strategy: The project will provide a review and analysis of historical water quality data in BCNP and ENP and other DOI lands in south Florida. This information will help establish water-quality standards and baseline conditions in the parks, and will help evaluate the potential effects of CERP on water quality. Objectives include: (1) assemble water quality data; (2) review and edit the data and provide a working data base; (3) analyze and evaluate the data and prepare an interpretative report on baseline water-quality conditions and trends in BCNP and ENP, (4) summarize baseline water-quality conditions in BCNP, ENP, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (LNWR), and Biscayne National Park (BNP), so as to provide a basis for evaluating how CERP might affect water quality in these parks .

Potential Impacts and Major Products: For Everglades restoration, it is essential to know historic baseline water-quality conditions, how water quality may have changed, and what are the current conditions. The project provides information to assess these aspects of water quality, including seasonal and long-term trends, and potential sources of water quality problems in the parks.

Major products include (1) a reviewed and edited data base of water-quality constituents in BCNP and ENP; (2) an interpretative report on water quality for the period of record for BCNP and ENP; (3) a second interpretative report that summarizes baseline water-quality conditions in BCNP, ENP, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (LNWR) and Biscayne National Park (BNP), and provides a basis to evaluate potential water-quality changes that could result from CERP.

Collaborators: National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service.

Clients: Governmental and private agencies involved in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program (CERP).

B. WORK PLAN

Title of Task 1: Complete and publish "Water Quality in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve" USGS Water Resources Investigation, and a 4-page fact sheet that highlights this work.

Task Leaders: Benjamin McPherson and Ronald Miller
Phone: 813-975-8620
Fax: 813-975-0839
Task Status (proposed or active): Active. Draft report completed and being prepared for colleague review.
Task priority: high
Time Frame for Task 1: (1) Draft Water Resources Investigation (WRI) report will be sent to colleague reviewers in NPS and USGS in August 2002. Formal draft sent through USGS reports system in October 2002 and published in early 2003. (2) A four-page fact sheet also will be prepared and published in 2003.
Task Personnel: Benjamin McPherson and Ronald Miller

Task Summary and Objectives: Report summarizes the status and trends of water-quality conditions in BCNP and ENP. The report evaluates trends for selected constituents for the period 1959-2001, and establishes baseline water quality for the period 1991-2000.

Work to be undertaken during the proposal year and a description of the methods and procedures: FY2002-03. Submit the report for colleague review. Publish the report and a fact sheet.

Planned Outreach: Press release; Fact sheet; presentation at Everglades Workshop.

Title of Task 2: Baseline water quality in Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and Biscayne Bay National Park.

Task Leaders: Benjamin McPherson and Ronald Miller
Phone: 813-975-0839
Fax: 813-975-0839
Task Status (proposed or active): proposed
Task priority: high
Task Personnel: Benjamin McPherson and Ronald Miller

Task Summary and Objectives: Evaluate baseline water-quality conditions at selected index sites in LNWR and BNP. Summarize water-quality conditions for LNWR, BNP, BCNP, and ENP, with a discussion of how CERP might potentially affect water quality in these lands.

Work to be undertaken during the proposal year and a description of the methods and procedures: FY 2003. (1) Based on consultation with scientists at LNWR and BNP, select 5-10 index sites in each park unit. (2) Evaluate current baseline water quality in LNWR and BNP. (3) Summarize water-quality conditions in LNWR, BNP, ENP, and BCNP in an interpretative report and include a discussion of how CERP potentially could impact the water quality. These evaluations will be carried out using published literature and other written and electronic sources on water quality and water-quality data and on projected CERP activities. A draft report will be prepared.

FY2004. The report will be developed, processed through review, and published.

Planned Outreach: Press release; fact sheet.