STATUS AND TRENDS OF 

WATER QUALITY IN THE 

NORTHERN COASTAL BASIN 

Jan D. Miller 

Division of Environmental Sciences 

Department of Water Resources

St. Johns River Water Management District 

Palatka, FL 32177 
The Environmental Sciences Division of the Department of Water Resources, St. Johns 

River Water Management District, has reviewed this report. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District i 

STATUS AND TRENDS OF 

WATER QUALITY IN THE 

NORTHERN COASTAL BASIN 

In cooperation with: 

Palm Coast Community Service Corp. 

SJRWMD 

St. Johns County 

Volusia County 

Suggested citation of this report: 

Miller, J.D. 2004. Status and trends of water quality in the Northern Coastal Basin. 

 St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL 124 pp. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District ii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The author would like to thank the following individuals for their support of the Northern 

Coastal Basin Water Quality Assessment Program: 

Mrs. Stacy Kowlsen and the staff of the 

St. Johns County Environmental and Utility Laboratory 

Mr. Jack Rawlins and the staff of the 

Volusia County Environmental and Health Laboratory 

Mr. John Moden, Palm Coast Community Service Corporation 

Dr. Gilbert C. Sigua, PhD, USDA 

Staff of St. Johns River Water Management District 

Watershed Action Volunteers 

M.M. Fisher, M.A. Lasi, and J.S. Steward for their assistance 

 in reviewing this manuscript
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................ii 

TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................................................................iii 

LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................ v

LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................vi 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 1 

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 7 

Project Area ......................................................................................................................7 

METHODS ......................................................................................................................... 11 

Water Quality Assessment in the NCB...........................................................................11 

Data Analysis..................................................................................................................15 

RESULTS ........................................................................................................................... 17 

I. WATER QUALITY STATUS ...............................................................................17 

A. Tolomato - Matanzas Estuary ...............................................................................17 

Physical Measurements...........................................................................................17 

Salinity ................................................................................................................17 

pH........................................................................................................................17 

Dissolved Oxygen...............................................................................................20 

Water Clarity...........................................................................................................20 

Turbidity .............................................................................................................20 

Total Suspended Solids.......................................................................................20 

Chlorophyll a ......................................................................................................20 

Color ...................................................................................................................21 

Nutrients..................................................................................................................21 

Total Nitrogen.....................................................................................................21 

Total Phosphorus ................................................................................................21 

Trophic Status .....................................................................................................22 

B. Flagler County Waterways....................................................................................23 

Physical Measurements...........................................................................................23 

Salinity ................................................................................................................23 

pH........................................................................................................................23 

Dissolved Oxygen...............................................................................................26 

Water Clarity...........................................................................................................26 

Turbidity .............................................................................................................26 

Total Suspended Solids.......................................................................................26 

Chlorophyll a ......................................................................................................27 

Color ...................................................................................................................27 

Nutrients..................................................................................................................28 

Total Nitrogen.....................................................................................................28 

Total Phosphorus ................................................................................................28 

Trophic Status .....................................................................................................29 

C. Halifax River Watershed.......................................................................................30 

Physical Measurements...........................................................................................30 

Salinity ................................................................................................................30 

pH........................................................................................................................34 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District iv

Dissolved Oxygen...............................................................................................35 

Water Clarity...........................................................................................................35 

Turbidity .............................................................................................................35 

Total Suspended Solids.......................................................................................36 

Chlorophyll a ......................................................................................................37 

Color ...................................................................................................................38 

Nutrients..................................................................................................................39 

Total Nitrogen.....................................................................................................39 

Total Phosphorus ................................................................................................40 

Trophic Status .....................................................................................................41 

D. Comparison of Water Bodies................................................................................43 

Physical Measurements...........................................................................................43 

Salinity ................................................................................................................43 

pH........................................................................................................................43 

Dissolved Oxygen...............................................................................................43 

Water Clarity...........................................................................................................43 

Turbidity .............................................................................................................43 

Total Suspended Solids.......................................................................................43 

Chlorophyll a ......................................................................................................44 

Color ...................................................................................................................44 

Nutrients..................................................................................................................44 

Total Nitrogen.....................................................................................................44 

Total Phosphorus ................................................................................................44 

Trophic Status .....................................................................................................44 

II. Bacterial Status .......................................................................................................47 

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 53

APPENDIX A..................................................................................................................... 55 

APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................... 71 

APPENDIX C ..................................................................................................................... 91 

APPENDIX D................................................................................................................... 111 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District v

LIST OF TABLES 

Page 

Table 1. Water quality monitoring stations in the Northern Coastal Basin.................... 13 

Table 2. Water column physical parameters for the Northern Coastal Basin Water 

Quality Assessment Program.......................................................................... 14 

Table 3. Water column (near-surface) chemical parameters for the Northern Coastal 

Basin Water Quality Assessment Program..................................................... 14 

Table 4. Tolomato-Matanzas water quality monitoring site descriptions....................... 19 

Table 5. Summary statistics of selected water quality parameters for the TolomatoMatanzas Estuary from 1997 to 2000. ............................................................ 19 

Table 6. Flagler County water quality monitoring site descriptions............................... 25 

Table 7. Summary statistics of selected water quality parameters for Flagler County for 

data from 1997 to 2000................................................................................... 25 

Table 8. Volusia County water quality monitoring site descriptions.............................. 32 

Table 9. Summary statistics of selected water quality parameters for Volusia County 

waterways for data from 1991 to 1999. .......................................................... 32 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District vi

LIST OF FIGURES 

Page 

Figure 1. The Northern Coastal project area showing sub basins and agency water 

quality monitoring sites..................................................................................... 8 

Figure 2. The Northern Coastal Basin project area showing the water quality monitoring 

sites in St. Johns, Flagler, and Volusia counties............................................. 12 

Figure 3. Water quality monitoring site locations in the Tolomato and Matanzas Rivers.

......................................................................................................................... 18 

Figure 4. Tolomato – Matanzas trophic state index for individual sites and for all sites 

combined for data from 1997 to 2000............................................................. 22 

Figure 5. Water quality monitoring site locations in Flagler County. ............................ 24 

Figure 6. Flagler County Water Quality Index (WQI) for individual freshwater sites and 

all sites combined............................................................................................ 29 

Figure 7. Water quality monitoring site locations in Volusia County. ........................... 31 

Figure 8. Halifax River Watershed Trophic State Index (TSI) for individual sites from 

1991 to 1999.. ................................................................................................. 41 

Figure 9. Tomoka River Water Quality Index for freshwater sites from 1991 to 1999. 42 

Figure 10. Trophic State Index of the estuarine water bodies in the Northern Coastal 

Basin.. ............................................................................................................. 45 

Figure 11. Water Quality Index of the freshwater water bodies in the Northern Coastal 

Basin... ............................................................................................................ 46 

Figure 12. Fecal coliform geomeans for sites in Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary from 1997 

to 2000 and a comparison with both the NSSP 14/43 and NSSP 88/260 

standards for shellfish harvesting in Class II waters....................................... 49 

Figure 13. Comparison of fecal and total coliforms at Pellicer Creek from 1997 to 2000 

with both the one-time fecal (800 MPN/100 ml) and total (2400 MPN/100 ml) 

coliform standards for Class III waters........................................................... 50 

Figure 14. Fecal (FC) and total coliform (TC) geomeans for Volusia County sites from 

1991 to 1999. Sites beginning with HL are estuarine sites. Sites beginning 

with RB, SC, or TR are tributary sites............................................................ 51 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 1 Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

The Northern Coastal Basin (NCB) project area extends nearly 100 miles along 

the east coast of Florida from Ponte Vedra in the north to Ponce de Leon Inlet in the 

south. It encompasses parts of three counties, St. Johns, Flagler, and Volusia, and several 

major estuarine systems and their tributaries. 

Water quality monitoring has been carried out on a monthly basis throughout the 

NCB in order to characterize water quality and identify water quality problems and 

trends. This report summarizes data collected between 1997 and 2000 for the Tolomato - 

Matanzas River estuary and Pellicer Creek and other Flagler County waterways and data 

collected between 1991 and 1999 in the Halifax River estuary and its tributaries in 

Volusia County. 

Tolomato –Matanzas Estuary 

The major estuarine system of St. Johns County is comprised of the Tolomato and 

Matanzas rivers. The Tolomato - Matanzas estuarine system showed pH (7.34 SI) within 

state standards (6.00 - 8.50 SI), good average dissolved oxygen (6.13 mg/L), low color 

(74 pcu), relatively high salinity (30.42 ppt), and low average chlorophyll a (4.40 μg/L). 

This system, as a whole, had high average total suspended solids (30.81 mg/L) and 

somewhat elevated turbidity (5.77 ntu), which likely reflect tributary loading, and bottom 

scouring and resuspension due to strong tidal current velocities. Mean total phosphorus 

concentration (0.12 mg/L) was elevated compared to other estuarine systems on the 

southeast Atlantic coast (NOAA 1996) and higher than the state median value of 0.07 

mg/L (FDEP 1996) but was quite similar to phosphorus concentrations found in the 

Mosquito Lagoon (0.10 mg/L) and the southern Indian River Lagoon (0.14 mg/L) (Sigua 

et al. 1999). Mean total nitrogen concentration (0.57 mg/L) would be classified as 

“Medium” (0.1 to <1 mg/L) by the criteria of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration Estuarine Eutrophication study (NOAA, 1996) and was lower than the 

state median concentration of 0.8 mg/L (FDEP 1996). 

 Average wet season (May to October) values exceeded dry season (November to 

April) values for all parameters except pH and DO. Salinity was highly positively 

correlated with pH, total suspended solids, and total phosphorus and highly negatively 

correlated with color, total nitrogen, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms. The 

relationship of high color, nitrogen, and coliforms with low salinity indicates that the 

source of these parameters could be freshwater discharges. System wide, average salinity 

has significantly increased over the period of record by 1.8 ppt per year (p<0.0001, 

R2

=0.12), perhaps in response to drought conditions in the region. 

Some individual sites exhibited significant trends of increasing or decreasing 

concentrations of some parameters, which were not realized for the system as a whole. 

The Matanzas River site near the SR312 bridge (MR312) showed an increase in total 

nitrogen from 1997 to 2000 of 0.08 mg/L/year. All sites in the Matanzas River showed a 

significant increase in pH over the period of record and the site at the confluence of 

Moultrie Creek and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) (MCICW) also showed a 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 2 Executive Summary

significant increase in chlorophyll a concentration. Spatially, there were no significant 

differences between sites for the following parameters: total phosphorus, total nitrogen, 

chlorophyll a, total suspended solids, and dissolved oxygen. For the parameters where 

significant spatial differences did occur, tributary sites had generally higher color and 

turbidity, and lower pH and salinity than the sites in the main stem of the estuary. Using 

a calculation developed by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) 

(1996) the Trophic State Index (TSI) of this water body is 43.02, which is classified as 

GOOD (0 to < 50) and additionally all individual sites were classified as GOOD. Several 

sites showed exceedance of Class II standards for bacteria levels. The Tolomato - 

Matanzas river estuary is fortunate, however, to have good tidal flushing and relatively 

low levels of urban development. 

Pellicer Creek and the Flagler County Waterways 

The waterways of Flagler County include Pellicer Creek, a major tributary to the 

Matanzas River, and several natural and man-made storm water drainage canals for the 

City of Palm Coast. In it’s middle reach at the U.S. 1 Bridge, Pellicer Creek, had pH 

(6.46 SI) within state standards, good average dissolved oxygen content (5.06 mg/L), 

high average color (236 pcu), low average salinity (1.70 ppt), average turbidity (3.55 

ntu), total suspended solids (2.48 mg/L), and average chlorophyll a concentration 

(6.27μg/L). Average total phosphorus concentration (0.12 mg/L) was lower than the 

other freshwater Flagler County sites but the same as in the Tolomato-Matanzas estuary, 

and considered “high” when compared to other southeast Atlantic estuaries (NOAA 

1996). Average total nitrogen concentration (0.94 mg/L) was considerably lower than the 

state median for fresh water (1.2 mg/L) but higher than in the Tolomato-Matanzas 

estuary. Pellicer Creek is likely a major source of total nitrogen flowing into the 

Matanzas River. Pellicer Creek (at a depth of collection of 0.5 meters) is considered to 

be fresh water (specific conductivity < 5,000 μmhos), therefore, the Water Quality Index 

(WQI) was calculated to be 53.2, which is classified as FAIR (45 to <60). 

There were no significant seasonal differences for any parameter except the dry 

season (November to April) average DO was greater than the wet season (May to 

October) average. Salinity in Pellicer Creek at U.S. 1 was highly positively correlated 

with pH and total coliforms and highly negatively correlated with color, total nitrogen, 

and DO. The average pH in Pellicer Creek showed a significantly increasing trend, rising 

0.40 SI per year. Both color and total nitrogen decreased significantly from 1997 to 

2000. 

 Of most concern was the realization that Pellicer Creek had high levels of fecal 

coliform (481.1 MPN/100 ml) and total coliform (1468.7 MPN/100 ml) calculated as 

geometric means, and are well above both the Class II shellfish harvesting criteria and the 

Class III freshwater or marine recreational criteria. It is not clear as to the source of these 

bacteria, or even if it is of human origin. Preliminary investigations into these questions 

have been undertaken and it is also recommended that additional study of Pellicer Creek 

and its watershed be considered. 

The remaining Flagler County sites, south of Pellicer Creek, had average pH 

within state standards, good average dissolved oxygen levels (5.44 mg/L) (Class III fresh 

water dissolved oxygen standard is 5 mg/L) and low turbidity (4.68 ntu) and total 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 3 Executive Summary

suspended solids (6.95 mg/L). They were also highly colored (177 pcu). Total 

phosphorus was elevated (0.15 mg/L), in the 60th percentile of freshwater streams and 

average total nitrogen concentration (1.33 mg/L) was high, which likely reflects the 

sluggish runoff from several swampy wetlands. The average WQI of 53.9 classified 

these water bodies combined as FAIR (45 to <60) with 7 sites classified as FAIR, 1 site 

classified as GOOD (0 to <45), and 3 sites classified as POOR (60 to 100). One site in 

this region, D10, with an average specific conductivity > 5,000 μmhos/cm, was classified 

as estuarine. Its TSI value, 51.3, was FAIR. 

There were few significant seasonal differences; average wet season (May to 

October) values exceeded dry season (November to April) values for chlorophyll a and 

total coliforms and average dry season DO was greater than that of the wet season. The 

lack of seasonal differences could be explained by the high variability of some of the 

data. 

The average pH in this area has increased significantly (0.26 SI per year) and 

most of the individual sites showed a similar significantly increasing trend ranging from 

0.17 SI to 0.61 SI per year. Drought conditions leading to reduced runoff of low-pH, 

organic rich water may be partially responsible for this trend. 

 Several individual sites showed trends of significantly increasing or decreasing 

concentrations of certain parameters. There was a significant decrease in color at 6 sites 

and DO decreased at 3 sites but increased in the Korona Canal (KOR), perhaps in 

response to canal improvements. Salinity increased in Ditch 10 and chlorophyll a

increased in the St. Joe Canal (JOE). 

 St. Joe Canal (JOE), Mulberry Branch (MUL), and Ditch 10 (D10) had high 

levels of both fecal and total coliforms. 

The Halifax River System 

 The Halifax River watershed in Volusia County includes the Halifax River, its 

main tributaries (Bulow Creek, Tomoka River, Spruce Creek), and Rose Bay. The 

Halifax River had an average pH (7.68 SI) within state standards, sufficient DO (6.59 

mg/L) and moderately high salinity (23.46 ppt). Turbidity (9.50 ntu) and total suspended 

solids (25.4 mg/L) were high, likely reflecting increased runoff from urban areas and 

tributaries as well as resuspension by tidal current velocities. Chlorophyll a

concentration (7.50 μg/L) was comparable to the other estuaries and in the “Medium” 

classification of the NOAA study (1996). Average total phosphorus concentration (0.17 

mg/L) was higher than most estuaries in the southeastern states. The average total 

nitrogen (1.06 mg/L) was also quite high but has been decreasing at a rate of 0.19 mg/L 

per year since 1991 perhaps in response to increased reuse by wastewater treatment 

plants. Wet season (May to October) concentrations were significantly higher than dry 

season (November to April) concentrations for most parameters except pH, DO, color, 

and both fecal and total coliforms. 

 In addition to the general decrease over time in nitrogen concentration reflected at 

all individual sites in the Halifax River, one site showed a significant increase in TP and a 

decrease in TSS and another showed an increase in salinity. The overall TSI for the 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 4 Executive Summary

Halifax River estuary was 53.12 (FAIR). Individual sites were all FAIR except the 3 

sites closest to Ponce Inlet, which were GOOD. 

Bulow Creek had an average pH (7.31 SI) within state standards and sufficient 

DO (5.99 mg/L) and moderate salinity (11.23 ppt). Turbidity (6.04 ntu) and total 

suspended solids (15.56 mg/L) were considerably lower than the Halifax River and 

chlorophyll a (12.11μg/L) was higher than the other tributaries in the Halifax River 

watershed. Average total phosphorus (0.22 mg/L) is comparable to the other tributaries 

but average total nitrogen (1.22 mg/L), the same as in Tomoka River, was highest among 

the tributaries. Average wet season (May to October) salinity and total suspended solids 

were significantly greater than dry season (November to April) averages with the reverse 

for dissolved oxygen. Bulow Creek showed a significant increase in pH of 0.26 SI per 

year and an increase in turbidity of 1.92 ntu per year over the period of record (1997 – 

2000). The overall TSI for Bulow Creek was 56.70, which is classed as FAIR. 

