ABSTRACT Blind Pass is an inlet that separates Sanibel and Captiva Islands in southwest Florida b... more ABSTRACT Blind Pass is an inlet that separates Sanibel and Captiva Islands in southwest Florida but has historically closed and opened by both anthropogenic and natural processes. In July 2010, a dredging project to open the small inlet between the two barrier islands was completed. The objective of this study was to use and supplement ongoing estuary-monitoring programs to examine the responses of water quality, seagrass habitat metrics, and fish assemblages both in the immediate vicinity of the inlet and at broader scales (up to 40 km2). As far as we are aware, there are no previous studies with this intensity of sampling, both before and after an inlet opening. Significant increases in salinity and turbidity were observed inside Blind Pass, with significant decreases in CDOM and chlorophyll a, however, the effects were not far-reaching and limited to less than 1.7 km from the inlet within Pine Island Sound. Seagrass habitat metrics were expected to respond rapidly after the inlet was opened given the reduced light attenuation. However, there were no changes in shoot densities, species composition, and epiphytic algae within the approximately one-year duration of the study. The reopening of the pass did not substantially change fish assemblage structure, except for those from deeper habitats. Although immediate increases in the abundances of estuarine-dependent species were predicted in shallow habitats post opening, this did not occur. In conclusion, the effects of reopening a relatively small ocean inlet on water quality were apparent in the immediate vicinity of the inlet (within 1.7 km), but far-reaching effects on water quality, seagrass metrics, and fish assemblages were not immediately apparent in this well-flushed estuary. If subtle changes in tidal exchange and circulation affect productivity of seagrasses or its fish assemblages at broad scales, it may take several years to reach a steady state.
RA Batiuk, P Bergstrom, M Kemp, E Koch, L Murray, J Cout Stevenson, R Bartleson, V Carter, NB Ryb... more RA Batiuk, P Bergstrom, M Kemp, E Koch, L Murray, J Cout Stevenson, R Bartleson, V Carter, NB Rybicki, JM Landwehr, C Gallegos, L Karrh, M Naylor, D Wilcox, KA Moore, S Ailstock, M Teichberg CBP/TRS 245:0000, 2000.
Ecosystem Modeling Program Final Report -2-Executive Summary During the 1998-1999 funding year, o... more Ecosystem Modeling Program Final Report -2-Executive Summary During the 1998-1999 funding year, our ecosystem modeling activities have focused on several objectives which were established to identify strategies for enhancing Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) modeling and ...
NOTE: If you have problems opening the file, save the document to your computer and then try open... more NOTE: If you have problems opening the file, save the document to your computer and then try opening it.
Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littora... more Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littoral Ecosystem Process Model; Lower Chesapeake Bay Polyhaline Sav Model; Emergent Intertidal Marsh Process Model; Plankton-Benthos Ecosystem Process Model; Fish Bioenergetics Models; Linking Water Quality with Fish Habitat; Data Visualization; Publications and Scientific Presentations Resulting From This Research.
In 2018, the presence of bottom water hypoxia along the SW Florida coast was investigated during ... more In 2018, the presence of bottom water hypoxia along the SW Florida coast was investigated during a bloom of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. The bloom was first detected in November 2017. Monitoring of oxygen levels and bloom densities were carried out in 2018 and 2019 using sampling grids. Vertical profiles indicated a pycnocline at 3–4 m where warmer, lower salinity water was at the surface, while the deeper hypoxic layer was colder with higher salinity. There were significantly higher abundances of K. brevis in the surface water compared to the hypoxic bottom water in September 2018. At two fixed sites dissolved oxygen was measured continuously showing hypoxic conditions during that month. Geospatial analysis of vertical profile data yielded an estimate that the hypoxic layer covered an area of at least 655 km2. The possible influences of red tides on hypoxic conditions along the coast of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and are discussed within the context of the 2018 K. brevi...
Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littora... more Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littoral Ecosystem Process Model; Lower Chesapeake Bay Polyhaline Sav Model; Emergent Intertidal Marsh Process Model; Plankton-Benthos Ecosystem Process Model; Fish Bioenergetics Models; Linking Water Quality with Fish Habitat; Data Visualization; Publications and Scientific Presentations Resulting From This Research.
