Distribution and Occurrence of Nitrate-Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus in the Water Resources of the Suwannee River Water Management District David Hornsby Dissertation Proposal May 27 th, 2005

Objectives To determine the distribution and occurrences of nitrate-N and total phosphorus in the SRWMD Define the influence on water quality and quantity due to the interaction of ground and surface water in the Suwannee River basin Define ground water basins in the SRWMD Integration of the findings with landuse/landcover to assess influence on water quality

Hypothesis Impacts on the occurrence and distribution of nitrate-N and total phosphorus in the water resources of the Suwannee River Water Management District can be attributed to landuse/landcover

Floridan Aquifer System

Karst Terrain formed by the dissolution of underlying limestoneTerrain formed by the dissolution of underlying limestone Internal Drainage: SW=GWInternal Drainage: SW=GW Characterized by caves, caverns, sinkholes, sinking streams, springs, etc.Characterized by caves, caverns, sinkholes, sinking streams, springs, etc.

Sinking Streams

Underwater Caves

Springs

Floridan Aquifer System Confined Unconfined

Aquifer Vulnerability

Physiographic Provinces Cody Scarp

Karst Features

Water Movement Provide by Karst Productions

Suwannee River Basin Total Area 9,950 Square Miles Georgia Florida

Surfacewater Quality Monitoring Network

Nitrate-N Trends Suwannee River Increasing trend for Nitrate-N concentration in Suwannee River at Branford, FloridaSuwannee River Increasing trend for Nitrate-N concentration in Suwannee River at Branford, Florida Santa Fe River Data from the Surfacewater Quality Monitoring shows an increase in Nitrate-N concentrations in the Lower Santa Fe RiverSanta Fe River Data from the Surfacewater Quality Monitoring shows an increase in Nitrate-N concentrations in the Lower Santa Fe River

High/Low Flow High/Low Flow Nitrate-N S.R. at Gopher R. Fowler's Bluff Wilcox Rock Bluff Branford Luraville Dowling Park Ellaville S.R. Above Withla. Suw.Springs White Spring S.R. at SR 6 NOx-N (mg/L) June 1998 (Low) March 1998 (High) Georgia Gulf of Mexico

Troy Springs First Magnitude Nov-60 Oct-73 Nov-92 Jun-93 Jul-93 Aug-93 Sep-93 Jun-94 Sep-94 Jun-95 Jul-95 Aug-95 Sep-95 Jun-96 Jul-96 Aug-96 Jun-97 Jul-97 Sep-97 Jun-98 Jul-98 Aug-98 NOx-N (mg/L) USGSFGSSRWMD

WARN - Groundwater Quality Network Trend Wells Status Wells

Suwannee Basin Nitrate-N and TP Loads By Basin 23.8% 23.7% 0.8% 54.1% 0.7% 8.9% 15.5% 5.9% 34.4% 10.8% -4.6% -8.3% -1.6% -10.0% Total Loadings for Water year ,485 tons Nitrate-N 1,627 tons TP 18.9% -3.7% 12.2% 18.5%

0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 Suw Laf Gil Ala Col Union Mad Levy Jef Brad Ham Taylor Dixie Pounds of N per Year Estimated Annual Nitrogen Inputs SRWMD

Beef Cows 5.8% Dairy Cows 5.4% Poultry 34.1% People 1.0% Fertilizer 48.9% Atmospheric 4.8% Estimated Nitrogen Inputs Suwannee County Total 28,992,636 pounds of N

Example

Suwannee Columbia Baker Union Potentiometric Surface Map

Potentiometric Surface September

Groundwater Domains

Spring and Inner Basin Groundwater Quality

Outcomes/Products Temporal and spatial distribution of nitrate-N and total phosphorus. GIS coverage of groundwater basins with landuse/landcover. A comparison of water quality to landuse/landcover by groundwater basin. A correlation of landuse/landcover in groundwater basins to water quality. Impacts of landuse/landcover on the ground and surface water quality in the middle Suwannee and lower Santa Fe rivers. Develop a ranking of landuse/landcover to ground and surface water quality.

Acknowledgments Committee Dr. Donald Graetz (Chair) Dr. Tom Obreza Dr. Vimala Nair Dr. Wendy Graham Assistance Suwannee River Water Management District