Tomoka River had a low average salinity (5.13 ppt), good average pH (7.05 SI) 

and DO (4.60 mg/L), low turbidity (5.13 ntu) and TSS (7.89 mg/L), and low chlorophyll 

a (6.74 μg/L). Average total nitrogen (1.22 mg/L) was high and the average total 

phosphorus (0.22 mg/L) concentration was higher than most estuaries in the southeast 

(NOAA 1996). Wet season (May to October) averages were higher than dry (November 

to April) for salinity, chlorophyll a, and TSS and the reverse for DO, likely due to 

drought conditions. Spatially, average salinity in the Tomoka River ranged from 13.07 

ppt at TR01 to 0.10 ppt at TR05, decreasing with increasing distance from the Halifax 

River. DO and pH also followed this general pattern, decreasing with increasing distance 

from the estuary. Color, nutrients, chlorophyll a, and bacteria generally increased with 

distance from the Halifax River. 

Significant temporal trends were apparent for some of the individual sites. 

TR01and TR05 showed a decrease in TN, TR02 decreased in TN and TSS, and TR04 

decreased in chlorophyll a content. The average TSI for Tomoka River sites TR01 and 

TR02 combined was 52.1, classed as FAIR and each of the individual sites was also 

classed as FAIR. Sites TR03, TR04, and TR05, with specific conductivity < 5,000 

μmhos/cm, were considered to be fresh water. The average WQI for TR03, TR04, and 

TR05 combined was 58.6, FAIR, with both TR03 and TR04 individually classified as 

FAIR and TR05 classified as POOR. Low DO and high nutrients contributed most to this 

classification. 

Spruce Creek had pH (7.21 SI), and DO (4.68 mg/L) within state standards. 

Turbidity (6.68 ntu) was similar to that found in Tomoka River and Bulow Creek. TSS 

was high in Spruce Creek (12.59 mg/L) and the water was also highly colored (187.00 

pcu). Average total nitrogen (1.12 mg/L) was high and total phosphorus (0.28 mg/L) was 

the highest in the Halifax River watershed. Wet season (May to October) averages were 

higher than dry season (November to April) averages for turbidity and TSS and the 

reverse for DO. Spatially, DO and TSS in Spruce Creek decreased with distance from 

the Halifax River while pH, color, TN, TP, and bacteria followed a general pattern of 

increase with increasing distance from the Halifax River. SC01 and SC02 showed 

significant decreases in total nitrogen. TSS at SC05 decreased significantly by 1.75 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 5 Executive Summary

mg/L/year. The TSI for Spruce Creek was 52.92, FAIR. All individual sites were 

classified as FAIR except SC01, which was GOOD. 

Rose Bay had the most degraded water quality, in terms of water clarity, of the 

Volusia County water bodies. This could be explained by the lack of circulation due to 

the existence of two causeways that restrict flow into and out of the bay. Salinity was 

moderate (19.40 ppt). Average turbidity (8.26 ntu), TSS (19.39 mg/L), and chlorophyll a

(10.79 μg/L) concentrations were elevated in addition to high phosphorus (0.27 mg/L). 

Average total nitrogen (1.00 mg/L) was elevated but has also shown a significantly 

decreasing trend of 0.13 mg/L per year since 1991. The overall TSI for Rose Bay was 

54.33, FAIR. Wet season averages were higher than dry season averages for salinity, pH, 

turbidity, TSS, and chlorophyll a, likely due to drought conditions, and the reverse for 

DO, color, and coliforms. The Department of Transportation has reconfigured the 

structure of the U.S 1 causeway (Summer, 2001) and will soon remove an abandoned 

causeway. It is hoped that this will improve the water quality of Rose Bay by increasing 

tidal flushing of the bay. 

Comparison of all Northern Coastal Basin water bodies showed, in general, that 

the Tolomato-Matanzas estuary, the Halifax River, and Rose Bay had the highest 

salinities. They also generally had the highest pH, DO, turbidity, and TSS and the least 

colored water. Tolomato-Matanzas and Halifax River had generally lower chlorophyll a,

TN, and TP concentrations as well. Rose Bay had comparatively low concentrations of 

TN but had a generally higher concentration of TP than the other creeks or estuaries in 

the NCB.
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 6 Executive Summary
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 7 Introduction 

INTRODUCTION 

The goal of the ambient water quality monitoring program is to generally 

characterize water quality in the NCB and identify water quality problems and trends. 

Specific objectives of the ambient monitoring approach (Sigua and Steward 1997) are 

presented below: 

1. To describe the spatial and temporal (annual and seasonal) trends of selected 

water quality constituents that help indicate the trophic condition of the NCB 

system (e.g., nutrients, dissolved organic matter, and suspended matter); and 

2. To assess the water quality relative to state water quality standards, shellfish 

consumer health standards, and other resource-based targets that may be 

developed in the future. 

Project Area 

The Northern Coastal Basin (NCB) project area includes the coastal watersheds 

along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) from the north part of St. Johns County, 

extending south through Flagler County to Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County 

(Figure 1). The NCB encompasses over 679 square miles of coastal lowlands; a series of 

flat sandy plains differing slightly in elevation, and interspersed with numerous creeks 

and small rivers draining into shallow bays and lagoons that are separated from the 

Atlantic Ocean by an almost uninterrupted barrier island system and from the St. Johns 

River basin by the Atlantic Coastal Ridge (Bonnie Holub & Associates 1998). 

Major watershed drainage sub basins comprising the NCB, from north to south, 

include the Tolomato River, Matanzas River, Pellicer Creek, and Halifax River. A 

description of these sub basins and their sub basin drainage features can be found in the 

Northern Coastal Basin Reconnaissance Report (Bonnie Holub & Associates 1998), 

which is briefly summarized below. 

The Tolomato River watershed has a drainage area of approximately 55,000 

acres. Major freshwater drainage to the Tolomato River estuary comes from several 

tributaries including Smith Creek, Stokes Creek, and Casa Cola Creek. The Tolomato 

River converges with the Guana River and Matanzas River from the south, before 

flowing into the Atlantic Ocean at the St. Augustine Inlet. The northern end of the 

Tolomato River is also tidally influenced by the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. 

The Matanzas River sub basin has a drainage area of approximately 70,000 acres. 

Major freshwater drainage to the Matanzas River estuary comes from San Sebastian 

River, Moultrie Creek, and Pellicer Creek. The St. Augustine Inlet in the north and the 

Matanzas Inlet, located about midway down the river, tidally influence this estuary. For 

ease of continuity, the Tolomato and Matanzas sub basins have been combined in this 

report 

The Pellicer Creek sub basin has a drainage area of approximately 102,000 acres. 

Pellicer Creek, which forms the boundary between St. Johns and Flagler counties, is the 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 8 Introduction 

Figure 1. The Northern Coastal project area showing sub basins and agency water 

quality monitoring sites. 

Halifax River Subbasin

SJRWMD Sites

PCCSC Sites

VCEMD Sites

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

Water

Land

County Boundaries

St. Augustine Inlet

St. Augustine

Matanzas Inlet

Ponce de Leon Inlet

Palm Coast

Daytona Beach

St. Johns County

Flagler County

Flagler County

Volusia County

St. Johns County Tolomato

River Matanzas River

Halifax River

Northern Coastal Basin 

Project Area

Pellicer Creek Halifax River Subbasin

SJRWMD Sites

PCCSC Sites

VCEMD Sites

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

Water

Land

County Boundaries

St. Augustine Inlet

St. Augustine

Matanzas Inlet

Ponce de Leon Inlet

Palm Coast

Daytona Beach

St. Johns County

Flagler County

Flagler County

Volusia County

St. Johns County Tolomato

River Matanzas River

Halifax River

Northern Coastal Basin 

Project Area

Pellicer Creek Halifax River Subbasin

SJRWMD Sites

PCCSC Sites

VCEMD Sites

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

Water

Land

County Boundaries

Halifax River Subbasin

SJRWMD Sites

PCCSC Sites

VCEMD Sites

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

Water

Land

County Boundaries

Halifax River Subbasin

SJRWMD Sites

PCCSC Sites

VCEMD Sites

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

Water

Land

County Boundaries

St. Augustine Inlet

St. Augustine

Matanzas Inlet

Ponce de Leon Inlet

Palm Coast

Daytona Beach

St. Johns County

Flagler County

Flagler County

Volusia County

St. Johns County Tolomato

River Matanzas River

Halifax River

Northern Coastal Basin 

Project Area

Pellicer Creek
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 9 Introduction 

only natural drainage in the general area that cuts through the marine terraces and ridges 

flowing east into the Matanzas River. 

The Halifax River sub basin encompasses an area of nearly 208,000 acres and 

includes portions of Volusia and Flagler counties. Major drainage into the estuary comes 

from Bulow Creek, Tomoka River, Spruce Creek, and their natural tributaries. Tidal 

flow primarily originates through the Ponce de Leon Inlet in the south. Six causeways, 

within a distance of 10.5 miles, cross the Halifax River estuary between Port Orange and 

Ormond Beach inhibiting circulation. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 10 Introduction 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 11 Methods

METHODS 

 

Water Quality Assessment in the NCB 

The water quality monitoring and assessment program for the NCB as described 

by Sigua and Steward (1997) calls for consistent monitoring throughout the NCB system 

maintained by cooperative multi-agency projects. To ensure consistency, the 

coordination of multi-agency monitoring efforts, demands standardized methods, 

procedures, and equipment. 

A map showing the distribution of stations within the NCB project area for water 

quality assessment is provided in Figure 2. A description of the locations of the water 

quality monitoring sites in the three counties in the NCB is provided in Table 1. 

The list of water column physical and chemical properties, as well as methods of 

analyses, is shown in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. 

A summary of the water quality monitoring effort for the three counties in the 

NCB was as follows: 

St. Johns County 

• St. Johns County Utility and Environmental Laboratory (SJCUEL) and St. 

Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) personnel sampled 13 

sites, established in January 1997, on a monthly basis at a collection depth 

of 0.5 meters. 

• Samples were analyzed for nutrients, coliforms, etc. (Tables 1 and 2) by 

SJCUEL. 

• The period of record for this data for this report is 1997 to 2000. 

Flagler County 

• Palm Coast Community Service Corporation (PCCSC) and SJRWMD 

WAV volunteers sampled 14 sites on a monthly basis at a collection depth 

of 0.5 meters. 

• Samples were analyzed for nutrients, coliforms, etc. (Tables 1 and 2) by 

SJCUEL. 

• The period of record for this data for this report is 1997 to 2000. 

Volusia County 

• Volusia County Environmental Management Division (VCEMD) personnel 

sampled 32 sites on a monthly basis at a collection depth of 0.5 meters. 

• Samples were analyzed for nutrients, coliforms, etc. (Tables 1 and 2) by 

VCEMD. 

• The period of record for this data for this report is 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 12 Methods

Figure 2. The Northern Coastal Basin project area showing the water quality monitoring 

sites in St. Johns, Flagler, and Volusia counties. 

HL20

HL17

HL18

HL11

HL14

MOS

KOR

HL07

HL09

HL12

TR04

TR05

HL13

HL10

RB03

HL19

SC01

SC05

SC02

RB01 SC04

Ponce de Leon Inlet 

TR01

TR03 

HL05

HL08

IRO

LEH

SMITHSCR

STOKESCR GAR

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

TOL

CCC

JXTR17

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

HUL MUL

PEL

HOM

D10

JOE

GRA

IRW

BBR HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

BUL

Matanzas Inlet

St. Augustine Inlet 

Halifax River Sub basin 

SJRWMD Sites 

PCCSC Sites

VCEMD Sites 

Pellicer Creek Sub basin 

Tolomato-Matanzas Sub basin

Water

Land

County Boundaries 

Northern Coastal Basin 

Project Area

TR02 HL06

HL15

HL16

RB02
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 13 Methods

Table 1. Water quality monitoring stations in the Northern Coastal Basin. 

COUNTY STATION SAMPLING 

AGENCY 

LOCATION 

ST. JOHNS 

1 SMITHSCR SJCUEL1 Smith's Creek

2 TOL SJCUEL ICW5 @ Tolomato River, north of Pine Island 

3 STOKESCR SJCUEL Stoke's Creek 

4 GAR SJCUEL Guana River, 100 yds. south of the Dam 

5 JXTR17 SJCUEL Confluence of Tolomato River and Guana River 

6 CCC SJCUEL Casa Cola Creek 

7 SSB SJRWMD2 San Sebastian River @ US 1 

8 MR312 SJRWMD Matanzas River @ SR 312 

9 MCICW SJRWMD Confluence of Moultrie Creek and ICW 

10 JXTR21 SJRWMD Matanzas River north of Crescent Beach 

11 MRT SJRWMD Mouth of Pellicer Creek 

12 MAT SJRWMD Matanzas River south of Washington Oaks @ CM6 109 

13 JXTR26 SJRWMD ICW @ Fox Cut, discharge from St. Joe Canal 

FLAGLER

1 PEL PCCSC3 Pellicer Ck. @ US 1 

2 HUL PCCSC Hulett Br. @ US 1 

3 HOM PCCSC Hominy Br. @ Old Kings Rd. 

4 MUL PCCSC Mulberry Br. @ Palm Harbor Pkwy 

5 JOE PCCSC St. Joe Canal at bike path 

6 D10 PCCSC Ditch 10 on east side of Colbert Ln. 

7 MOS PCCSC Mosquito Ditch 

8 LEH PCCSC Lehigh Canal @ Old Kings Rd. 

9 GRA PCCSC Graham Swamp culvert @ State Rd. 100 

10 BBR PCCSC Black Branch @ U.S. 1 

11 IRW PCCSC Iroquois waterway @ Belle Terre Pkwy 

12 IRO PCCSC Confluence of Iroquois and Little Canals 

13 KOR PCCSC Korona Canal @ Old Kings Rd. 

14 BUL PCCSC Bulow Creek @ Walter Boardman Ln. 

VOLUSIA 

1 HL01 VCEMD4 Halifax River near Highbridge Rd. 

2 HL02 VCEMD Halifax River at ICW CM 29 

3 HL03 VCEMD Halifax River center of Tomoka Basin 

4 HL04 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 6 

5 HL05 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 11 

6 HL06 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 16 

7 HL07 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 21 

8 HL08 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 25 

9 HL09 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 30 

10 HL10 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 33 

11 HL11 VCEMD Halifax River 100 Yds N. of Orange Ave. Bridge 

12 HL12 VCEMD Halifax River At Entrance To Halifax Harbor 

13 HL13 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 44 

14 HL14 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 47 

15 HL15 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 56 

16 HL16 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 57 

17 HL17 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 63 

18 HL18 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 1 

19 HL19 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 7 

20 HL20 VCEMD Ponce Inlet - Center Channel 

21 TR01 VCEMD Tomoka River at Old Dixie Highway 

22 TR02 VCEMD Tomoka River downstream of U.S. 1 Bridge 

23 TR03 VCEMD Tomoka River upstream of S.R. 40 Bridge 

24 TR04 VCEMD Tomoka River upstream of 11th St. Bridge 

25 TR05 VCEMD Tomoka River upstream of U.S. 92 Bridge 

26 SC01 VCEMD Spruce Creek - center U.S. 1 Bridge 

27 SC02 VCEMD Spruce Creek - west of SSC Railroad 

28 SC04 VCEMD Spruce Creek - west of Airport Rd. 

29 SC05 VCEMD Spruce Creek - dock at Gamble Place 

30 RB01 VCEMD Rose Bay - west of U.S. 1 Bridge 

31 RB02 VCEMD Rose Bay - south of Nova Rd. Bridge 

32 RB03 VCEMD Rose Bay - canal at Main St. Bridge 

1

 St. Johns County Utility and Environmental Laboratory 2 St. Johns River Water Management District 3 Palm Coast Community 

Service Corp. 4

 Volusia County Environmental Management Division 5 Intracoastal Waterway 6 Channel Marker 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 14 Methods

Table 2. Water column physical parameters for the Northern Coastal Basin Water 

Quality Assessment Program. 

Table 3. Water column (near-surface) chemical parameters for the Northern Coastal 

Basin Water Quality Assessment Program. 

least squares (SAS 1988). While temporal trends with slopes different from zero 

Physical Parameters Unit

Water Temperature degrees Celsius 

pH SI units 

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 

Conductivity μmhos/cm

Salinity parts per thousand

Secchi meters 

Depth of Collection meters 

Depth of Sample Site meters 

Air Temperature degrees Celsius 

Wind Direction degrees 

Wind Velocity miles per hour

Cloud Cover percent 

Near-Surface Chemical Parameters Unit Analytical Method 

Color pcu EPA 110.2

Turbidity ntu EPA 180.1

Total Suspended Solids mg/L EPA 160.2

Chlorophyll a μg/L SM*17-10200H

Chlorophyll b μg/L SM17-10200H

Chlorophyll c μg/L SM17-10200H

Pheopigments μg/L SM17-10200H

Chlorophyll a corrected μg/L SM17-10200H

Chlorophyll a / Pheopigment Ratio 

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen as N mg/L EPA 351.2

Nitrate + Nitrite as N mg/L EPA 353.3

Total Phosphorus as P mg/L EPA 365.1

Dissolved Orthophosphate as P mg/L EPA 365.1

Total Coliform MPN/100 ml SM 9222B

Fecal Coliform MPN/100 ml SM 9222D

Biological Oxygen Demand mg/L EPA 405.1

Enterococcus MPN/100 ml SM9230C

*SM, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 1985 Edition. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 15 Methods

This report will focus on key parameters selected from the above lists. These 

include some physical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. 