To determine if local onsite treatment systems affect nearshore water quality, seasonal and rain ... more To determine if local onsite treatment systems affect nearshore water quality, seasonal and rain event monitoring of bacteria and nitrogen was conducted on the Gulf and estuary sides of Captiva Island. Monitoring wells were used to examine the relationship between surface water and groundwater quality. Nitrates were found to be significantly greater in ground water samples from the areas of Captiva using onsite treatment compared to areas with sewer. However, groundwater enterococci were no greater in areas with onsite treatment. Surface water nitrogen was significantly greater near onsite systems than areas with sewer, linking groundwater and surface water quality. Surface water enterococci increased significantly after rain events. Study results indicated stormwater runoff disperses indicator bacteria from diffuse terrestrial sources into nearshore waters, elevating the concentrations. This study reveals local onsite treatment systems produce elevated surface water nitrogen levels but do not contribute to elevated indicator bacteria concentrations in this system.
Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 1993
ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in G... more ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in Georgia has resulted in significant changes in salinities influencing marsh community changes. The tide gate is directly responsible for a 2 to 6 mile upstream displacement of salt water in the river. In the marsh, soil salinities ranged from 0.0 ppt at upstream sites to 12 ppt at downstream sites when the tide gate was in operation. Within two months of taking the tide gate out of operation, interstitial salinities at the downstream sites dropped to 4 ppt. Influences of the tide gate on marsh vegetation were modeled in a geographic information system. With the tide gate out of operation, the model predicts that freshwater marsh would increase in area by 340 percent.
Journal of The American Water Resources Association, 1993
ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in G... more ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in Georgia has resulted in signifi-cant changes in salinities influencing marsh community changes. The tide gate is directly responsible for a 2 to 6 mile upstream dis-placement of ...
ABSTRACT Blind Pass is an inlet that separates Sanibel and Captiva Islands in southwest Florida b... more ABSTRACT Blind Pass is an inlet that separates Sanibel and Captiva Islands in southwest Florida but has historically closed and opened by both anthropogenic and natural processes. In July 2010, a dredging project to open the small inlet between the two barrier islands was completed. The objective of this study was to use and supplement ongoing estuary-monitoring programs to examine the responses of water quality, seagrass habitat metrics, and fish assemblages both in the immediate vicinity of the inlet and at broader scales (up to 40 km2). As far as we are aware, there are no previous studies with this intensity of sampling, both before and after an inlet opening. Significant increases in salinity and turbidity were observed inside Blind Pass, with significant decreases in CDOM and chlorophyll a, however, the effects were not far-reaching and limited to less than 1.7 km from the inlet within Pine Island Sound. Seagrass habitat metrics were expected to respond rapidly after the inlet was opened given the reduced light attenuation. However, there were no changes in shoot densities, species composition, and epiphytic algae within the approximately one-year duration of the study. The reopening of the pass did not substantially change fish assemblage structure, except for those from deeper habitats. Although immediate increases in the abundances of estuarine-dependent species were predicted in shallow habitats post opening, this did not occur. In conclusion, the effects of reopening a relatively small ocean inlet on water quality were apparent in the immediate vicinity of the inlet (within 1.7 km), but far-reaching effects on water quality, seagrass metrics, and fish assemblages were not immediately apparent in this well-flushed estuary. If subtle changes in tidal exchange and circulation affect productivity of seagrasses or its fish assemblages at broad scales, it may take several years to reach a steady state.
RA Batiuk, P Bergstrom, M Kemp, E Koch, L Murray, J Cout Stevenson, R Bartleson, V Carter, NB Ryb... more RA Batiuk, P Bergstrom, M Kemp, E Koch, L Murray, J Cout Stevenson, R Bartleson, V Carter, NB Rybicki, JM Landwehr, C Gallegos, L Karrh, M Naylor, D Wilcox, KA Moore, S Ailstock, M Teichberg CBP/TRS 245:0000, 2000.
