Caloosahatchee Water Quality Dashboard
Updated: August 04, 2021
Please note this analysis is for informational purposes only and subject to change.
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S-79 lock. Source: Leah Reidenbach, SCCF.
Basin Information
The Caloosahatchee Basin in its entirity encompassess aproximately 860 thousand acres (3,470 square kilometers) across three counties (Lee, Hendry and Glades). The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has divided the Caloosahatchee basin into five planning units: East Caloosahatchee, West Caloosahatchee, Orange River, Telegraph Swamp and Caloosahatchee Estuary (Figure 1; Bailey et al. 2009). East and West Caloosahatchee are located upstream of the S-79 structure (see map below) between the S-79 and S-77 (Lake Okeechobee). Meanwhile the Orange River, Telegraph Swamp, and the Caloosahatchee Estuary planning units are located downstream of the S-79 (Figure 2). Each planning unit is composed of a series of sub-basins idenified with waterbody idenfication numbers (WBIDs). All of these sub-basins except for one are classified as Class III (Designated use: fishable and swimmable) water bodies. The exception is the Class I (Designated use: drinking water) sub-basin immediately upstream of the S-79 structure (WBID: 3235A) which extends to the Lee-Hendry county line.
Water Quality Impairments
Water quality impairments in the Tidal Caloosahathcee River and Tributaries were verified as an impaired waterbody due to low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and high chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) presumably caused by high total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) or biochemical oxygen demand (i.e. causative pollutants) concentrations determined during the Cycle 1 assessment (2005) (Table 1). Since this inital assessment, these basins have been verified as impaired for un-ionized ammonia (WBID 3240A) and iron (WBIDs 3240B and 3240C) Verified List. Since the Cycle 1, Cylce 2 and Cycle 3 impairment verification assessments and the establishment of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), estuary numeric nutrient criteria have also been developed specifically for this estuary (62-302.532(1)(d) Florida Administrative Code (FAC), Table 2 below). An interactive map for all FDEP adopted numeric nutrient criteria can be found at this link.
| WBID |
Waterbody Segment |
Waterbody Type |
Parameters Identified |
Concentration Causing Impairment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3240A | Tidal Caloosahatchee (Lower) | Estuary (III) | Nutrients (Chl-a) | Median TN = 0.83mg L¹ |
| 3240B | Tidal Caloosahatchee (Middle) | Estuary (III) | Nutrients (Chl-a) | Median TN = 0.85mg L¹ |
| 3240C | Tidal Caloosahatchee (Upper) | Stream (III) | Nutrients (Chl-a) | Median TN = 1.105mg L¹ |
| Note: | ||||
| 1 Cycle 1 verification period includes data from January 1, 1997 through June 30, 2004. |
|
Estuary/Segment |
Total Phosphorous (mg L⁻¹) ᵃ |
Total Nitrogen |
Chlorphyll-A (μg L⁻¹) ᵃ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Caloosahatchee River Estuary | 0.086 | See 62-304.800(2) FAC | 4.2 |
| Middle Caloosahatchee River Estuary | 0.055 | See 62-304.800(2) FAC | 6.5 |
| Lower Caloosahatchee River Estuary | 0.040 | See 62-304.800(2) FAC | 5.6 |
| Note: | |||
| a As Long-Term (5-Yr) average. | |||
| b 62-304.800(2) | |||
|
* This information is up-to-date as of April 2019 and is subject to change pending revisions to Florida Administrative Code. For the most up-to-date information please follow this link. |
Water Quality Data
Presented below is grab sample water quality data (collected approximately monthly) retrieved from the South Florida Water Management online environmental database (DBHYDRO). Data presented includes total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll-A (Chl-A), dissolved oxygen (DO) and salinity. The top row of plots show individual samples collected across a period of record. The bottom row of plots depict annually average data based on the Florida water (May to April), TP, TN and Chl-A are expressed as geometric mean (GM) concentrations while DO and salinity are expressed as arithmetic mean concentration. In addition to annual GM concentration a five-WY mean is also shown for TP, TN and Chl-A. The dissolved oxygen water quality standard (WQS) is identified for each station and a determination of achievement or exceedance of the WQS for each year is identified. Dissolved Oxygen WQS evaluation is consistent with 62-302.533 FAC and the associated technical support document.
Each tab presented data from sites along the Caloosahatchee River Estuary including the S-79.
CES08
WBID: 3240A (Lower Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
CES07
WBID: 3240A (Lower Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
CES06
WBID: 3240A (Lower Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
CES05
WBID: 3240A (Lower Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
CES04
WBID: 3240B (Middle Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
CES03
WBID: 3240C (Upper Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
CES02
WBID: 3240C (Upper Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
S79
WBID: 3240C (Upper Caloosahatchee River Estuary) 
Reference
- Bailey, N., W. Magley, J. Mandrup-Poulsen, K O’Donnell, R. Peets (2009) Final TMDL Report. Nutrient TMDL for the Caloosahatchee Estuary (WBIDs 3240A, 3240B and 3240C). Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Tallahassee, Florida. pdf link.
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