Additionally, parameters associated with water clarity such as turbidity, total suspended 

solids, chlorophyll a (corrected for turbidity), and color will be reported. Turbidity is an 

expression of the optical property that causes light scatter and absorption (APHA 1985). 

It is made up of several components such as total suspended solids (TSS) and amount of 

chlorophyll a present in the water column. Color may consist of naturally occurring 

metallic ions (iron), humus and peat material, tannins, and/or plankton and other 

materials and is often found to be higher in fresh water streams and lakes than in 

estuarine waters. These parameters tend to be higher in the wet season than in the dry 

season due to increased runoff. 

Nutrient concentrations such as total nitrogen (in this case total kjeldahl nitrogen 

and nitrate+nitrite combined) and total phosphorus are important indicators of 

urbanization as well as agricultural land uses along coastal waters. Increased storm water 

runoff and discharges of wastewater combine to elevate both of these parameters. 

Increases in both of these parameters can lead to increases in primary productivity 

leading to increased eutrophication. Eutrophication in most temperate-zone estuaries and 

coastal waters is controlled by nitrogen inputs. This is largely because the natural flow of 

nitrogen into these waters and the rate of nitrogen fixation by planktonic organisms are 

relatively low while microbes in the sea floor sediments actively release nitrogen back to 

the atmosphere. 

The coliform group of bacteria (fecal and total coliforms) is the primary indicator 

of suitability of water for domestic, dietetic, or other uses. These bacteria are present in 

the gut and feces of warm-blooded animals and the density of these organisms is used as 

an indication of degree of pollution and thus, sanitary quality (APHA 1985). The 

bacterial status of all the NCB water bodies will also be reported. 

Data Analysis 

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine temporal differences 

between seasonal and monthly means for each water body examined (all sites combined), 

followed by Tukey-Kramer’s tests (α=0.05) to further examine these differences. Spatial 

variation between sample sites and water bodies was also determined using ANOVA and 

Tukey-Kramer tests. Correlation analysis was used to determine relationships between 

parameters. Trend detection was accomplished by linear regression using the principle of 

least squares (SAS 1988). While temporal trends with slopes different from zero 

(p<0.05) were deemed statistically significant, if the variance around that slope was less 

than 10 % explained (R2

 < 0.10), the trend would likely not be ecologically significant 

and was therefore not discussed. 

The standard of comparison of parameters for this report will be the Florida state 

standards wherever possible. However, for some parameters, no actual numbers are 

available. In this case, state medians and percentiles found in a combination of the 

305(b) report (FDEP 1996) and Typical Water Quality Values for Florida’s Lakes, 

Streams, and Estuaries (FDER 1989) are used to give an idea of typical values. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 16 Methods

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1996) compared existing 

information on eutrophication for 21 estuaries along the Southeast Atlantic coast. 

Categories for various parameters were established as follows: 

Chlorophyll a - Low (>0 to 5μg/L), Medium (>5 to 20μg/L), High (>20 to 60μg/L), 

Hypereutrophic (>60μg/L) 

Nitrogen – Low (0 to <0.1 mg/L), Medium (0.1 to <1 mg/L), High (1 mg/L) 

Phosphorus – Low (0 to <0.01 mg/L), Medium (0.01 to <0.1 mg/L), High (0.1 mg/L). 

This study was also used for comparative purposes. 

Sampling sites in the various water bodies were also classified as either estuarine 

or freshwater on the basis of whether the average specific conductivity was greater than 

or less than 5000 μmhos/cm, respectively (FDEP 1996). Each site was then evaluated as 

Good, Fair, or Poor using the Trophic State Index (estuarine) or Water Quality Index 

(freshwater) developed by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP 

1996). 

The Trophic State Index, developed by FDEP in 1996, was used to classify each 

of the estuarine sites (specific conductivity >5,000μmhos/cm) as Good (0 to <50), Fair 

(50 to <60) or Poor (60 to 100). This calculation uses annual averages of either total 

nitrogen or phosphorus (depending on which is limiting in the system) or an average of 

the two in combination with chlorophyll a. The TSI was used in the Tolomato-Matanzas 

system, Ditch 10 (D10) in Flagler County, and in the Halifax River watershed except at 

the most upstream sites in Tomoka River (TR03, TR04 and TR05). An example of the 

calculation can be found in the FDEP 305(b) report of 1996. 

The Water Quality Index (WQI) developed by Florida Department of 

Environmental Protection in 1988 (FDEP 2000) for characterization of freshwater 

streams (specific conductivity <5,000 μmhos/cm) was used to classify the waterways of 

Pellicer Creek and Flagler County (except D10) as well as the three most upstream sites 

in Tomoka River (TR03, TR04, TR05) as Good (0 to <45), Fair (45 to <60) or Poor (60 

to 100). This calculation assigns the average for each category, a number between 0 and 

99 based on percentiles found in the 1996 305(b) report (FDEP). Categories include 

water clarity (turbidity, total suspended solids), dissolved oxygen, oxygen demand 

(BOD), nutrients (total nitrogen and total phosphorus), and bacteria (fecal and total 

coliforms). The calculation used in this report did not include any measure of biological 

diversity. The WQI is an overall average of the category average percentiles.
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 17 Results 

RESULTS 

I. WATER QUALITY STATUS 

A. Tolomato - Matanzas Estuary 

Water quality monitoring sites in the Tolomato - Matanzas estuary encompass 

both open water sites and sites located at the mouths of several tributaries. Three sites, 

MRT, MAT, and JXTR26 are physically located in Flagler County but are part of the 

Tolomato - Matanzas estuary and will be included as such. The site locations are shown 

in Figure 3 and site descriptions are in Table 4. 

Physical Measurements 

Salinity 

Salinity in the Tolomato-Matanzas estuary averaged 30.42 ppt (Table 5). Wet 

season (May to October) salinities exceeded dry season (November to April) salinities 

(Appendix A – Figure 1A), probably due to higher evaporation in the hotter months with 

relatively little precipitation to offset it. Highest average salinity values were observed in 

April and July (32.83 and 32.27 ppt, respectively) and the lowest average values occurred 

in October and January (28.60 ppt and 28.57 ppt, respectively)(Appendix A – Figure 6A). 

Salinity was highly positively correlated with pH (p=0.0005), total suspended solids 

(p=0.02), and total phosphorus (p=0.05) and highly negatively correlated with color 

(p<0.0001), total nitrogen (p<0.0001), total coliforms (p<0.0001), and fecal coliforms 

(p=0.0008). The relationship of high color, nitrogen, and coliforms with low salinity 

indicates that the source of these parameters could be freshwater discharges. Overall, 

salinity has significantly increased by 1.8 ppt per year in this estuary (p<0.0001, R2

=0.13) 

since 1997. This increase could have resulted from the drought conditions that the area 

and the state have been experiencing over the past few years. The Matanzas River sites, 

MR312 and JXTR21 had the highest salinity at 32.77 and 32.49 ppt, respectively (both in 

close proximity to inlets) and the lowest salinities occurred at JXTR26 and SMITHSCR 

at 28.80 and 28.617 ppt, respectively which are the farthest from the inlets (Appendix A – 

Figure 11A). All of the individual sites except MRT and MCICW showed significant 

increases in average salinity over the period of record ranging from 0.95 ppt per year 

(MAT) to 3.15 ppt per year (SMITHSCR). 

pH 

The average pH was 7.34 S.I. (Table 5), which is well within the state standards 

(6.00 – 8.50 SI). pH was significantly higher in the dry season (7.56 SI) than in the wet 

season (7.18 SI) (Appendix A – Figure 1B), with the highest monthly average of 7.61 in 

December and the lowest in September at 6.91 (Appendix A – Figure 6B). Spatially, 

higher pHs were found in the more open water estuarine sites (MR312 - 7.59) than in the 

tributaries (CCC - 7.04) (Appendix A – Figure 11B) and were highly correlated with 

higher salinity. All the individual sites south of the St. Augustine Inlet showed a 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 18 Results 

Figure 3. Water quality monitoring site locations in the Tolomato and Matanzas Rivers. 

Tolomato-Matanzas

Estuary Sites

SJRWMD Sites

Water

Land

County Boundaries

St. Johns County

Flagler County

Matanzas Inlet

St. Augustine Inlet

St. Johns County

Duval County

St. Augustine

Palm Coast

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas

Estuary Sites

SJRWMD Sites

Water

Land

County Boundaries

St. Johns County

Flagler County

Matanzas Inlet

St. Augustine Inlet

St. Johns County

Duval County

St. Augustine

Palm Coast

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas

Estuary Sites

SJRWMD Sites

Water

Land

County Boundaries

St. Johns County

Flagler County

Matanzas Inlet

St. Augustine Inlet

St. Johns County

Duval County

St. Augustine

Palm Coast

Pellicer Creek Subbasin

Tolomato-Matanzas Subbasin

SMITHSCR 

STOKESCR 

TOL 

GAR

SSB 

CCC 

MR312 

JXTR17

MCICW 

JXTR21 

MAT 

MRT 

JXTR26 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 19 Results 

Table 4. Tolomato-Matanzas water quality monitoring site descriptions. 

Table 5. Summary statistics of selected water quality parameters for the TolomatoMatanzas Estuary from 1997 to 2000. 

Water Quality Mean Standard 

Error 

Median N Min. Max. 

Salinity (ppt) 30.42 0.22 31.9 492 6.70 39.50 

pH (S.I.) 7.34 0.03 7.43 500 4.23 8.60 

DO (mg/L) 6.13 0.06 6.06 485 3.22 15.10 

Turbidity (ntu) 5.77 0.18 4.62 506 0.04 27.60 

TSS (mg/L) 30.81 1.05 22.85 506 0.90 206.00 

Chl a (μg/L) 4.40 0.25 2.12 506 0.05 56.23 

Color (pcu) 74.42 2.74 56.5 500 0.10 511.00 

TN (mg/L) 0.58 0.01 0.48 506 0.03 1.90 

TP (mg/L) 0.12 0.01 0.08 506 0.01 1.24 

COUNTY STATION SAMPLING 

AGENCY 

LOCATION 

ST. JOHNS 

1 SMITHSCR SJCUEL1 Smith's Creek 

2 TOL SJCUEL ICW3 @ Tolomato River, north of Pine Island 

3 STOKESCR SJCUEL Stoke's Creek 

4 GAR SJCUEL Guana River, 100 yds. south of the Dam 

5 JXTR17 SJCUEL Confluence of Tolomato River and Guana River 

6 CCC SJCUEL Casa Cola Creek 

7 SSB SJRWMD2 San Sebastian River @ US 1 

8 MR312 SJRWMD Matanzas River @ SR 312 

9 MCICW SJRWMD Confluence of Moultrie Creek and ICW 

10 JXTR21 SJRWMD Matanzas River north of Crescent Beach 

11 MRT SJRWMD Mouth of Pellicer Creek 

12 MAT SJRWMD Matanzas River south of Washington Oaks @ CM4 109 

13 JXTR26 SJRWMD ICW @ Fox Cut, discharge from St. Joe Canal 

1

 St. Johns County Utility and Environmental Laboratory 2 St. Johns River Water Management District 5 Intracoastal Waterway 

4

 Channel Marker 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 20 Results 

significant increase in pH ranging between 0.12 SI per year at SSB to 0.2 SI per year at 

JXTR26 since 1997. 

Dissolved Oxygen 

Dissolved oxygen (DO) readings have a tendency to fluctuate throughout the day 

in response to temperature changes affecting the solubility of oxygen, which decreases as 

temperature increases. The overall average concentration of DO was 6.13 mg/L (Table 

5). Seasonally, higher concentrations of DO were observed in the dry months (7.00 

mg/L), as opposed to the wet months (5.47 mg/L) (Appendix A – Figure 2A) with the 

highest concentration occurring in the month of January (7.59 mg/L) and a significantly 

lower amount in the month of August (4.25 mg/L) (Appendix A – Figure 7A). Spatially, 

there were no significant differences between DO readings at any of the sites (Appendix 

A –Figure 12A). All sites in this estuary had average DO values above the Class III 

marine DO standard of 4.00 mg/L. 

Water Clarity 

Turbidity 

Mean turbidity in the Tolomato - Matanzas estuary was 5.77 (Table 5), which is 

slightly higher than the turbidities found in 50% (5.60 ntu) of Florida’s estuaries (FDEP 

1997). There was a significantly higher average of 7.13 ntu in the wet season than in the 

dry season at 4.01 ntu (Appendix A - Figure 2B). The highest average monthly turbidity 

of 8.73 ntu occurred in May and the lowest monthly average occurred in February at 3.58 

ntu (Appendix A – Figure 7B). Spatially, MR312 had significantly lower turbidity than 

all other sites (Appendix A-Figure 12B). 

Total Suspended Solids 

As a major component of turbidity, and therefore often highly correlated with it 

(p<0.0001), total suspended solids (TSS) followed a similar pattern. The average TSS 

was 30.81 mg/L (Table 5). The average wet season TSS was significantly higher at 33.07 

mg/L than 27.90 mg/L in the dry season (Appendix A - Figure 3A). The highest monthly 

average TSS of 44.79 mg/L occurred in May. The lowest monthly average (21.48 mg/L) 

occurred in September (Appendix A-Figure 8A). The highest TSS value (40.87 mg/L) 

occurred in SMITHSCR and the lowest occurred in JXTR26 (24.94 mg/L) but none of 

the sites were significantly different from each other (Appendix A - Figure 13A). 

Chlorophyll a

Often used as an indicator of the trophic status of a water body, chlorophyll a is 

an important water quality parameter. The median value for state estuaries is 9 μg/L 

(FDEP 1996). Waters with high chlorophyll readings (>20 μg/L) are considered to be 

eutrophic. Mean chlorophyll a concentration in the Tolomato - Matanzas estuary was 

4.40 μg/L (Table 5), which occurred in the low category (Low (>0 to 5μg/L)) of the NOAA 

(1996) study. Higher mean chlorophyll a concentration occurred in the wet season at 

5.43 μg/L than in the dry season at 3.06 μg/L (Appendix A – Figure 3B). The highest 

monthly averages occurred in September (7.56 μg/L) and October (6.73 μg/L) and the 

lowest monthly average occurred in March at 2.14 μg/L (Appendix A – Figure 8B). 

GAR and CCC had the highest mean chlorophyll a concentrations (6.29 and 6.27 μg/L, 

respectively) and MAT showed the lowest average concentration (2.86 μg/L) but none of 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 21 Results 

the sites had significantly different average concentrations (Appendix A – Figure 13B). 

Correlation analysis showed that chlorophyll a was not correlated with total nitrogen but 

was highly correlated to total phosphorus (p<0.0001). 

Color 

Color is generally found to be higher in the fresh water of creeks than in the 

brackish or salt water of estuaries because fresh water consists of surface runoff stained 

with high concentrations of dissolved organic substances. Color was higher in the wet 

season than in the dry season probably due to increased runoff (Appendix A – Figure 

4A), ranging from 124 pcu (October) to 48 pcu (April) (Appendix A – Figure 9A) The 

highest color value occurred in SMITHSCR-107 pcu and at MCICW-101 pcu and the 

lowest occurred in the Matanzas River near at MR312- 45 pcu (Appendix A – Figure 

14A). Overall average color was 74 pcu in the 95th percentile of state estuaries (Table 5).

Nutrients

Total Nitrogen 

Total nitrogen (TN) is a measure of the organic nitrogen and ammonia content as 

well as the nitrate + nitrite concentration of the water. The average for the system was 

0.58 mg/L, which is less than that found in 30% of the samples taken in Florida’s 

estuaries (0.6 mg/L) (FDER 1989). Monthly averages ranged from 0.44 mg/L in 

February to 0.68 mg/L in June (Appendix A – Figure 9B) with the wet season average 

significantly higher than the dry season average (Appendix A – Figure 4B). Spatial 

distribution of TN showed the highest values observed at GAR-0.66 mg/L and 

SMITHSCR-0.62 mg/L. The lowest value occurred at JXTR21 (0.47 mg/L) (Appendix 

A – Figure 14B). There were no significant differences between any of the sites. MR312 

showed a significant increase in total nitrogen of 0.08 mg/L per year over the period of 

record. In the Tolomato-Matanzas estuary, nitrogen concentrations are below the state 

median for estuaries, however with predicted residential land use rising from 8% in 2000 

to 25% at maximum build-out in the Tolomato Basin and from 14% in 2000 to 55% at 

maximum build-out in the Matanzas Basin (Holub and Assoc. 2000), nutrient levels 

could be on the rise. 