Ecosystem Modeling Program Final Report -2-Executive Summary During the 1998-1999 funding year, o... more Ecosystem Modeling Program Final Report -2-Executive Summary During the 1998-1999 funding year, our ecosystem modeling activities have focused on several objectives which were established to identify strategies for enhancing Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) modeling and ...
NOTE: If you have problems opening the file, save the document to your computer and then try open... more NOTE: If you have problems opening the file, save the document to your computer and then try opening it.
Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littora... more Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littoral Ecosystem Process Model; Lower Chesapeake Bay Polyhaline Sav Model; Emergent Intertidal Marsh Process Model; Plankton-Benthos Ecosystem Process Model; Fish Bioenergetics Models; Linking Water Quality with Fish Habitat; Data Visualization; Publications and Scientific Presentations Resulting From This Research.
In 2018, the presence of bottom water hypoxia along the SW Florida coast was investigated during ... more In 2018, the presence of bottom water hypoxia along the SW Florida coast was investigated during a bloom of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. The bloom was first detected in November 2017. Monitoring of oxygen levels and bloom densities were carried out in 2018 and 2019 using sampling grids. Vertical profiles indicated a pycnocline at 3–4 m where warmer, lower salinity water was at the surface, while the deeper hypoxic layer was colder with higher salinity. There were significantly higher abundances of K. brevis in the surface water compared to the hypoxic bottom water in September 2018. At two fixed sites dissolved oxygen was measured continuously showing hypoxic conditions during that month. Geospatial analysis of vertical profile data yielded an estimate that the hypoxic layer covered an area of at least 655 km2. The possible influences of red tides on hypoxic conditions along the coast of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and are discussed within the context of the 2018 K. brevi...
Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littora... more Contents: Ecosystem models for management; Ecosystem regession models; Patuxent River Sav-Littoral Ecosystem Process Model; Lower Chesapeake Bay Polyhaline Sav Model; Emergent Intertidal Marsh Process Model; Plankton-Benthos Ecosystem Process Model; Fish Bioenergetics Models; Linking Water Quality with Fish Habitat; Data Visualization; Publications and Scientific Presentations Resulting From This Research.
To determine if local onsite treatment systems affect nearshore water quality, seasonal and rain ... more To determine if local onsite treatment systems affect nearshore water quality, seasonal and rain event monitoring of bacteria and nitrogen was conducted on the Gulf and estuary sides of Captiva Island. Monitoring wells were used to examine the relationship between surface water and groundwater quality. Nitrates were found to be significantly greater in ground water samples from the areas of Captiva using onsite treatment compared to areas with sewer. However, groundwater enterococci were no greater in areas with onsite treatment. Surface water nitrogen was significantly greater near onsite systems than areas with sewer, linking groundwater and surface water quality. Surface water enterococci increased significantly after rain events. Study results indicated stormwater runoff disperses indicator bacteria from diffuse terrestrial sources into nearshore waters, elevating the concentrations. This study reveals local onsite treatment systems produce elevated surface water nitrogen levels but do not contribute to elevated indicator bacteria concentrations in this system.
Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 1993
ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in G... more ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in Georgia has resulted in significant changes in salinities influencing marsh community changes. The tide gate is directly responsible for a 2 to 6 mile upstream displacement of salt water in the river. In the marsh, soil salinities ranged from 0.0 ppt at upstream sites to 12 ppt at downstream sites when the tide gate was in operation. Within two months of taking the tide gate out of operation, interstitial salinities at the downstream sites dropped to 4 ppt. Influences of the tide gate on marsh vegetation were modeled in a geographic information system. With the tide gate out of operation, the model predicts that freshwater marsh would increase in area by 340 percent.
Journal of The American Water Resources Association, 1993
ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in G... more ABSTRACT Construction of a tide gate at the mouth of the north channel of the Savannah River in Georgia has resulted in signifi-cant changes in salinities influencing marsh community changes. The tide gate is directly responsible for a 2 to 6 mile upstream dis-placement of ...
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