USGS Home
SOFIA Home

Southwest Florida Coastal and Wetlands Systems Monitoring

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title: Southwest Florida Coastal and Wetlands Systems Monitoring
Abstract:
The objective of this project is to describe the salinity patterns in relation to freshwater inflows to the estuaries and tidal exchange with the Gulf of Mexico, to provide support for the USGS Tides and Inflows in the Mangroves of the Everglades model (TIME) and to programs like the Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (LTER).

This study will quantify water discharge, describe hydrodynamic characteristics of estuarine rivers of southwest Everglades National Park, and provide necessary information for the development and calibration of the TIME hydrodynamic model.

Supplemental_Information:
This project has taken over the responsibilities of the 1996 USGS program to measure flows and nutrient flux from the Everglades wetlands into the southwest estuaries of Everglades National Park. Nutrient data collection was discontinued in FY 2000.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Eduardo Patino Lars Soderqvuist; Craig Thompson, 2005, Southwest Florida Coastal and Wetlands Systems Monitoring.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.39
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.91
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.87
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.33

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://sofia.usgs.gov/exchange/zucker_woods_patino/location.html> (JPEG)
    location map for southwest coast data

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1996
    Ending_Date: 2005
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: text files

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: Southwest Florida coastal and wetland systems
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (9)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.1. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.1. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Degrees, minutes, and decimal seconds.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Altitude_System_Definition:
      Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988
      Altitude_Resolution: .01
      Altitude_Distance_Units: feet
      Altitude_Encoding_Method:
      Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Data collected at each site includes stage in feet, salinity in parts per thousand (ppt), and temperature in degrees Celsius for non-flow sites. Data for flow sites includes stage, water velocity, salinity, and temperature plus periodic measurements of discharge in cubic feeet per second (cfs).
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: USGS field personnel


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Project personnel include Lars Soderqvist, Craig Thompson, and Jessica Flanigin

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Eduardo Patino
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Hydrologist
    1400 Colonial Blvd., Suite 70, Royal Palm Square
    Ft. Myers, FL 33907
    USA

    239 275-8448 ext. 11 (voice)
    239 275-6820 (FAX)
    epatino@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

Hydrologic information throughout the Everglades ecosystem is key to the development of restoration strategies and for future evaluation of restoration results. There are significant hydrologic information gaps throughout the Everglades wetlands and estuaries that need to be addressed, particularly along Florida’s southwest coast. Among these gaps are flow, water level, and salinity data. This project, in conjunction with the Everglades National Park’s (ENP) marine monitoring network, will provide water level, salinity, and flow information at key points within the mangrove zone along the southwest coast of ENP. This project will also include a wetland component designed to provide water level, salinity, and "sheetflow" velocity at selected points within the "sloughs" (flow paths) flowing into the estuaries. Hydrodynamic modelers of the Everglades, Florida Bay, southwest coast estuaries, and other adjacent marine systems can use these data to calibrate and verify models describing flow patterns throughout ENP.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 2001 (process 1 of 7)
    In 1996, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a project to measure flows and nutrient flux from the Everglades wetlands into the southwest estuaries of Everglades National Park. The current project has taken over the responsibilities of this project and expanded the study area to the northwest (nutrient data collection was discontinued in FY-2000). The objectives of the current project are to quantify water discharge, describe flow characteristics of estuarine rivers, provide necessary hydrologic information for the development and calibration of the USGS Tides and Inflows in the Mangroves of the Everglades model (TIME), and to support programs such as the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) of the Everglades and the SIRENIA Manatee project.

    The data collection network established through this project included the following types and number of stations:

    1. Five estuarine-river sites were be selected to monitor stage, flow, salinity and temperature, based on TIME model needs and other ecological work being done or planned within the study area. These sites included the continuation of two previously existing stations.

    2. Six additional sites were instrumented to monitor stage, salinity, and temperature in order to provide maximum spatial coverage for the TIME model, in conjunction with ENP’s marine monitoring network. These sites were located at creeks flowing into the estuaries, within the "mixing" zone, with two located near shore in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

    3. All water surface elevations were referenced to arbitrary local datum and do not represent NGVD-29 nor NAVD-88 elevations. Elevation control will be established to NAVD-88 in the near future.

    Data collection at all flow sites included continuous (15-minute interval) measurements of water level, water velocity, salinity, and temperature, and calibration measurements of discharge (no discharge measurements at wetland sites). Data collection at water level sites included continuous (15-minute interval) measurements of water level, salinity, temperature. Most continuous data were recorded and transmitted every 4 hours by way of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) into the database of the USGS Miami Subdistrict office. Stations at which transmission of data was not possible nor required were logged, retrieved, and stored into the database of the USGS Miami Subdistrict office.