Total Phosphorus 

Total phosphorus (TP) shows a narrow range throughout the area, 0.09 to 0.16 

mg/L (Appendix A – Figure 15) with no significant differences between the sites. The 

average concentration of TP was 0.12 mg/L (Table 5). This value was high compared to 

the median value for state estuaries of 0.07 mg/L (FDEP 1996) and was also considered 

high by the NOAA (1996) study (High (>0.1 mg/L)). TP concentrations, however, were 

similar to those found in Mosquito Lagoon (0.1 mg/L) and the southern part of the Indian 

River Lagoon (0.14 mg/L) below Sebastian Inlet (Sigua et al. 1999). The highest 

monthly value for TP occurred in June at 0.40 mg/L, which was significantly different 

from all other months ranging between 0.07 to 0.12 mg/L (Appendix A – Figure 10) with 

the wet season average (0.14 mg/L) significantly higher than the dry season average (0.10 

mg/L) (Appendix A – Figure 5). 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 22 Results 

Trophic Status 

In the Tolomato-Matanzas estuary system, total nitrogen and total phosphorus are 

highly correlated (p=0.002). A water body may be considered to be phosphorus limited if 

the nitrogen-to-phosphorus concentration ratio is greater than 30, nitrogen limited if the 

ratio is less than 10, and balanced (depending on both nitrogen and phosphorus) if the 

ratio is between10 and 30 (FDEP 1996). The N:P ratio in the Tolomato-Matanzas system 

is 4.8, a nitrogen limited system. 

The TSI for all sites combined in the Tolomato – Matanzas estuary for the period 

of record (1997 to 2000) was calculated as 43.02, which is classified as GOOD (0 to <50) 

(FDEP 1996) and each of the individual sites was also classified as GOOD (Figure 4). 

Annual TSI values were also calculated for each site to determine trends with linear 

regression, however, with only four years of data there were no significant trends. 

Figure 4. Tolomato – Matanzas trophic state index for individual sites and for all sites 

combined for data from 1997 to 2000. Green bars are classified as GOOD. 

The green line marks the cutoff point between GOOD and FAIR at 50 % and 

the red line represents the cutoff point between FAIR and POOR at 60 %. 

Tolomato - Matanzas Trophic State Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

SMITHSCR

TO

L

STO

KESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

All Sites

Sites (North - South)

TSI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD

Tolomato - Matanzas Trophic State Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

SMITHSCR

TO

L

STO

KESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

All Sites

Sites (North - South)

TSI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 23 Results 

B. Flagler County Waterways 

The waterways in Flagler County consist of Pellicer Creek (PEL) and the storm 

water/drainage network of the City of Palm Coast. These include several natural streams 

and creeks (Hulett Branch (HUL), Mulberry Branch (MUL), Hominy Branch (HOM), 

Black Branch (BBR), Iroquois waterway (IRW)), as well as several man-made drainage 

canals (Lehigh Canal (LEH), Korona Canal (KOR), Ditch 10 (D10), and St. Joe Canal 

(JOE)). Since Pellicer Creek is a major natural contributor to the Matanzas River, it was 

analyzed separately from the other Flagler County waterways. Figure 5 shows the 

location of the Flagler County water quality sites and Table 6 gives the site descriptions. 

Physical Measurements 

Salinity 

Pellicer Creek is tidally influenced but with salinity ranging from 0 to 11.00 ppt 

with an average of 1.70 ppt (Table 7), and a specific conductivity less than 5000 

μmhos/cm at the collection depth of 0.5 m, it was considered to be fresh water. There 

was no significant seasonal difference in average salinity for Pellicer Creek (Appendix B 

– Figure 1A). The highest average salinity value in Pellicer Creek was observed in June 

(4.95 ppt) and the lowest value of 0.03 ppt occurred in September (Appendix B – Figure 

6A). Salinity in Pellicer Creek was highly positively correlated with pH (p=0.005) and 

total coliforms (p=0.007) and highly negatively correlated with color (p=0.002), total 

nitrogen (p=0.02), and DO (p=0.03). This may suggest Pellicer Creek as a source of total 

nitrogen to the Matanzas River. 

Most of the rest of the sites in Flagler County are also freshwater streams and 

canals with salinities between 0.06 and 0.2 ppt (Appendix B – Figure 15A) with an 

average of 0.59 ppt (Table 7). D10 is an exception, which, because of its proximity to the 

Matanzas River and subsequent tidal salt intrusion, had significantly higher average 

salinity than all other Flagler County sites (5.34 ppt) (Appendix B – Figure 15A). D10 

also showed a significant increase in salinity of 4.35 ppt over the period of record 

(p=0.0164, R2

=0.19). There was no significant difference between the seasonal salinity 

averages (Appendix B – Figure 1A), nor between the monthly averages, which ranged 

from 0.07 ppt to 1.52 ppt (Appendix B – Figure 6B). 

pH 

The average pH in Pellicer Creek was 6.46 SI (Table 7), which is within the state 

standards of 6.0 to 8.5 SI. Seasonally, pH was not significantly higher in either the wet 

season or the dry season (Appendix B – Figure 1B). The highest monthly average in 

Pellicer was 7.03 in May and the lowest was 6.17 in October (Appendix B – Figure 7A). 

The average pH in Pellicer Creek showed a significantly increasing trend, rising 0.40 SI 

per year (p<0.0001, R2

=0.40). 

For the rest of the sites in Flagler County the average pH was 6.68 SI (Table 7). 

There was no significant difference between the seasonal averages (Appendix B – Figure 

1B). The highest monthly average was 7.29 in June, which was significantly higher than 

the other monthly averages, and the lowest was 6.41 in October (Appendix B – Figure 

7B). The average pH increased significantly 0.29 SI per year over the period of record 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 24 Results 

Figure 5. Water quality monitoring site locations in Flagler County. 

MUL

HUL 

PEL 

HOM 

JOE

GRA

LEH

BBR IRW

IRO 

KOR

MOS

D10

Flagler County 

Volusia County 

Halifax River Sub basin

Pellicer Creek Sub basin

Water

Land

County Boundaries 

PCCSC Sites 

Pellicer Creek and Flagler 

County Sites 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 25 Results 

Table 6. Flagler County water quality monitoring site descriptions. 

Table 7. Summary statistics of selected water quality parameters for Flagler County 

for data from 1997 to 2000. 

Water Quality Mean Standard 

Error 

Median N Min. Max. 

Pellicer Creek 

Salinity (ppt) 1.70 0.49 0.15 34 0.00 11.00 

pH (SI ) 6.46 0.10 6.60 34 5.12 7.24 

DO (mg/L) 5.06 0.28 4.70 33 1.72 8.20 

Turbidity (ntu) 3.55 0.68 2.31 34 1.25 20.00 

TSS (mg/L) 2.48 0.40 1.23 34 0.09 10.50 

Chl a (μg/L) 6.27 1.34 2.67 33 0.50 36.70 

Color (pcu) 236.00 29.70 170.00 34 55.00 580.0 

TN (mg/L) 0.94 0.08 0.80 34 0.36 1.96 

TP (mg/L) 0.12 0.03 0.10 34 0.02 1.11 

Other Flagler 

County Sites 

 

Salinity (ppt) 0.59 0.17 0.1 343 0.00 32.30 

pH (SI ) 6.68 0.03 6.80 345 2.94 7.80 

DO (mg/L) 5.44 0.11 5.41 334 0.18 10.62 

Turbidity (ntu) 4.68 0.84 1.87 346 0.29 253.00 

TSS (mg/L) 6.95 0.81 2.57 346 0.90 125.00 

Chl a (μg/L) 13.97 3.09 2.11 341 0.50 613.00 

Color (pcu) 177.00 7.81 124.00 346 15.00 916.00 

TN (mg/L) 1.33 0.06 1.05 346 0.18 12.62 

TP (mg/L) 0.15 0.01 0.08 346 0.01 3.07 

COUNTY STATION SAMPLING 

AGENCY 

LOCATION 

FLAGLER 

1 PEL PCCSC3 Pellicer Ck. @ US 1 

2 HUL PCCSC Hulett Br. @ US 1 

3 HOM PCCSC Hominy Br. @ Old Kings Rd. 

4 MUL PCCSC Mulberry Br. @ Palm Harbor Pkwy 

5 JOE PCCSC St. Joe Canal at bike path 

6 D10 PCCSC Ditch 10 on east side of Colbert Ln. 

7 MOS PCCSC Mosquito Ditch 

8 LEH PCCSC Lehigh Canal @ Old Kings Rd. 

9 GRA PCCSC Graham Swamp culvert @ State Rd. 100 

10 BBR PCCSC Black Branch @ U.S. 1 

11 IRW PCCSC Iroquois waterway @ Belle Terre Pkwy 

12 IRO PCCSC Confluence of Iroquois and Little Canals 

13 KOR PCCSC Korona Canal @ Old Kings Rd. 

14 BUL PCCSC Bulow Creek @ Walter Boardman Ln.

1

 Palm Coast Community Service Corp 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 26 Results 

 (p<0.0001, R2=0.17) and 9 of the 12 sites (HOM, HUL, MUL, JOE, D10, MOS, LEH, 

IRW, KOR) also showed a significant increase in pH ranging from 0.17 SI per year to 

0.61 SI per year over the period of record. Spatially, KOR (7.05 SI), D10 (7.02 SI), and 

LEH (6.98 SI) had significantly higher pH than IRO (6.40 SI), BBR (6.10 SI), GRA (6.09 

SI), and HOM (5.88 SI) (Appendix B – Figure 15B). 

Dissolved Oxygen 

The average concentration of DO was 5.06 mg/L in Pellicer Creek (Table 7). The 

dry season average (5.92 mg/L) was significantly higher than the wet season average 

(4.34 mg/L) (Appendix B – Figure 2A). Monthly averages ranged from 3.31(August) to 

6.56 (November) mg/L but there were no significant differences (Appendix B – Figure 

8A). 

The average concentration of DO in the other Flagler County sites was 5.44 mg/L 

(Table 7). Seasonally, higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen were observed in the 

dry months (6.46 mg/L), as opposed to the wet months (4.55 mg/L) (Appendix B – 

Figure 2A) with the highest concentration occurring in the month of January (7.21 mg/L) 

and a significantly lower amount in the month of September (3.60 mg/L) (Appendix B – 

Figure 8B). Several sites (D10, MOS, and IRO) showed a significant decrease in DO 

over the period of record whereas KOR showed a significant increase in DO which may 

have been coincident with canal improvements. The majority of the sites in Flagler 

County had average DO readings that were statistically similar ranging from 7.12 to 4.59 

mg/L except for GRA, which had the lowest average DO, 2.09 mg/L (Appendix B – 

Figure 16A), well below the Class III freshwater standard of 5 mg/L. 

Water Clarity 

Turbidity 

The average turbidity in Pellicer Creek was 3.55 ntu (Table 7), low compared to 

the median value of 5.00 ntu found in other Florida streams (FDEP 1996). There was no 

significant difference between wet (4.16 ntu) and dry season (2.78 ntu) averages 

(Appendix B – Figure 2B) or between monthly averages, which ranged from 1.36 ntu in 

June to 8.53 ntu in September (Appendix B – Figure 9A). 

The average turbidity in the rest of Flagler County was 4.68 ntu (Table 7), less 

than the median of 5.00 ntu for streams (FDEP 1996). Due to the high amount of 

variability (coefficient of variability (CV) 334.1 %) in this parameter in Flagler County, 

there was no significant difference between months (ranging from 2.34 to 11.34 

ntu)(Appendix B – Figure 9B), between wet and dry seasons (4.76 and 4.59 ntu, 

respectively)(Appendix B – Figure 2B), or between sites despite a wide range of values. 

The highest recorded turbidity of 10.82 ntu occurred at JOE and the lowest turbidity of 

1.42 ntu occurred at MOS (Appendix B – Figure 16B). 

Total Suspended Solids 

The average of total suspended solids (TSS) in Pellicer Creek was 2.48 mg/L 

(Table 7) much lower than the state median of 7.00 mg/L for freshwater streams (FDEP 

1996). There was no significant seasonal difference (Appendix B – Figure 3A). Monthly 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 27 Results 

averages ranged from 0.93 mg/L in December to 7.59 mg/L in June (Appendix B – 

Figure 10A). 

TSS content for Flagler County was quite variable (CV 196 %). The mean TSS 

content was found to be 6.95 mg/L (Table 7), slightly less than the state median of 7.00 

mg/L (FDEP 1996). There were no significant average seasonal (wet - 7.43 mg/L, dry – 

6.36 mg/L) (Appendix B – Figure 3A) or monthly differences, which ranged from 11.85 

mg/L in November to 2.62 mg/L in December (Appendix B – Figure 10B). The highest 

TSS value (14.21 mg/L) occurred in GRA and the lowest occurred MOS (2.54 mg/L) 

(Appendix B – Figure 17A). 

Chlorophyll a

The average concentration of chlorophyll a was 6.27 μg/L in Pellicer Creek, 

which is slightly above the median concentration of 6μg/L found in Florida’s freshwater 

streams (FDEP 1996). There was no significant difference between the wet and dry 

seasons (Appendix B – Figure 3B) or between monthly averages despite the wide range 

between 18.13 μg/L in January and 1.18 μg/L in November (Appendix B – Figure 11A). 

Chlorophyll a was highly correlated with TSS (p=0.0099) but not with any other 

parameters including nutrients. 

Mean chlorophyll a concentration in the rest of the Flagler County sites was 13.97 

μg/L (Table 7), which is above the state median (6 μg/L) (FDEP 1996). Higher 

chlorophyll occurred in the wet season (20.27 μg/L) than in the dry season (5.95 

μg/L)(Appendix B – Figure 3B). The highest monthly averages occurred in June and 

July (53.92 and 47.52 μg/L, respectively) and the lowest monthly average ranged from 

13.79 to 2.27 μg/L for all other months except May, which had a concentration of 32.63 

μg/L (Appendix B – Figure 11B). BBR had the highest chlorophyll concentration (50.48 

μg/L), followed by HUL (31.21 μg/L). The rest of the sites were statistically similar to 

each other, ranging from 17.68 μg/L in JOE, which also showed a significant increase 

over the period of record of 15.28 μg/L/year, to 2.01μg/L at GRA (Appendix B – Figure 

17B). Chlorophyll a was highly correlated with total nitrogen (p<0.0001) and total 

phosphorus (p=0.0001) as well as total suspended solids (p=0.0005) and pH (p=0.04). 

Color 

 The average color in Pellicer Creek was quite high at 236.00 pcu (Table 7), well 

above the state median for color in fresh water streams of 71 pcu (FDEP 1996). There 

was no significant difference between average dry season color (248.00 pcu) and average 

wet season color (227.00 pcu) and although the monthly averages ranged from 420.00 

(October) to 72.00 (June) there were no significant differences (Appendix B – Figure 

12A). There was a significant decrease in average color (p=0.0028, R2

=0.26,) of 93.00 

pcu per year since 1997. 

The waters of the other sites in Flagler County were also highly colored. The 

mean value for Flagler County sites was 177.00 pcu (Table 7) also well above the state 

median (FDEP 1996). There was no significant difference between the wet season 

average (179.00 pcu) and the dry season average (174.00 pcu)(Appendix B - Figure 4A). 

The highest color occurred in October (238.00 pcu) and the lowest occurred in June 

(98.00 pcu) (Appendix B - Figure 12B). GRA (485.00 pcu) had the most highly colored 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 28 Results 

water, followed by BBR (423.74 pcu) and HOM (344.18 pcu). The rest of the sites were 

statistically similar ranging from 151.75 pcu at KOR to 97.82 at JOE (Appendix B – 

Figure 18A). Six of the 12 sites (HOM, HUL, D10, LEH, IRO, and IRW) also showed a 

significant decrease in color over the period of record ranging from 31.09 to 49.71 

pcu/year over the period of record. Drought conditions that lessened runoff of highly 

colored, acidic tannins may be responsible for this decrease in color and general increase 

in pH. 

Nutrients 

Total Nitrogen 

The average of total nitrogen in Pellicer Creek was 0.94 mg/L (Table 7), not as 

high as found in the other Flagler County water bodies. This concentration is higher than 

that found in the Tolomato- Matanzas estuary and as such Pellicer Creek is likely a 

significant source of the total nitrogen loading to the Matanzas River. There was no 

significant seasonal difference (Appendix B – Figure 4B). Monthly averages, which 

were not significantly different, ranged from 0.40 mg/L in May to 1.52 mg/L in August 

(Appendix B – Figure 13A). There was a significant decrease in total nitrogen of 0.21 

mg/L per year since 1997 (p=0.0115, R2

=0.1947). 

The average of total nitrogen in the rest of the Flagler County sites was 1.33 mg/L 

(Table 7), equivalent to the 56.5th percentile for freshwater streams (FDEP 1996). There 

was no significant difference between the wet (1.43 mg/L) and dry (1.22 mg/L) season 

averages (Appendix B – Figure 4B). Monthly averages ranged from 0.99 mg/L in April 

to 2.12 mg/L in August (Appendix B – Figure 13B). BBR (2.71 mg/L) had a 

significantly higher concentration of TN than all other sites (which ranged from 1.37 to 

0.92 mg/L) (Appendix B – Figure 18B) except GRA (2.06 mg/L) and HOM (1.85 mg/L). 

Total Phosphorus 

 The average total phosphorus in Pellicer Creek was 0.12 mg/L (Table 7), lower 

than the average of the rest of the Flagler County sites but the same as the TolomatoMatanzas system. This TP concentration was also similar to those found in Mosquito 

Lagoon (0.1 mg/L) and the southern part of the Indian River Lagoon (0.14 mg/L) below 

Sebastian Inlet (Sigua et al. 1999). There was no significant difference between wet and 

dry season averages (Appendix B – Figure 5). There was no significant difference 

between monthly averages, which ranged from a low 0.07 mg/L in January to a high of 

0.57 mg/L in June (Appendix B – Figure 14A). Total phosphorus in Pellicer was highly 

correlated with TSS (p=0.0009). 

