An examination of flows to Joe Bay, a small embayment on the north-eastern shores of Florida Bay, has provided baseline information on current spatial and temporal water deliveries prior to restoration modifications. Understanding the existing complex water delivery system and the effects the system has on Everglades hydrology will provide a necessary benchmark against which to measure restoration success.

The study was initiated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in May 1999 to estimate creek flow to Joe Bay and determine the relative amounts derived from Taylor Slough and overflow from the C-111 Canal. It's important to understand the source of freshwater to Joe Bay before it enters Florida Bay. Taylor Slough transports freshwater to north-eastern Florida Bay from the northwest while overflow from the C-111 Canal provides freshwater to northeastern Florida Bay from the north-east. Joe Bay receives part of the freshwater from each of these sources via sheetflow and small estuarine creeks, and subsequently discharges southward to northeastern Florida Bay via Trout Creek.

Trout Creek contributes approximately 50 percent of the total freshwater to northeastern Florida Bay (Hittle 2001). Eight non-gaged creeks entering Joe Bay were selected for acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements. The ADCP discharge measurement were correlated with computed real-time discharge measurements from nearby USGS flow stations.

Acoustic Methods

ADCP "Rio Grande"	Example of ADCP output: Discharge equals 221 ft/s at Joe Bay 8W
Discharge measurement at Trout Creek using ADCP to calibrate acoustical velocity meters	Side-looking Doppler used to collect real velocity information

Joe Bay ADCP Surveys

Regression analysis was used to estimate flow at Joe Bay creeks from June 1999 to April 2000. The R² values for the estimated flow ranged between 0.51 and 0.93. From June 1999 to April 2000, flow volumes to eastern and western Joe Bay equaled 7.3 x 10⁷ m³ and 5.5 x 10⁷ m³ respectively; flow into eastern Joe Bay was 25 percent greater than flow into western Joe Bay.

Maximum freshwater discharge to Florida Bay occurred on September 21, 1999 (Tropical Storm Harvey) and October 15, 1999 (Hurricane Irene). Flow into western Joe Bay (3.4 x 10⁷ m³) during the storms was 21 percent greater than flow into eastern Joe Bay (2.4 x 10⁷ m³). However, dry season flow (January - April 2000) into eastern Joe Bay (2.6 x 10⁷ m³) which was supplied primarily by the C-111 Canal, was much greater than flow into western Joe Bay (0.25 X 10⁷ m³). Thus, the total flow into eastern Joe Bay exceeded total flow into western Joe Bay, even though western Joe Bay received more freshwater during storm events. During the storms, the S-197 structure was opened to allow the C-111 Canal to discharge outside of Florida Bay. This reduced the overflow from the C-111 Canal to both Joe Bay and northeastern Florida Bay.

Joe Bay Salinity and Flow Observations

Mean Daily Salinity in Joe Bay 1999-2002

Daily Mean Discharge and Salinity at Joe Bay 8W 1999-2000

Daily Mean Discharge and Salinity at Joe Bay 2E 1999-2000

Daily Mean Discharge and Salinity at Joe Bay 1E 1999-2000

Collection of Salinity data following Tropical Storm Harvey and Hurricane Irene September 20, 1999 - December 31, 1999

Using USGS monitoring stations to Estimate Joe Bay Mangrove Creeks (Joe Bay 8W ADCP Meas. (cfs) vs. Mud Creek (cfs))

Using USGS monitoring stations to Estimate Joe Bay Mangrove Creeks (Joe Bay 2E ADCP Meas. (cfs) vs. Stillwater Creek (cfs))

Using USGS monitoring stations to Estimate Joe Bay Mangrove Creeks (Joe Bay 1E vs. Stillwater Creek)

Water Budget Results

Study Area Summary Map	Sept. 22, 1999 -Nov. 30, 1999 "Storm Runoff"
June 1, 1999 to Sept. 21, 1999 "Water Management"	Dec. 1, 1999 to Apr. 30, 2000 "Dry Season Flows"

For more information		Additional information can be found at:
contact:	write to:
Clinton Hittle - cdhittle@usgs.gov Mark Zucker - mzucker@usgs.gov Grant Poole - gpoole@usgs.gov	U.S. Geological Survey 9100 NW 36th St. Suite 107 Miami, FL 33178 305-717-5815	http://sofia.usgs.gov

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Related Projects:

• Freshwater Flows into Northeastern Florida Bay