    Flow stations: Estuarine stream sites were instrumented with water level, salinity, temperature, velocity sensors. Velocity data was collected with acoustic Doppler instruments, calibrated with the use of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), and used in the computation of discharge. Periodic discharge measurements were done at all new sites during the first year and every four to six months thereafter for rating verification purposes. Water quality data (salinity and temperature) were collected at two depths in the water column.

    Salinity stations: Salinity stations included the collection of water level, salinity, and temperature. Two of these stations were located out in the open-water boundary of the Gulf of Mexico in order to provide tidal information for the TIME model. Salinity and temperature data were collected at one or two depths, depending on site location.

    Data Analysis: Discharge data was computed using established area and velocity ratings and provided to TIME model and other researchers in the best usable format for its use within the model and/or ecological research within the area.

    Date: 2003 (process 2 of 7)
    Hydrologic modeling of estuaries within the southwest coast of Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Cape Romano-Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve.

    Work planned for FY 2003 includes:

    1. Maintaining 11 to 13 monitoring stations at rivers and bays within the estuaries of the southwest coast of Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Cape Romano-Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve. These stations include North River, Shark River, Broad River, Lostman’s River, Chatham River, New River, Lopez River, Turner River, Barron River/Canal, two open-water stations in the Gulf of Mexico, ENP boundary markers near Shark Point and the mouth of Chatham River, and possibly two rivers within the Cape Romano-Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve.

    2. Continue with ADCP discharge measurements for the development of velocity calibration ratings for the computation of discharge at instrumented coastal rivers.

    3. Continue QA/QC of all field data.

    4. Begin uploading data on the SOFIA web page and make it available to all researchers.

    5. Arrange for data transfer from Tampa for data collected during 1996-2000.

    6. If funding becomes available, construct and instrument monitoring stations within the Ten Thousand Islands Preserve.

    Date: 2004 (process 3 of 7)
    FY2003 planned work includes:

    1. Maintain and operate the Bottle Creek monitoring station at Rookery Branch.

    2. Begin ADCP discharge measurements for the development of velocity calibration ratings for the computation of discharge at Bottle Creek and adjacent creeks.

    3.Continue QA/QC of all field data.

    4. Begin uploading data on the SOFIA web page and make it available to all researchers.

    Date: 2006 (process 4 of 7)
    Local elevation surveys at all monitoring stations (coastal and wetland)

    This task is designed to establish elevation ties between 22 monitoring gage-house measuring points and reference marks (RM’s) installed for obtaining NAVD-88 datum with GPS instrumentation.

    Planned FY 2003 work includes:

    1. Install stable reference marks nearby all monitoring stations.

    2. Run elevation surveys from the RM’s into the gage-houses.

    3. Apply (or provide to ENP) necessary correction for the transfer of NAVD-88 datum elevations to gage-houses, whenever NAVD-88 datum is established on the RM’s and made available.

    Date: 2005 (process 5 of 7)
    Hydrologic monitoring of estuaries within the southwest coast of Everglades National Park

    Work planned for FY 2004 includes:

    a) Maintain 11 monitoring stations at rivers and bays within the estuaries of the southwest coast of Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. These stations include North River, Shark River, Broad River, Lostman’s River, Chatham River, New River, Lopez River, Turner River, Barron River/Canal, and two open-water stations in the Gulf of Mexico, ENP boundary markers near Shark Point and the mouth of Chatham River.

    b) Continue with ADCP discharge measurements for the development and verification of velocity calibration ratings for the computation of discharge at instrumented coastal rivers.

    c) Continue QA/QC of all field data.

    d) Upload data on the SOFIA web page to make it available to all researchers.

    2. Continue local elevation surveys at all monitoring stations

    a) Install stable reference marks near all 18 remaining USGS and ENP monitoring stations.

    b) Run elevation surveys from the Reference Marks (RM) into the gage-houses.

    c) Apply (or provide to ENP) necessary correction for the transfer of NAVD-88 datum elevations to gage-houses, whenever NAVD-88 datum is established on the RM’s and made available.