The average of TP in the rest of Flagler County was 0.15 mg/L (Table 7), which is 

high compared to the state median of freshwater streams of 0.09 mg/L. There was no 

significant seasonal difference (Appendix B – Figure 5). Monthly average TP was 

highest in June at 0.75 mg/L and lowest in January at 0.07 mg/L (Appendix B – Figure 

14B). There were no significant differences in TP between the sites, which ranged 

between 0.22 mg/L (D10) and 0.07 mg/L (HOM)(Appendix B – Figure 19). 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 29 Results 

Trophic Status 

The WQI for Pellicer was calculated as 50.5 and categorized as FAIR (45 to <60) 

(FDEP 1996) (Figure 6). 

The average Water Quality Index (WQI), in the Flagler County waterways for the 

period of record (1997 to 2000), of 51.42 classified these combined water bodies as FAIR 

(45 to <60) with 7 sites (HOM, HUL, JOE, IRO, IRW, and KOR) classed as FAIR and 3 

sites (MUL, MOS, and LEH) classed as GOOD and 2 sites (GRA and BBR) classed as 

POOR (Figure 6). Annual WQI values were also calculated for each site to determine 

trends with linear regression, however, with only four years of data there were no 

significant trends. The only saline site (D10), evaluated with the Trophic State Index 

(TSI), was classed as FAIR (50 to <60) with a value of 51.34. 

Figure 6. Flagler County Water Quality Index (WQI) for individual freshwater sites and 

all sites combined. Yellow bars are sites with FAIR water quality. The green bar is 

GOOD water quality. The red bars are sites with POOR water quality. The green line is 

the cutoff point between FAIR and GOOD at 45 %. The red line is the cutoff point 

between Fair and POOR at 60 %. 

Flagler County Water Quality Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

PEL

HOM

HUL

MUL

JOE

MOS

GRA

LEH

BBR

IRO

IRW

KOR

ALL SITES

Sites (North - South)

WQI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD

Flagler County Water Quality Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

PEL

HOM

HUL

MUL

JOE

MOS

GRA

LEH

BBR

IRO

IRW

KOR

ALL SITES

Sites (North - South)

WQI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 30 Results 

C. Halifax River Watershed 

Several water bodies were monitored in Volusia County including the Halifax 

River and its tributaries, Bulow Creek, Tomoka River, and Spruce Creek as well as Rose 

Bay, which is a large embayment partially isolated from the main part of the Halifax 

River by an abandoned causeway and the present U.S. 1 causeway. Figure 7 shows the 

location of the water quality monitoring sites and Table 8 gives site descriptions for the 

entire Halifax River watershed. 

Physical Measurements 

Salinity 

The average salinity in the Halifax River was 23.46 ppt (Table 9). The wet 

season salinity of 23.90 ppt was higher than the dry season average of 22.83 (Appendix C 

– Figure 1A) with June showing the greatest monthly average salinity of 28.28 ppt and 

October and November showing the lowest average of 19.97 and 19.88 ppt, respectively 

(Appendix C – Figure 6A). Spatially, the highest salinity occurred at the sites closest to 

Ponce Inlet, HL18, HL19, and HL20 with 30.15, 30.50, and 30.71 ppt, respectively. 

HL03 had the lowest salinity of 18.14 ppt (Appendix C – Figure 15A). HL20 showed a 

significant increase in salinity of 0.96 ppt per year over the period of record (1991-1999) 

(p=0.0023, R2

=0.1094). Salinity in the Halifax River was highly correlated with pH 

(p<0.0001) and TSS (p=0.0016) and highly negatively correlated with DO (p=0.0052), 

turbidity (p<0.0001), color (p<0.0001), total nitrogen (p<0.0001), enterococcus 

(p=0.0166), fecal (p<0.0001) and total coliforms (p<0.0001) indicating that the source of 

these parameters is most likely freshwater discharges. 

The average salinity in Bulow Creek was 11.23 ppt (Table 9). Seasonally, the 

wet months (14.41 ppt) had higher salinity than the dry months (7.21 ppt) (Appendix C –

Figure 1A) with the most saline water observed in June at 30.15 ppt, which was 

significantly higher than all other months (Appendix C – Figure 6B). The least saline 

water was observed in October (6.8 ppt) and November (4.00 ppt). Salinity in Bulow 

Creek was highly correlated with pH (p<0.0001), turbidity (p=0.0002), and TSS 

(p=0.0006) and highly negatively correlated with color (p=0.0044). 

The average salinity in Tomoka River was 5.17 ppt (Table 9). Seasonally, the 

wet months (5.95 ppt) had higher salinity than the dry months (4.16 ppt) (Appendix C – 

Figure 1A) with the most saline water observed in June at 10.99 ppt, which was 

significantly higher than all other months (Appendix C – Figure 6C). The least saline 

water was observed in October (2.79 ppt) and November (2.77 ppt). Salinity was highest 

at TR01 (13.07 ppt), and dropped significantly moving further from the estuary – TR02 

(6.25 ppt), TR03 (2.34 ppt). TR04 (0.11 ppt) and TR05 (0.10 ppt) were statistically 

similar to each other and had the lowest salinity (Appendix C – Figure 15A). Salinity 

was highly correlated with pH (p=0.0004), turbidity (p=0.0007), TSS (p<0.0001), and 

chlorophyll a (p=0.0340) and highly negatively correlated with color (p<0.0001), total 

nitrogen (p<0.0001), enterococcus (p=0.0003), fecal (p<0.0001) and total coliforms 

(p<0.0001) indicating that source of these parameters is most likely freshwater 

discharges. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 31 Results 

Figure 7. Water quality monitoring site locations in Volusia County. 

Volusia County

Tomoka

River

HL02

HL03

HL05

TR01

HL10

HL11

HL12

TR02

TR03

TR05

HL13

HL14

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL18

HL19

HL20

HL15

SC01

RB01

HL01

HL04

HL16

HL17

BUL

TR04

RB02

SC04

SC05

Spruce Creek

Rose Bay

Tomoka

River

Halifax River

Bulow

Creek

Daytona Beach

Volusia County

RB03

Halifax River

Watershed Sites

SC02

Ponce de Leon Inlet

VCEMD Sites

Water

Land

County Boundaries

Halifax River Sub basin

Volusia County

Tomoka

River

HL02

HL03

HL05

TR01

HL10

HL11

HL12

TR02

TR03

TR05

HL13

HL14

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL18

HL19

HL20

HL15

SC01

RB01

HL01

HL04

HL16

HL17

BUL

TR04

RB02

SC04

SC05

Spruce Creek

Rose Bay

Tomoka

River

Halifax River

Bulow

Creek

Daytona Beach

Volusia County

RB03

Halifax River

Watershed Sites

SC02

Ponce de Leon Inlet

Volusia County

Tomoka

River

HL02

HL03

HL05

TR01

HL10

HL11

HL12

TR02

TR03

TR05

HL13

HL14

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL18

HL19

HL20

HL15

SC01

RB01

HL01

HL04

HL16

HL17

BUL

TR04

RB02

SC04

SC05

Spruce Creek

Rose Bay

Tomoka

River

Halifax River

Bulow

Creek

Daytona Beach

Volusia County

RB03

Halifax River

Watershed Sites

SC02

Ponce de Leon Inlet

Volusia County

Tomoka

River

HL02

HL03

HL05

TR01

HL10

HL11

HL12

TR02

TR03

TR05

HL13

HL14

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL18

HL19

HL20

HL15

SC01

RB01

HL01

HL04

HL16

HL17

BUL

TR04

RB02

SC04

SC05

Spruce Creek

Rose Bay

Tomoka

River

Halifax River

Bulow

Creek

Daytona Beach

Volusia County

RB03

Halifax River

Watershed Sites

SC02

Ponce de Leon Inlet

VCEMD Sites

Water

Land

County Boundaries

Halifax River Sub basin

Water

Land

County Boundaries

Halifax River Sub basin
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 32 Results 

Table 8. Volusia County water quality monitoring site descriptions. 

Table 9. Summary statistics of selected water quality parameters for Volusia County 

waterways for data from 1991 to 1999. 

COUNTY STATION SAMPLING 

AGENCY 

LOCATION 

VOLUSIA 

1 HL01 VCEMD1 Halifax River near Highbridge Rd. 

2 HL02 VCEMD Halifax River at ICW CM 29 

3 HL03 VCEMD Halifax River center of Tomoka Basin 

4 HL04 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 6 

5 HL05 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 11 

6 HL06 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 16 

7 HL07 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 21 

8 HL08 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 25 

9 HL09 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 30 

10 HL10 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 33 

11 HL11 VCEMD Halifax River 100 Yds N. of Orange Ave. Bridge 

12 HL12 VCEMD Halifax River At Entrance To Halifax Harbor 

13 HL13 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 44 

14 HL14 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 47 

15 HL15 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 56 

16 HL16 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 57 

17 HL17 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 63 

18 HL18 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 1 

19 HL19 VCEMD Halifax River At ICW CM 7 

20 HL20 VCEMD Ponce Inlet - Center Channel 

21 TR01 VCEMD Tomoka River at Old Dixie Highway 

22 TR02 VCEMD Tomoka River downstream of U.S. 1 Bridge 

23 TR03 VCEMD Tomoka River upstream of S.R. 40 Bridge 

24 TR04 VCEMD Tomoka River upstream of 11th St. Bridge 

25 TR05 VCEMD Tomoka River upstream of U.S. 92 Bridge 

26 SC01 VCEMD Spruce Creek - center U.S. 1 Bridge 

27 SC02 VCEMD Spruce Creek - west of SSC Railroad 

28 SC04 VCEMD Spruce Creek - west of Airport Rd. 

29 SC05 VCEMD Spruce Creek - dock at Gamble Place 

30 RB01 VCEMD Rose Bay - west of U.S. 1 Bridge 

31 RB02 VCEMD Rose Bay - south of Nova Rd. Bridge 

32 RB03 VCEMD Rose Bay - canal at Main St. Bridge 

1

 Volusia County Environmental Management Division 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 33 Results 

Table 9. Summary statistics of selected water quality parameters for Volusia County 

waterways for data from 1991 to 1999. 

Water Quality Mean Standard 

Error 

Median N Min. Max. 

Halifax River 

Salinity (ppt) 23.46 0.19 24.95 1802 0.80 38.70 

pH (SI) 7.68 0.01 7.70 1803 6.35 8.45

DO (mg/L) 6.59 0.03 6.52 1813 1.00 13.80

Turbidity (ntu) 9.50 0.14 8.20 1882 0.49 50.00

TSS (mg/L) 25.41 0.39 21.00 1881 1.00 244.00

Chl a (μg/L) 7.50 0.15 6.00 1842 0.00 131.00

Color (pcu) 60.25 1.59 35.00 1864 0.00 550.00

TN (mg/L) 1.06 0.02 0.87 1869 0.03 6.54

TP (mg/L) 0.17 0.01 0.14 1882 0.01 10.64

Bulow Creek 

Salinity (ppt) 11.23 1.72 10.30 34 0.20 35.50 

pH (SI) 7.31 0.09 7.38 34 5.81 8.02

DO (mg/L) 5.99 0.32 6.48 33 2.13 9.69

Turbidity (ntu) 6.04 0.54 5.78 34 1.43 16.00

TSS (mg/L) 15.56 1.69 13.65 34 3.00 41.40

Chl a (μg/L) 12.11 2.02 5.74 34 0.50 41.50

Color (pcu) 160.85 12.81 140.00 34 15.00 343.00

TN (mg/L) 1.22 0.16 1.02 34 0.21 5.69

TP (mg/L) 0.22 0.09 0.08 34 0.03 2.99

Tomoka River 

Salinity (ppt) 5.17 0.37 0.30 394 0.00 27.90 

pH (SI) 7.05 0.02 7.07 390 3.65 7.99

DO (mg/L) 4.60 0.10 4.60 390 0.11 9.70

Turbidity (ntu) 5.13 0.29 3.40 392 0.20 66.00

TSS (mg/L) 7.89 0.65 4.00 387 0.20 180.00

Chl a (μg/L) 6.74 0.91 2.05 384 0.00 200.60

Color (pcu) 233.80 9.09 170.00 385 33.00 800.00

TN (mg/L) 1.22 0.04 1.12 387 0.15 11.68

TP (mg/L) 0.22 0.07 0.07 387 0.01 24.00

Spruce Creek 

Salinity (ppt) 11.99 0.60 9.70 342 0.00 34.50 

pH (SI) 7.21 0.03 7.21 350 4.00 8.47

DO (mg/L) 4.68 0.11 4.90 355 0.07 10.00

Turbidity (ntu) 6.68 0.22 5.80 384 0.50 56.00

TSS (mg/L) 12.59 0.97 10.00 383 0.00 340.00

Chl a (μg/L) 6.96 0.94 3.20 374 0.00 263.10

Color (pcu) 186.73 9.42 95.50 384 0.50 1040.00

TN (mg/L) 1.12 0.06 1.01 380 0.07 8.41

TP (mg/L) 0.28 0.05 0.15 382 0.01 14.50

Rose Bay 

Salinity (ppt) 19.40 0.68 21.20 199 0.00 35.10 

pH (SI) 7.52 0.02 7.55 199 6.70 8.05

DO (mg/L) 5.77 0.10 5.60 203 0.76 10.30

Turbidity (ntu) 8.26 0.29 7.45 222 1.80 24.00

TSS (mg/L) 19.39 0.87 16.00 223 2.00 76.00

Chl a (μg/L) 10.79 1.00 6.80 217 0.20 152.10

Color (pcu) 50.26 2.66 39.00 223 12.00 370.00

TN (mg/L) 1.00 0.03 0.89 223 0.29 3.49

TP (mg/L) 0.27 0.07 0.16 223 0.02 12.80
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 34 Results 

The overall average salinity in Spruce Creek was 11.99 ppt (Table 9). Wet 

season average salinity (12.84) was not significantly higher than dry season salinity 

(10.89 ppt) (Appendix C – Figure 1A) with the most saline water occurring in June 

(16.79 ppt) and the least saline water occurring in October (8.18 ppt) (Appendix C – 

Figure 6D). SC01 had the highest salinity of 23.30 ppt, followed by SC02 with 14.90 

ppt. SC04 and SC05 were statistically similar with 4.33 and 4.92, respectively 

(Appendix C – Figure 15A). Salinity in the Spruce Creek was highly correlated with pH 

(p<0.0001), DO (p<0.0001), and TSS (p<0.0001) and highly negatively correlated with 

color (p<0.0001), total nitrogen (p<0.0001), enterococcus (p<0.0001), fecal (p<0.0001), 

and total coliforms (p<0.0001). 

The average salinity in Rose Bay was 19.40 ppt (Table 9). The wet season 

average (21.30 ppt) was higher than the dry season average (17.02 ppt) (Appendix C – 

Figure 1A) with the highest salinity occurring in June (25.44 ppt) and the lowest 

occurring in October (14.81 ppt) (Appendix C – Figure 6E). RB03 and RB01 had the 

highest salinities of 23.76 and 21.92 ppt and were significantly different from RB01, 

which had a salinity of 15.22 ppt (Appendix C – Figure 15A). Rose Bay salinity was 

highly correlated with pH (p<0.0001), turbidity (p<0.0001), and TSS (p<0.0001) and 

highly negatively correlated with color (p<0.0001), and enterococcus (p<0.0001). 

pH 

The average pH in the Halifax River was 7.68 SI (Table 9). The dry season 

average (7.72 SI) was higher than the wet season average (7.66 SI) (Appendix C – Figure 

1B) with the highest pHs occurring in January (7.79 SI), February (7.78 SI) and March 

(7.77 SI), significantly higher than the rest of the months, and the lowest occurring in 

November (7.60) (Appendix C – Figure 7A). Spatially, there is a general north to south 

gradient of pH from low (7.37 at HL01) to high (7.86 at HL18, 7.85 at HL17, and 7.84 at 

HL19) (Appendix C – Figure 15B). 

The average pH in Bulow Creek was 7.31 SI (Table 9). There was no significant 

difference between the wet season average pH (7.31 SI) and the dry season average pH 

(7.32 ppt) (Appendix C – Figure 1B). There was no significant difference between the 

monthly averages, which ranged from 7.79 SI observed in June to 7.02 SI in September at 

(Appendix C – Figure 7B). Bulow Creek showed a significant increase in pH of 0.26 SI 

per year (p=0.0061, R2

=0.2182) over the period of record. 

The average pH in the Tomoka River was 7.05 SI (Table 9). The wet season 

average (7.10) was higher than the dry season (7.01) (Appendix C – Figure 1B). The 

highest pH was recorded in May (7.26) and the lowest in October (6.84) (Appendix C – 

Figure 7C). Spatially, pH ranged from 7.19 SI at TR01 to 6.93 SI at TR05, generally 

decreasing with increasing distance from the Halifax River (Appendix C – Figure 5B). 

The average pH in the Spruce Creek was 7.21 SI (Table 9). There was no 

significant difference between the wet season average pH (7.22) and the dry season 

average (7.19) (Appendix C – Figure 1B). Monthly pH values ranged from 7.39 SI for 

the month of May to 6.92 SI in October (Appendix C – Figure 7D). Each site had a 

significantly different pH except SC02 and SC05 ranging from SC01 (7.54 SI), through 

SC02 (7.27 SI), SC05 (7.11 SI), and SC04 (6.93 SI) (Appendix C – Figure 15B). 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 35 Results 

The overall average pH in Rose Bay was 7.52 SI (Table 9). The wet season 

average pH (7.56) was significantly higher than the dry season average pH (7.48) 

(Appendix C – Figure 21B). The highest pH reading occurred in August (7.64 SI) and 

was significantly different from the lowest pH, which occurred in November (7.35 SI) 

(Appendix C – Figure 7E). RB03 and RB01 were statistically similar with pHs of 7.60 SI 

and 7.58 SI, respectively. RB02 had significantly lower pH of 7.45 SI (Appendix C – 

Figure 15B). 

Dissolved Oxygen 

The average dissolved oxygen in Halifax River was 6.59 mg/L (Table 9). The dry 

season average (7.52 mg/L) was significantly higher than the wet season (5.91 mg/L) 

(Appendix C – Figure 2A) with February showing the highest DO value (8.22 mg/L) and 

September the lowest (5.28 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 8A). DO was highest at HL09 

and HL08 with 7.28 and 7.22 mg/L, respectively and lowest at HL01 with 5.65 mg/L 

(Appendix C – Figure 16A). All DO values in the river were well above the Class III 

marine DO standard of 4 mg/L. 

The average dissolved oxygen in Bulow Creek was 5.99 mg/L (Table 9). 

January’s DO was the highest with 7.18 mg/L and the September DO was the lowest at 

3.37 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 8B) reflecting the seasonal differences, dry season 

average (7.09 mg/L) higher than wet (5.07 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 2A). 

The average dissolved oxygen in Tomoka River was 4.60 mg/L (Table 9). The 

dry season average (5.37 mg/L) was higher than the wet (3.98 mg/L) (Appendix C – 

Figure 2A). February’s DO was the greatest with 6.56 mg/L and the September DO was 

the least at 2.92 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 8C). TR01 had the most DO with 5.33 

mg/L and TR05 had the least with 2.31 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 16A), which is below 

the state standard of 5 mg/L for Class III freshwater streams. 

The average dissolved oxygen in Spruce Creek was 4.68 mg/L (Table 9). The 

dry season average was greater than the wet season average at 5.52 and 3.99 mg/L, 

respectively (Appendix C – Figure 2A). February showed the highest DO of 6.00 and the 

month of September had the lowest DO, 3.47mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 8D). DO at 

each of the sites was significantly different from high to low: SC01 – 6.23, SC02 – 5.13, 

SC05 – 4.12, and SC04 – 3.21(Appendix C – Figure 16A). 

The average dissolved oxygen in Rose Bay was 5.77 mg/L (Table 9). The dry 

season average (6.58 mg/L) was significantly higher than the wet season average (5.13 

mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 22A) with the highest DO in February (7.53) and lowest in 

September (4.37) (Appendix C – Figure 8E). RB01 had the highest DO (6.03 mg/L) and 

RB02 had the lowest (5.43mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 16A). DO significantly 

decreased by 0.25 mg/L/year over the period of record at RB03 (p=0.008, R2

=0.2358). 

Water Clarity 

Turbidity 

The average turbidity in Halifax River was 9.50 ntu (Table 9). The wet season 

turbidity (11.23 ntu) was considerably higher than the dry season turbidity (7.10 ntu) 

(Appendix C – Figure 2B), with July having the highest monthly average (13.15 ntu) and 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 36 Results 

December, January, February, and March the lowest values ranging from 5.85 to 6.87 ntu 

(Appendix C – Figure 9A). HL04 was the most turbid site (13.08 ntu) and in general the 

lowest turbidities were coincident with sites in the southern end of the system near the 

inlet. Sites HL12 through HL20 had turbidities ranging from 9.4 to 5.9 ntu (Appendix C 

– Figure 16B). 

The average turbidity in the Bulow Creek was 6.04 ntu (Table 9). There were no 

significant seasonal differences (4.96 ntu in the dry season and 6.89 ntu in the wet 

season) (Appendix C – Figure 2B) or monthly differences (range – 3.89 ntu (January) to 

8.28 ntu (April)) (Appendix C – Figure 9B). Bulow Creek showed a significant increase 

in turbidity from 1997 to 2000 by 1.92 ntu/year (p=0.0006, R2

=0.32) 

The average turbidity in the Tomoka River was 5.13 ntu (Table 9). There were 

no significant seasonal differences (5.06 ntu in the dry season and 5.17 ntu in the wet 

season) (Appendix C – Figure 2B) or monthly differences (range – 4.56 ntu (July) to 6.12 

ntu (September)) (Appendix C – Figure 9C). Site TR01 was the most turbid site at 7.56 

ntu and it was significantly higher than the rest of the sites, which ranged 3.71 to 5.68 ntu 

(Appendix C – Figure 16B). 

Spruce Creek had an overall average turbidity of 6.68 ntu (Table 9). Wet season 

average turbidity of 7.13 ntu was significantly higher than the dry season average of 6.07 

ntu (Appendix C – Figure 17A). August was the most turbid month at 8.28 ntu and 

March was the least turbid with 5.33 ntu (Appendix C – Figure 9D). There were no 

significant differences between the sites, which ranged from 6.01 to 7.08 ntu (Appendix 

C – Figure 16B). 

Rose Bay’s average turbidity was 8.26 ntu (Table 9). Wet season turbidity (9.43 

ntu) was higher than dry season turbidity (6.64 ntu) (Appendix C – Figure 2B) with 

monthly averages ranging from a high of 11.05 ntu in August to a low of 4.89 ntu in 

February (Appendix C – Figure 9E). RB01 was the most turbid site (9.35 ntu) and RB02 

was the least turbid (7.14 ntu) (Appendix C – Figure 16B). RB03 showed a significant 

increase in turbidity of 0.51 ntu/year (p=0.0193, R2

=0.19). 

Total Suspended Solids 

Halifax River had an average TSS of 25.41 mg/L (Table 9). The wet season had 

significantly more suspended solids than the dry season (29.14 and 20.20 mg/L, 

respectively) (Appendix C – Figure 3A). TSS was highest in June (34.39 mg/L) and 

lowest in January (16.88 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 10A). HL08, HL04 and HL09 had 

the highest concentrations of suspended solids, ranging from 31.6 to 31.4 mg/L and HL12 

had the lowest concentration at 18.5 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 17A), although there 

was quite a bit of statistical overlap among the stations. Both HL19, and HL20 showed 

significant decreases in TSS over the period of record by 1.72 and 3.72 mg/L/year 

respectively. 

The average TSS in Bulow Creek was 15.56 mg/L. The wet season had 

significantly more suspended solids than the dry season (20.19 and 9.70 mg/L, 

respectively) (Appendix C – Figure 3A). TSS in May was significantly higher than all 

other months (38.20 mg/L) with the lowest concentration in February (8.94 mg/L) 

(Appendix C – Figure 10B). 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 37 Results 

TSS was quite variable (CV 163 %) in Tomoka River. The overall average TSS 

was 7.89 mg/L (Table 9). There was a significant seasonal difference (wet season – 9.05 

mg/L and dry season – 6.33 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 3A), which was reflected in the 

monthly averages. TSS was highest in August (13.84 mg/L) and lowest in January with 

5.08 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 10C). Spatially, TR01 had the highest concentration of 

TSS (15.95 mg/L), followed by TR05 with 10.19 mg/L and the other sites, which were 

not significantly different from each other, ranged from 5.78 to 3.51 mg/L (Appendix C – 

Figure 17A). TSS at TR02 decreased 0.91 mg/L/year from 1991 to 1999. 

Spruce Creek TSS was also considerably variable (CV 150 %) with an average 

of 12.59 mg/L (Table 9). Seasonally, higher TSS occurred in the wet months (14.61 

mg/L) than in the dry months (9.80 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 3A) with April having 

the highest TSS (21.04 mg/L) and March and November with the lowest TSS (9.13 and 

8.83 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 10D). SC01 had the highest TSS at 21.78 mg/L, 

followed by SC02 at 14.15 mg/L. SC04 and SC05 were statistically similar with 6.12 

and 8.21, respectively (Appendix C – Figure 17A). TSS at SC05 decreased significantly 

by 1.75 mg/L/year. 

The average TSS concentration in Rose Bay was 19.39 mg/L (Table 9). The wet 

season average TSS (22.70 mg/L) was significantly higher than the dry season average 

(14.76 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 3A). TSS was highest in August at 30.74 mg/L and 

lowest in March at 11.50 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 10E). Spatially, TSS was highest 

at RB01 (23.83 mg/L) and lowest at RB02 (14.92 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 17A). 

Chlorophyll a 

The average concentration of chlorophyll a in Halifax River was 7.50 μg/L 

(Table 9). The state median for estuaries is 9 μg/L (FDEP 1996). Seasonally, higher 

runoff of nutrients in the wet months gave rise to greater average concentrations of 

chlorophyll a in the wet season (9.16 μg/L) than in the dry season (5.22 μg/L) (Appendix 

C – Figure 3B). August had the highest chlorophyll a concentration of 13.24 μg/L and 

January had the lowest at 4.03 μg/L (Appendix C – Figure 11A). HL09 and HL08 had 

the highest chlorophyll concentration at 9.64 and 9.62 μg/L, respectively and the lowest 

concentration occurred at HL01 and HL19 at 4.91 μg/L and 4.68 μg/L, respectively 

(Appendix C – Figure 17B). 

The average chlorophyll a concentration in Bulow Creek was 12.11 μg/L (Table 

9), the highest of the water bodies examined in Volusia County. The wet season had a 

significantly higher average chlorophyll a than the dry season (12.69 and 11.38 μg/L, 

respectively) (Appendix C – Figure 3B) with the highest monthly average of 29.32 μg/L 

in June and lowest in September (4.80 μg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 11B). 

In Tomoka River, the average chlorophyll a concentration was 6.74 μg/L (Table 

9). Wet season average concentration was significantly higher (9.14 μg/L) than the dry 

season average (3.70 μg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 3B). The highest monthly average 

occurred in May (14.53 μg/L) and January, February, March, and November had the 

smallest concentrations (range - 3.69 to 2.22 μg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 11C). TR05 

had significantly higher chlorophyll (13.8 μg/L) than the other sites, which ranged from 

7.2 to 4.4 μg/L (Appendix C – Figure 17B), however the chlorophyll concentrations were 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 38 Results 

highly variable (CV 264 %). Chlorophyll a decreased significantly, 2.74 μg/l/year at 

TR04 (p=0.0055, R2

=0.11). 

The average Spruce Creek chlorophyll a concentration was 6.96 μg/L (Table 9). 

This parameter was highly variable (CV 261%) which negated significant differences in 

the overall seasonal averages (wet-8.54 μg/L, dry-4.87 μg/L)(Appendix C – Figure 3B) 

and monthly averages, which ranged from 13.26 μg/L in August to 2.58 μg/L in March 

(Appendix C – Figure 11D). There were also no significant differences between the sites, 

which ranged from 10.42 μg/L to 3.93 μg/L (Appendix C – Figure 17B). 

Rose Bay’s average chlorophyll a concentration was 10.79 μg/L (Table 9), the 

second highest of the water bodies examined in Volusia County. The highest monthly 

average occurred in May at 17.71 μg/L and the lowest occurred in March at 2.74 μg/L 

(Appendix C – Figure 11E) with a significantly higher wet season average (13.29 μg/L) 

than dry season average (7.40 μg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 3B). RB02 had significantly 

higher chlorophyll a at 15.01μg/L than both RB01 and RB03, which were statistically 

similar to each other with concentrations of 8.33 and 5.39 μg/L, respectively (Appendix 

C – Figure 17B). RB03 showed a significant chlorophyll a increase of 0.46 μg/L/year. 

Color 

The average color in the Halifax River was 60.00 pcu (Table 9). The dry season 

average (69.00 pcu) was significantly higher than wet season average (54.00 pcu) 

(Appendix C – Figure 4A) with the most color occurring in October and November 

(107.00 pcu) (Appendix C – Figure 12A). HL03 was the most highly colored site 

(115.00 pcu, coincident with its proximity to the mouth of the Tomoka River. Sites 

HL18, HL19, and HL20 had the least color ranging from 29.00 to 24.00 pcu (Appendix C 

– Figure 18A). In general, color decreases from north to south in the Halifax River with 

the highly colored water from the Tomoka River entering in the north and the 

flushing/diluting influence of Ponce Inlet in the south. 

The average color in Bulow Creek was 161.00 pcu (Table 9). There was no 

significant seasonal difference (wet-173.00 pcu, dry-145.00 pcu) (Appendix C – Figure 

4A). The monthly averages ranged from 259.00 pcu in October to 60.00 in June 

(Appendix C – Figure 12B) but there were no significant differences. 

The Tomoka River had an average color concentration of 234.00 pcu (Table 9), 

the most highly colored water in the Volusia County water bodies examined. There was 

no significant seasonal difference (dry-252.00 pcu, wet-220.00 pcu) (Appendix C – 

Figure 4A). The most colored water occurred in October at 390.00 pcu and June showed 

the least color at 84.00 pcu (Appendix C – Figure 12C). TR03, TR04, and TR05 had the 

most highly colored water ranging from 287.00 to 246.00 pcu. TR01 had the least 

colored water at 172.00 pcu (Appendix C – Figure 18A) where mixing with the Halifax 

River is likely a factor. A significant increase of 48.00 pcu/year in color occurred at 

TR04. 

Spruce Creek’s overall average color was 187.00 pcu (Table 9). Similar to the 

Tomoka River, there was no significant difference in the seasonal averages (dry-194.00 

pcu, wet-181.00 pcu)(Appendix C – Figure 3A). October had the most highly colored 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 39 Results 

water (347.00 pcu) and June showed the lowest (48.00 pcu) (Appendix C – Figure 12D). 

Spatially, SC04 and SC05 had the most color at 248.00 and 267.00 pcu respectively. 

SC02 was significantly less colored at 153.00 pcu and SC01 was the least colored at 

82.00 pcu (Appendix C – Figure 18A). 

The average color in Rose Bay was 50.00 pcu (Table 9). The dry season average 

of 59.00 pcu was higher than the wet season average of 44.00 pcu (Appendix C – Figure 

4A) and average color was highest in November (83.00 pcu) and lowest ranged from 

46.00 to 29.00 pcu in March through June (Appendix C – Figure 12E). RB03 had the 

most colored water (68.00 pcu) followed by RB02 and RB01 ranging at 49.00 to 46.00 

pcu, respectively (Appendix C – Figure 18A). 

Nutrients 

Total Nitrogen 

The average total nitrogen concentration in the Halifax River was 1.06 mg/L 

(Table 9), which is higher than the median TN concentration of 0.8 mg/L found in 

Florida’s estuaries (FDEP 1996). There was a significant overall reduction of nitrogen by 

0.19 mg/L per year from 1991 to 1999 (p<0.0001, R2

 = 0.38). This trend, reflected at all 

individual sites, could be due in part to increased reuse by wastewater treatment plants. 

Wet season average concentration of 1.12 mg/L was higher than the dry season average 

of 0.97 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 4B), owing to increased runoff, with the highest 

monthly average concentration of 1.37 mg/L occurring in September and the lowest 

concentration of 0.79 mg/L occurring in January (Appendix C – Figure 13A). Spatially, 

there were no significant differences between the sites, which ranged from 1.20 mg/L at 

HL10 to a range of between 0.96 mg/L to 0.86 mg/L at HL16 through HL20 near Ponce 

inlet (Appendix C – Figure 18B). 

The average TN in Bulow Creek was 1.22 mg/L, the highest found in the 

tributaries. There was no significant average seasonal difference (dry-1.30 mg/L, wet1.16 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 4B) nor was there a significant difference in the 

monthly averages ranging from 2.69 mg/L in November to 0.75 in April (Appendix C – 

Figure 13B). 

The Tomoka River average TN concentration was 1.22 mg/L (Table 9) the same 

as in Bulow Creek. There was no significant difference between the wet (1.28 mg/L) and 

dry (1.14 mg/L) season averages (Appendix C – Figure 4B). August had the greatest 

concentration of TN at 1.60 mg/L and June had the lowest at 0.98 mg/L (Appendix C – 

Figure 13C). TR05 had significantly higher TN (1.89 mg/L) than the other sites, which 

ranged from1.09 to 1.23 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 18B). TR01, TR02 and TR05 

showed significant decreases in TN of 0.08, 0.05, and 0.16 mg/L/year. 

The average total nitrogen in Spruce Creek was 1.12 mg/L (Table 9). No 

significant differences were apparent between wet (1.10 mg/L) and dry (1.00 mg/L) 

season averages (Appendix C – Figure 4B). There were no significant differences in 

monthly averages, which ranged from 1.35 in October to 0.87 mg/L in May (Appendix C 

– Figure 13D). SC04 (1.21 mg/L) and SC05 (1.17 mg/L) had greater concentrations of 

TN than SC02 (0.97 mg/L) and SC01 (0.87 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 18B). SC01 

and SC02 showed a significant decrease in TN of 0.15 and 0.11 mg/L/year 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 40 Results 

Rose Bay’s average total nitrogen concentration was 1.00 mg/L (Table 9). There 

was a significant decrease in Rose Bay nitrogen of 0.13 mg/L per year from 1991 to 1999 

(p<0.0001, R2

 = 0.36), which was reflected at all three sites. Wet season and dry season 

averages were not significantly different at 1.04 and 0.96 mg/L, respectively (Appendix 

C – Figure 4B). The highest monthly average concentration of TN was observed in 

October (1.21 mg/L) and the lowest concentration was observed in January (0.80 mg/L) 

(Appendix C – Figure 13E) but there were no significant differences between them. 