    Date: 2005 (process 6 of 7)
    Work planned for FY 2005 includes:

    1. Hydrologic monitoring of estuaries within the southwest coast of Everglades National Park

    a) Maintain 11 monitoring stations at rivers and bays within the estuaries of the southwest coast of Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. These stations include North River, Shark River, Broad River, Lostman’s River, Chatham River, New River, Lopez River, Turner River, Barron River/Canal, and two open-water stations in the Gulf of Mexico, ENP boundary markers near Shark Point and the mouth of Chatham River

    b) Continue with ADCP discharge measurements for the development and verification of velocity calibration ratings for the computation of discharge at instrumented coastal rivers

    c) Continue QA/QC of all field data

    d) Complete upload of WY-2001 thru WY-2003 to SOFIA

    e) Compute and process all hydrologic data for WY-2004

    f) Begin analysis of all available data for the description of flow and salinitiy patterns of rivers and estuaries along the southwest coast of ENP, including the use of available ata filters for the calculation of NET discharges at all flow sites within the study area

    2. Local elevation surveys at all monitoring stations

    a) Install stable reference marks near 2 of the 4 remaining USGS monitoring stations: Chatham River near the Watson Place and Lopez River near Camp Site

    b) Run elevation surveys from the RM's into the gage-houses

    c) Apply necessary datum corrections to stage records, as NAVD-88 datum is established on the RM's and made available

    Date: Not complete (process 7 of 7)
    Work planned for FY 2006 includes:

    1. Hydrologic monitoring of estuaries within the southwest coast of Everglades National Park

    a) Maintain 11 monitoring stations at rivers and bays within the estuaries of the southwest coast of Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. These stations include North River, Shark River, Broad River, Lostman’s River, Chatham River, New River, Lopez River, Turner River, Barron River/Canal, and two open-water stations in the Gulf of Mexico, ENP boundary markers near Shark Point and the mouth of Chatham River

    b) Install a new station near Onion Key Bay to determine flow contributions from northwestern bays to outgoing discharges at the Lostman's River station

    c) Continue with ADCP discharge measurements for the development and verification of velocity calibration ratings for the computation of discharge at instrumented coastal rivers

    d) Continue QA/QC of all field data

    e) Compute, process, and publish all hydrologic data for WY-2005

    f) Continue analysis of all available data for the description of flow and salinity patterns of rivers and estuaries along the southwest coast of ENP, including the use of available data filters for the calculation of "residual" discharges at all flow sites within the study area

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Eduardo Patino
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Hydrologist
    1400 Colonial Blvd., Suite 70, Royal Palm Square
    Ft. Myers, FL 33907
    USA

    239 275-8448 ext. 11 (voice)
    239 275-6820 (FAX)
    epatino@usgs.gov

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    Patino, Eduardo, 1996, Feasibility of using acoustic velocity meters for estimating highly organic suspended-solids concentrations in streams: USGS Open-File Report 96-137, U.S. Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL.

    Online Links:


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    All horizontal positions established in FY 2000 and after with the use of GPS instruments.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Stage data at the New River and Turner River sites are referenced to the local datum. All others are referenced to NAVD-88. NAVD-88 datum corrected for Broad River, Chatham River, Lopez River, and Lostmans River sites.

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Data for the ENP boundary marker near Chatham River mouth and the ENP boundary marker near Shark Point sites are not yet available.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Data collected at all flow sites (Chatham River near the Watson Place, Lostman's River below Second Bay, Broad River near the Cutoff, Shark River near Gunboat Island, and North River upstream of the Cutoff) include continuous (15-minute interval) measurements of stage, water velocity, salinity, and temperature and periodic measurements of discharge for index velocity calibrations. All raw data at flow sites were recorded by an electronic data logger and transmitted every 4 hours via the Geostationary Operations Environmental Satellite (GOES) into the database of the USGS Center for Water and Restoration Studies in Miami, FL. Data collection at non-flow sites (Barron River at Everglades City, Turner River near Chokoloskee Island, Lopez Island near campsite, New River at Sunday Bay, ENP boundary marker near Chatham River mouth, and ENP boundary marker near Shark Point) included continuous (15-minute interval) measurements of stage, salinity, and temperature, Raw data at Turner River, Lopez River, and New River were recorded by an electronic data logger and transmitted every 4 hours via the GOES into the database of hte USGS Center for Water and Restoration Studies in Miami, FL. Raw data at Barron River, ENP boundary marker near Chatham Rover mouth, and the ENP boundary marker near Shark Point) were recorded by an electronic data logger and manually stored in the database of the USGS Center for Water and Restoration Studies in Miami, FL.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none
Use_Constraints: none

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    Heather S.Henkel
    U.S. Geological Survey
    600 Fourth St. South
    St. Petersburg, FL 33701
    USA

    727 803-8747 ext 3028 (voice)
    727 803-2030 (FAX)
    hhenkel@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Hydrology Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    The data have no explicit or implied guarantees.

  4. How can I download or order the data?


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 17-Sep-2007
Metadata author:
Heather Henkel
U.S. Geological Survey
600 Fourth Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
USA

727 803-8747 ext 3028 (voice)
727 803-2030 (FAX)
sofia-metadata@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)


This page is <http://sofia.usgs.gov/metadata/sflwww/sw_coast_mon_04.faq.html>

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather Henkel - Webmaster
Generated by mp version 2.8.18 on Wed Sep 19 18:22:17 2007