RB03 had a significantly higher concentration (1.21 mg/L) than RB01 and RB02, which 

were 0.98 and 0.97 mg/L, respectively (Appendix C – Figure 18B). 

Total Phosphorus 

The average of total phosphorus in the Halifax River was 0.17 mg/L (Table 9), 

which is close to the 90th percentile of 0.20 mg/L concentration found in the state’s 

estuaries (FDEP 1996). Seasonally, wet months had higher average total phosphorus 

(0.19 mg/L) than the dry months (0.13 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 5) with the highest 

monthly average observed in June (0.29 mg/L) and the lowest concentrations ranging 

from 0.12 to 0.17 mg/L in January through May and September through December 

(Appendix C – Figure 14A). HL10 (0.33 mg/L) was significantly higher than every other 

Halifax River site, which ranged from 0.21 to 0.13 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 19). 

HL18 showed a significant increase in TP of 0.02 mg/L/year (p=0.0021, R2

=0.11) over 

the period of record (1991-1999). 

The average TP in Bulow Creek was 0.22 mg/L (Table 9). There was no 

significant average seasonal difference (dry-0.28 mg/L, wet-0.17 mg/L) (Appendix C – 

Figure 5) nor was there a significant difference in the monthly averages ranging from 

1.06 mg/L in November to 0.04 in May (Appendix C – Figure 14B). 

The Tomoka River average total phosphorus concentration was 0.22 mg/L 

(Table 9). This parameter was highly variable (CV 626 %), thus the wet season average 

(0.33 mg/L) and the dry season average (0.08 mg/L) were not significantly different 

(Appendix C – Figure 5). The highest monthly concentration of 1.53 mg/L occurred in 

the average total phosphorus concentration in Spruce Creek was 0.28 mg/L (Table 9). 

Seasonally, wet months had higher average total phosphorus (0.38 mg/L) than the dry 

months (0.14 mg/L) (Appendix C – Figure 5), although this phosphorus data was also 

highly variable (CV 341 %). September showed a significantly higher concentration 

(1.12 mg/L) than all other months, which ranged from 0.44 to 0.12 mg/L (Appendix C – 

Figure 14D). There were no differences between the sites, which ranged from 0.23 

(SC01) to 0.38 (SC05) mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 19). 

Rose Bay’s average total phosphorus concentration was 0.27 mg/L (Table 9). 

This data was highly variable (CV 361 %) which negated significant seasonal differences 

(wet-0.36, dry-0.15 mg/L, respectively) (Appendix C – Figure 5). September had the 

highest phosphorus (1.24 mg/L) and February the lowest (1.12 mg/L) (Appendix C – 

Figure 14E). There were no significant differences between the sites, which ranged from 

0.16 mg/L (RB03) to 0.31 mg/L (RB01)(Appendix C – Figure 19). 

September and the rest of the months were statistically similar to each other with 

values ranging from 0.19 to 0.06 mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 14C). There were no 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 41 Results 

significant differences between the sites in the river, which ranged from 0.36 to 0.13 

mg/L (Appendix C – Figure 19). 

Trophic Status 

The Trophic State Index (TSI) for the Halifax River estuary was 53.12, classified 

as FAIR. Individual sites were all classified as FAIR except sites HL18, HL19, and 

HL20, which were GOOD, likely the result of their proximity to the flushing influence of 

Ponce Inlet (Figure 8). 

The TSI for Bulow Creek was 56.70, which is classified as FAIR (Figure 8). 

The TSI for the estuarine Tomoka River sites combined was 52.11, classified as 

FAIR, and both TR01 and TR02 sites were also FAIR (Figure 8). The three upstream 

sites in Tomoka River had specific conductivities less than 5,000 μmhos/cm so the WQI 

was used. Together these sites had an average WQI of 55.96, FAIR, with TR03 and 

TR04 both classified as Fair and TR05 was POOR (Figure 9). 

. The TSI for Spruce Creek is 52.92, which is classed as FAIR. All individual 

sites were classed as FAIR except SC01, which was classed as GOOD (Figure 8). 

The TSI for Rose Bay was 54.33, which is classed as FAIR (Figure 8). 

Figure 8. Halifax River Watershed Trophic State Index (TSI) for individual estuarine 

sites from 1991 to 1999. Yellow bars represent sites with FAIR water quality 

and green bars represent sites with GOOD water quality. The green line is the 

cutoff between GOOD and FAIR at 50 % and the red line is the cutoff point 

between FAIR and POOR at 60 %. 

Halifax River Watershed Trophic State Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

Sites (North - South)

TSI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD

Halifax River Watershed Trophic State Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

Sites (North - South)

TSI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 42 Results 

Figure 9. Tomoka River Water Quality Index for freshwater sites from 1991 to 1999. 

Yellow bars represent sites with FAIR (45 to <60) water quality (TR03 and 

TR04). The red bar indicates POOR (60 to 100) water quality (TR05). 

Tomoka River Water Quality Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

TR03 TR04 TR05

Sites (North - South)

WQI (%)

Good

Fair

Poor
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 43 Results 

D. Comparison of Water Bodies 

Physical Measurements 

Salinity 

Salinity has significantly increased by 1.7 ppt per year in the Tolomato – 

Matanzas system (R2=0.12). This could have resulted from the drought conditions that 

the area and the state have been experiencing over the past few years. This system had 

the highest average salinity (30.42 ppt) in the NCB project area. Each of the other water 

body groups were significantly less saline; Halifax (23.46 ppt), Rose Bay (19.40 ppt), and 

Spruce Creek (12.0 ppt) and Bulow Creek (11.23 ppt) grouped together, Tomoka River 

(5.2 ppt), and Pellicer Creek (1.70 ppt) and the predominantly freshwater sites of Flagler 

County (0.59 ppt) also grouped (Appendix D - Figure1A). 

pH 

 Each of the water bodies has a significantly different pH value except TolomatoMatanzas, Bulow Creek, and Spruce Creek were grouped in the middle of the range 

(Appendix D - Figure1B). Halifax River had the highest pH (7.68), followed by Rose 

Bay (7.52), Tolomato-Matanzas (7.34), Bulow Creek (7.31), and Spruce Creek (7.21), 

and Tomoka River (7.05). Flagler County sites had the second lowest pH at 6.68 SI and 

pH has increased there by 0.26 SI per year since 1997 (R2

 = 0.14). Pellicer Creek had the 

lowest pH at 6.46 SI. 

Dissolved Oxygen 

The main stems of the estuaries generally had higher DO than did the tributaries 

and the freshwater sites in Flagler County. Proximity to the main stem generally insured 

higher DO than those sites which were more remote. Halifax River had significantly 

higher DO than all other water bodies (6.6 mg/L) (Appendix D - Figure 2A). The rest of 

the DO concentrations ranged from 6.13 mg/L in the Tolomato – Matanzas to 4.60 mg/L 

in Tomoka River (slightly below the Class III freshwater standard of 5.0 mg/L). 

Water Clarity 

Turbidity 

Turbidity and TSS generally followed the same pattern with the highest of both in 

the more saline waters and the least of both in the fresher waters although more 

pronounced for TSS. Average turbidity was highest in Halifax River (9.50 ntu), followed 

by Rose Bay (8.26 ntu) and Spruce Creek (6.68 ntu). Bulow Creek (6.04 ntu), Tolomato 

– Matanzas (5.77 ntu), and Tomoka River (5.13 ntu) were similar to each other while the 

Flagler sites (4.7 ntu) and Pellicer Creek (3.55 ntu) were the least turbid (Appendix D - 

Figure 2B). 

Total Suspended Solids 

TSS values for Tolomato-Matanzas (30.8 mg/L) and Halifax River (25.4 mg/L) 

were significantly different from each other and from the rest of the Water bodies 

(Appendix D - Figure 3A). The rest of the concentrations ranged from 19.4 mg/L in Rose 

Bay to 6.95 mg/L in the Flagler County sites and 2.48 mg/L in Pellicer Creek. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 44 Results 

Maintenance dredging of the ICW may be partially responsible for resuspension of 

sediments and nutrients in the Halifax River and Tolomato-Matanzas system. 

Chlorophyll a

Flagler County sites, Bulow Creek, and Rose Bay had the highest chlorophyll a 

concentrations (13.97, 12.11 and 10.79μg/L, respectively) (Appendix D - Figure 3B). 

Halifax River, Spruce Creek, Tomoka River, and Pellicer Creek had similar mid-range 

concentrations ranging from 7.50 to 6.27 μg/L. The least chlorophyll a occurred in the 

Tolomato – Matanzas River system (4.40 μg/L), well below the state median for estuaries 

of 9μg/L (FDEP 1996). 

Color 

 Pellicer Creek and Tomoka River had the most highly colored water in the project 

area at 236.15 and 233.80 pcu, followed by Spruce Creek, the Flagler County sites and 

Bulow Creek (186.73, 176.74, and 160.85 pcu). Tolomato-Matanzas, Halifax River, and 

Rose Bay ranged from 74.4, through 60.25, to 50.3 pcu (Appendix D - Figure 4A). 

Nutrients 

Total Nitrogen 

Concentrations of TN were highest in the Flagler County sites (1.33 mg/L), 

Bulow Creek (1.22 mg/L), and Tomoka River (1.22 mg/L), followed by Halifax River, 

Spruce Creek, Rose Bay and Pellicer Creek (ranging from 1.06 to 0.94). The lowest 

concentrations occurred in the Tolomato – Matanzas system (0.58 mg/L)(Appendix D - 

Figure 4B). The low concentrations in the Tolomato – Matanzas system are likely the 

result of the comparative lack of urban development in the watershed and tidal flushing. 

Total nitrogen has been declining in the Halifax River by 0.19 mg/L per year (R2=0.38) 

and in Rose Bay by 0.13 mg/L per year (R2=0.36) since 1991. 

Total Phosphorus 

There were no significant differences in average TP concentration but in general 

Spruce Creek, Rose Bay, Tomoka River, and Bulow Creek had the highest concentrations 

of TP ranging from 0.28 to 0.22 mg/L (Appendix D -Figure 5). Halifax River and the 

Flagler County sites ranged from 0.17 to 0.15 mg/L and Pellicer Creek and the Tolomato 

– Matanzas River system both averaged 0.12 mg/L. The state median for phosphorus in 

freshwater streams is 0.09 mg/L and for estuaries is 0.07 mg/L (FDEP 1996). 

Trophic Status 

Using the Trophic State Index for estuarine waters to compare the water bodies of 

the Northern Coastal Basin, the Tolomato-Matanzas estuary shows the best water quality 

with an average TSI of 41.68 (GOOD). The rest of the estuarine water bodies follow in 

descending order of water quality: Ditch 10 in Flagler County, 51.34 (FAIR), Tomoka 

River (sites TR01 and TR02), 52.11 (FAIR), Spruce Creek, 52.92 (FAIR), Halifax River, 

53.12 (FAIR), Rose Bay, 54.33 (FAIR), and Bulow Creek, 56.70 (FAIR) (Figure 10). 

Using the Water Quality Index for freshwater water bodies, Pellicer Creek had the best 

water quality at 53.18 (FAIR) followed closely by all other Flagler County water ways 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District 45 Results 

combined which averaged 53.90 (FAIR), and the combined freshwater sites in Tomoka 

River, which averaged 55.96 FAIR) (Figure11). 

Figure 10. Trophic State Index of the estuarine water bodies in the Northern Coastal 

Basin. The green bar represents sites with GOOD water quality. Yellow bars 

represent sites with FAIR water quality. The green line is the cutoff between 

GOOD and FAIR at 50 % and the red line is the cutoff between FAIR and 

POOR at 60 %. 

Trophic State Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

TolomatoMatanzas

Estuary

Ditch 10 Tomoka

River

Spruce

Creek

Halifax

River

Rose Bay Bulow

Creek

NCB Estuarine Water Bodies

TSI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD

Trophic State Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

TolomatoMatanzas

Estuary

Ditch 10 Tomoka

River

Spruce

Creek

Halifax

River

Rose Bay Bulow

Creek

NCB Estuarine Water Bodies

TSI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 46 Results 

Figure 11. Water Quality Index of the freshwater water bodies in the Northern Coastal 

Basin. Yellow bars represent sites with FAIR water quality. The green line is 

the cutoff between GOOD and FAIR at 45 % and the red line is the cutoff 

between FAIR and POOR at 60 %. 

Water Quality Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Pellicer Creek Flagler Co. Water Bodies Tomoka River

NCB Freshwater Water Bodies

WQI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD

Water Quality Index

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Pellicer Creek Flagler Co. Water Bodies Tomoka River

NCB Freshwater Water Bodies

WQI (%)

POOR

FAIR

GOOD
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 47 Results 

II. Bacterial Status 

 The St. Johns River Water Management District became involved in the Northern 

Coastal Basin area largely as a result of the reclassification of shellfish harvesting areas 

in the Tolomato – Matanzas estuary from Conditionally Approved to Conditionally 

Restricted due to bacterial concentrations. 

The waterways of the NCB have two classifications under the Clean Water Act, 

Class II - Shellfish Propagation and Harvesting and Class III - Recreation, Propagation, 

and Maintenance of a Healthy, Well-balanced Population of Fish and Wildlife. 

These areas in each county have been designated as Class II waters: 

St. Johns County: Guana River and Tributaries - From Guana Lake Dam south 

to Tolomato River. 

Tolomato River (North River) and Tributaries - From a line connecting Spanish 

Landing to Booth Landing, south to an east-west line through Intracoastal 

Waterway Marker number 55 (south of Robinson Creek). 

Salt Run - Waters south of an east-west line connecting Lighthouse Park boat 

ramp with Conch Island. 

Matanzas River, Intracoastal Waterway and Tributaries, excluding Treasure 

Beach Canal System - From Intracoastal Waterway Marker number 29 (slightly 

south of Moultrie Creek), south to Flagler County Line. 

Pellicer Creek. 

Flagler County: Matanzas River (Intracoastal Waterway) - N. Flagler County 

Line south to an east-west line through Fl. Marker 109 (at Washington Oaks State 

Park). 

Pellicer Creek. 

Volusia County: Class II waters are south of the area included in this report. 

(F.A.C. 62-302.400) 

Sites included in this report that are within Class II designated areas are TOL, 

STOKESCR, GAR, JXTR17, CCC, MRT, and PEL. The rest of the sites are in 

designated Class III waters. 

State bacterial standards for Class II waters are as follows: the geometric mean 

(geomean) Most Probable Number (MPN) of fecal coliforms will not exceed 14/100 ml 

with not more than 10% of samples exceeding 43/100 ml. The geomean for total 

coliforms shall not exceed 70/100 ml nor exceed 230/100 ml in more than 10 % of 

samples (F.A.C. 62-302.530). 

State bacterial standards for Class III waters are as follows: fecal coliform 

bacteria counts shall not exceed a monthly average of 200 MPN per 100 ml, nor exceed 

400 MPN per100 ml in more than 10% of the samples, nor exceed 800 MPN per100 ml 

on any one day. Total coliform bacteria counts shall not exceed 1000 MPN per100 ml as 

a monthly average, nor exceed 1000 MPN per100 ml in more than 20% of the samples, 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 48 Results 

nor exceed 2400 MPN per100 ml at any time. Monthly averages shall be expressed as 

geometric means based on minimum of 10 samples taken over a 30-day period (F.A.C. 

62-302.530). Because sampling in the NCB occurred monthly, not several times within a 

30-day period, percent exceedance of the one-day limits for sites within the Class III 

designation was calculated for each of the sites. 

Waters under the Class II designation are further classified as Approved, 

Conditionally Approved, Restricted, Conditionally Restricted, Prohibited, and 

Unclassified (= Unapproved) for the harvest of shellfish by the Shellfish Environmental 

Assessment Section (SEAS) in the Bureau of Aquaculture Environmental Services of the 

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, using the National Shellfish 

Sanitation Program (NSSP) standards. For areas to be classified Approved or 

Conditionally Approved, the level of fecal coliform in sub-surface water samples must 

meet the NSSP 14/43 standard, where the fecal coliform median or geometric mean must 

not exceed 14 MPN/100 ml, and not more than 10 percent may exceed 43 MPN/100 ml. 

For areas to be classified Restricted or Conditionally Restricted, the level of fecal 

coliform in sub-surface water samples must meet the NSSP 88/260 standard where the 

fecal coliform median or geometric mean must not exceed 88 MPN/100 ml, and not more 

than 10 percent may exceed 260 MPN/100 ml. Since TOL, STOKESCR, GAR, JXTR17, 

and CCC meet the NSSP 88/260 but do not meet the 14/43 standard (Figure 12), the area 

is Conditionally Restricted. 

Fecal coliform levels in the Tolomato-Matanzas estuary are mostly within the 

Class III standards for coliform bacteria, however, there are several violations of Class II 

standards for both fecal and total coliforms (Figure 12). 

In 1997, the Guana, Tolomato, Matanzas Shellfish and Water Quality Taskforce 

produced a progress report detailing fecal coliform levels in the northern part of St. Johns 

County in response to the reclassification of the harvesting area from Conditionally 

Approved to Conditionally Restricted. 

Some of the stations that were examined in that report are coincident with a few 

sites included in this report. For example, Station #621 in the GTM report showed a 

geomean of approximately 12 MPN/100 ml for 1990 to1995. This site is similar in 

location to TOL. The geomean for 1997 to 2000 at TOL is 11.6 MPN/ 100 ml, which is 

within the Class II standard and shows that this site has been unchanged in its fecal 

coliform content, however 11.0 % of the samples at TOL exceeded the 43 MPN/100 ml 

standard. The area encompassing this site remains classified as Conditionally Restricted 

meeting the NSSP 88/260 standard. 

Station #619 in the GTM report has a geomean of approximately 19 MPN/100 ml. 

This site is similar to STOKESCR, which had a geomean of 16.5 MPN/100 ml. Both of 

these geomeans violate the standard for Class II waters even though there seems to be a 

slight improvement but STOKESCR meets the NSSP 88/260 standard by having only 5.2 

% of the samples exceed the 260 MPN/100 ml standard. 

The results of most concern were those for Pellicer Creek, an area perceived as 

pristine for the most part. Even though Pellicer Creek is a Class II water body, it is an 

unclassified area for shellfish harvesting under the SEAS classification scheme. Overall 

geomeans for 1997 to 2000 were 481.1 MPN/100 ml for fecal coliforms and 1468.7 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 49 Results 

Figure 12. Fecal coliform geomeans for sites in Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary from 1997 

to 2000 and a comparison with both the NSSP 14/43 and NSSP 88/260 

standards for shellfish harvesting in Class II waters. Sites within Class II 

waters are TOL, STOKESCR, CCC, GAR, JXTR17, and MRT. 

MPN/100 ml for total coliforms, which are above the Class II standard. Both of the Class 

II standards (14MPN/100ml and 43MPN/100ml) were exceeded 97% of the time over the 

period of record. Monthly concentrations exceeded the Class III one day standard (800 

MPN/100 ml) for fecal coliforms 35% of the time during the period of record (1997 – 

2000) and for total coliforms 15 % of the time (Figure 13). It is not readily apparent 

where this contamination is coming from. Preliminary investigations have been made to 

determine the source of this contamination and to determine whether the source is human 

or not. Site MRT, in the Matanzas River at the mouth of Pellicer Creek, had a geomean 

for fecal coliforms of 10.72 MPN/100 ml, which is below the Class II standard however, 

MRT exceeded the Class II standard of 14 MPN/100 ml 54% of the time and the 43 

MPN/100 ml standard 10% of the time indicating that tidal flushing plays some role in 

removing the contamination. More intense monitoring (more stations between these two 

sites) should be considered to further describe the dynamics of this area. 

Three sites in the rest of Flagler County also had high coliform geomeans. JOE 

had a fecal coliform geomean of 657.02 MPN/100 ml and exceeded the one-day limit of 

800 MPN/100 ml 43% of the time. MUL had a fecal coliform geomean of 325.13 

MPN/100 ml with a one-day limit exceedance rate of 23 % and D10 had a fecal coliform 

geomean of 259.63 MPN/100 ml with a one-day limit exceedance rate of 18%. The total 

Fecal Coliforms in theTolomato-Matanzas Estuary 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Sites (North - South)

Fecal Coliform Geomeans 

(MPN/100 ml)

NSSP 88/260 Standard

NSSP 14/43 Standard

Fecal Coliforms in theTolomato-Matanzas Estuary 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

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100

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Sites (North - South)

Fecal Coliform Geomeans 

(MPN/100 ml)

NSSP 88/260 Standard

NSSP 14/43 Standard
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 50 Results 

Figure 13. Comparison of fecal and total coliforms at Pellicer Creek from 1997 to 2000 

with both the one-time fecal (800 MPN/100 ml) and total (2400 MPN/100 ml) 

coliform standards for Class III waters. 

coliform geomeans at all these sites were also very high, ranging from 2898.98 MPN/100 

ml (JOE) to 1037.78 MPN/100 ml (D10) with one-day exceedance rates of 40% to 14%. 

Volusia County sites had varying degrees of coliform concentration (Figure 14). 

Halifax River sites are generally well below the Class III standards for both fecal and 

total coliforms whereas sites within the tributaries occasionally (<10 % exceedance) 

violated the Class III standards for fecal coliforms and generally followed the same 

pattern, increasing concentration as distance from the mouth of the tributary increased. 

The Florida Stream Water Quality Index criteria show that 70% of the samples taken in 

Coliforms at Pellicer Creek

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

199707

199708

199709

19971

0

19971

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199712

199801

199802

199803

199804

199805

199806

199807

199808

199809

19981

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19981

1

199812

199901

199902

199903

199904

199905

199906

199907

199908

199909

19991

0

19991

1

199912

200001

200002

200003

200004

Sampling Date (year/month)

 Coliforms (MPN/100ml)

Fecal Coliforms Total Coliforms

16,000 16,000 16,000 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 51 Results 

Florida streams have fecal coliform concentrations below 190 MPN/100 ml and 80% of 

the samples taken in Florida streams have fecal coliforms under 470 MPN/100 ml so the 

tributary sites fall between these two percentiles for fecal coliforms (FDEP 1996). 

Figure 14. Fecal (FC) and total coliform (TC) geomeans for Volusia County sites from 

1991 to 1999. Sites beginning with HL are estuarine sites. Sites beginning 

with RB, SC, or TR are tributary sites.

Coliforms in Volusia County

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

HL01 HL02 HL03 HL04 HL05 HL06HL07 HL08 HL09HL10 HL11 HL12 HL13HL14HL15 HL16 HL17HL18 HL19

HL20 RB01 RB02

RB03 SC01 SC02 SC04 SC05 TR01

TR02 TR03TR04 TR05

Station

Coliforms (MPN/100ml)

FC Geomean TC Geomean
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 52 References 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 53 References 

REFERENCES 

American Public Health Association, 1985. Standard Methods for the Examination of 

Water and Wastewater. Washington, D.C. 1268 pp. 

Bonnie Holub and Associates, 1998. Northern Coastal Basin Reconnaissance Report. St. 

Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL. 220 pp.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 1996. Water Quality Assessment for 

the State of Florida: 305(b) Report. FDEP, Tallahassee, FL. 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 1996. Chapter 62-302 Surface Water 

Quality Standards. FDEP, Tallahassee, FL. 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 1997. Biological Assessment of the 

Halifax River, including the Ormond Beach, Holly Hill, and the Daytona Beach 

Wastewater Treatment Facilities 

Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. 1989. Typical Water Quality Values 

for Florida’s Lakes, Streams, and Estuaries. FDER, Tallahassee, FL. 

Guana, Tolomato, Matanzas Shellfish and Water Quality Taskforce, 1997. Guana, 

Tolomato, Matanzas Shellfish and Water Quality Taskforce Progress Report. St. 

Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL. 57 pp. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 1996. NOAA’s Estuarine 

Eutrophication Survey. Volume 1:South Atlantic Region. Silver Spring, Md. 

Office of Ocean Resources Conservation Assessment. 50 pp. 

Sigua, G.C. and J.S. Steward, 1997. Northern Coastal Basin-Water Quality Programs. 

SJRWMD Program Planning Document. 6 pp. 

Sigua, G.C., J.S. Steward, and W.A.Tweedale. 1999. Status of Water Quality in the 

Indian River Lagoon System: Spatial and Temporal Trends. Technical 

Memorandum #33. St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL 89 

pp. 

Statistical Analysis Systems, 1988. SAS/STAT User’s Guide. SAS Institute, Cary, NC. 

1028 pp. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District 54 References 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 55

APPENDIX A 

WATER QUALITY: 

SEASONAL, MONTHLY, 

AND SPATIAL STATUS 

Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 

St. Johns County 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 56

Salinity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

Salinity (ppt)

Dry Season Wet Season

pH

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

8

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

pH (SI)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B

Figure 1. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean (+SE) pH (B) in 

the Tolomato - Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 57

Figure 2. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) and mean (+SE) 

turbidity (B) in the Tolomato - Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 

Dissolved Oxygen

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

DO (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Turbidity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

Turbidity (ntu)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 58

Figure 3. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids (A) and mean 

(+SE) chlorophyll a corrected (B) in the Tolomato - Matanzas River 

system from 1997 to 2000. 

Total Suspended Solids

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

TSS (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

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STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

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MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

Chl 

a corr (μg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 59

Figure 4. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean (+SE) total 

nitrogen (B) in the Tolomato - Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000.

Color

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

Color (pcu)

Dry Season Wet Season

Total Nitrogen

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

TN (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 60

Figure 5. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in the Tolomato - 

Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 

Total Phosphorus

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Stations (North - South)

TP (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 61

Salinity

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

pH

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

A

B

Figure 6. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean (+SE) pH in the 

Tolomato – Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 62

Dissolved Oxygen 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

Turbidity

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

A

B

Figure 7. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) and mean (+SE) 

turbidity in the Tolomato – Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 63

Total Suspended Solids

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl 

a corr (μg/l)

A

B

Figure 8. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids (A) and mean 

(+SE) chlorophyll a corrected in the Tolomato – Matanzas River system 

from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 64

Color

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Total Nitrogen

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

A

B

Figure 9. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean (+SE) total 

nitrogen in the Tolomato – Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 65

Total Phosphorus

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

Figure 10. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in the Tolomato – 

Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 66

Figure 11. Spatial distribution (North – South) of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean 

(+SE) pH (B) in the Tolomato – Matanzas River system from 1997 to 

2000. 

Salinity

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICWJXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

Salinity (ppt)

pH

6.7

6.8

6.9

7

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6

7.7

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICWJXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

pH (SI)

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 67

Figure 12. Spatial distribution (North – South) of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) 

and mean (+SE) turbidity (B) in the Tolomato – Matanzas River system 

from 1997 to 2000. 

Dissolved Oxygen

5.2

5.4

5.6

5.8

6

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICWJXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

DO (mg/l)

Turbidity

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRTMAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

Turbidity (ntu)

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 68

Total Suspended Solids

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICWJXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

TSS (mg/l)

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICWJXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

Chl 

a Corr (μg/l)

A

B

Figure 13. Spatial distribution (North – South) of mean (+SE) total suspended solids 

(A) and mean (+SE) chlorophyll a corrected (B) in the Tolomato – 

Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix A: Tolomato-Matanzas Estuary 69

Color

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICWJXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

Color (pcu)

Total Nitrogen

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCC

GAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRTMAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

TN (mg/l)

A

B

Figure 14. Spatial distribution (North – South) of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean 

(+SE) total nitrogen (B) in the Tolomato – Matanzas River system from 

1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 70

Total Phosphorus

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

SMITHSCR

TOL

STOKESCR

CCCGAR

JXTR17

SSB

MR312

MCICW

JXTR21

MRT

MAT

JXTR26

Station (North-South)

TP (mg/l)

Figure 15. Spatial distribution (North – South) of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in the 

Tolomato – Matanzas River system from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 71

APPENDIX B 

WATER QUALITY: 

SEASONAL, MONTHLY, 

AND SPATIAL STATUS 

Pellicer Creek and Flagler County 

Waterways 

FLAGLER COUNTY
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 72

Salinity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

Salinity (ppt)

Dry Season Wet Season

pH

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

pH (SI)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B

Figure 1. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean (+SE) pH (B) at 

the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 73

Dissolved Oxygen

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

DO (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Turbidity

0

10

20

30

40

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

Turbidity (ntu)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B

Figure 2. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) and mean (+SE) 

turbidity (B) at the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 74

Total Suspended Solids

0

10

20

30

40

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

TSS (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

Chl 

a corr (μg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B

Figure 3. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids (A) and mean 

(+SE) chlorophyll a corrected (B) at the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 

2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 75

Color

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

Color (pcu)

Dry Season Wet Season

Total Nitrogen

0

1

2

3

4

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

TN (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

A

B

Figure 4. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean (+SE) total 

nitrogen (B) at the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 76

Total Phosphorus

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH IRO IRW BBR KOR

Stations (North - South)

TP (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Figure 5. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus at the Flagler County 

sites from 1997 to 2000.
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 77

Figure 6. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) salinity in (A) Pellicer Creek and (B) 

the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 

Flagler County

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Pellicer Creek

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 78

Flagler County

5.8

6

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

Pellicer Creek

5.6

5.8

6

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

A

B

Figure 7. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) pH in (A) Pellicer Creek and (B) the 

other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 79

Flagler County

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

Pellicer Creek

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

A

B

Figure 8. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen in (A) Pellicer Creek 

and (B) the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 80

Pellicer Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Flagler County

0

5

10

15

20

25

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

A

B

Figure 9. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) turbidity in (A) Pellicer Creek and (B) 

the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 81

Flagler County

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Pellicer Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

A

B

Figure 10. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids in (A) Pellicer 

Creek and (B) the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 82

Pellicer Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl 

a Corr (μg/l)

Flagler County

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl 

a corr (μg/l)

A

B

Figure 11. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) chlorophyll a corrected in (A) Pellicer 

Creek and (B) the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 83

Flagler County

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Pellicer Creek

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

A

B

Figure 12. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) color in (A) Pellicer Creek and (B) 

the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 84

Pellicer Creek

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

Flagler County

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

A

B

Figure 13. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total nitrogen in (A) Pellicer Creek 

and (B) the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 85

Flagler County

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

Pellicer Creek

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

A

B

Figure 14. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in (A) Pellicer Creek 

and (B) the other Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 86

Salinity

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

Salinity (ppt)

pH

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North - South)

pH (S.I.)

A

B

Figure 15. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean (+SE) pH (B) at 

the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 87

Dissolved Oxygen

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

DO (mg/ml)

Turbidity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

Turbidity (ntu)

A

B

Figure 16. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) and mean (+SE) 

turbidity (B) at the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 88

Total Suspended Solids

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

TSS (mg/l)

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

Chl 

a corrected (μg/l)

A

B

Figure 17. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids (A) and mean 

(+SE) chlorophyll a corrected (B) at the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 

2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 89

Color

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

Color (pcu)

Total Nitrogen

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

TN (mg/l)

A

B

Figure 18. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean (+SE) total nitrogen 

(B) at the Flagler County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix B: Flagler Co. Waterways 90

Total Phosphorus

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

PEL HOM HUL MUL JOE D10 MOS GRA LEH BBR IRO IRW KOR

Stations (North-South) 

TP (mg/l)

Figure 19. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus (A) at the Flagler 

County sites from 1997 to 2000. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 91

APPENDIX C 

WATER QUALITY: 

SEASONAL, MONTHLY, 

AND SPATIAL STATUS 

Halifax River Watershed 

VOLUSIA COUNTY 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 92

Salinity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North - South)

Salinity (ppt)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

pH

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

8

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North - South)

pH (SI)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 1. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean (+SE) pH (B) in 

the Halifax River watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 93

Dissolved Oxygen

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North - South)

DO (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Turbidity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North -South)

Turbidity (ntu)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 2. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) and mean (+SE) 

turbidity (B) in the Halifax River watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 94

Total Suspended Solids

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19HL20

BUL

RB01RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North -South)

TSS (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North - South)

Chl a (μg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 3. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids (A) and mean 

(+SE) Chlorophyll a Corrected (B) in the Halifax River watershed from 

1991 to 1999.
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 95

Color

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North - South)

Color (pcu)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Total Nitrogen

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North - South)

TN (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 4. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean (+SE) total 

nitrogen (B) in the Halifax River watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 96

Total Phosphorus

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Stations (North - South)

TP (mg/l)

Dry Season Wet Season

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Figure 5. Seasonal distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in the Halifax River 

watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 97

Figure 6. Monthly distribution of mean (+ SE) salinity in the Halifax River (A), 

Bulow Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and Rose Bay (E) 

from 1991 to 1999. 

Halifax River

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Bulow Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Tomoka River

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Spruce Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Rose Bay

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

D E

B C

A Halifax River

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Bulow Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Tomoka River

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Spruce Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

Rose Bay

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Salinity (ppt)

D E

B C

A
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 98

Halifax River

7.45

7.5

7.55

7.6

7.65

7.7

7.75

7.8

7.85

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

Bulow Creek

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

8

8.2

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

Tomoka River

6.6

6.7

6.8

6.9

7

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

Spruce Creek

6.6

6.7

6.8

6.9

7

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

Rose Bay

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6

7.7

7.8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

pH (SI)

D E

B C

A

Figure 7. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) pH in the Halifax River (A), Bulow 

Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and Rose Bay (E) from 

1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 99

Halifax River

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

Bulow Creek

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

Tomoka River

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

Spruce Creek

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

Rose Bay

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

DO (mg/l)

D E

B C

A

Figure 8. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen in the Halifax River 

(A), Bulow Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and Rose Bay 

(E) from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 100

Figure 9. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) turbidity in the Halifax River (A), 

Bulow Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and Rose Bay (E) 

from 1991 to 1999.

Halifax River

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Bulow Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Tomoka River

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Spruce Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Rose Bay

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

D E

B C

A

Halifax River

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Bulow Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Tomoka River

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Spruce Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

Rose Bay

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Turbidity (ntu)

D E

B C

A
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 101

Figure 10. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids in the Halifax 

River (A), Bulow Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and 

Rose Bay (E) from 1991 to 1999.

Halifax River

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Bulow Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Tomoka River

0

5

10

15

20

25

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Spruce Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Rose Bay

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

D E

B C

A

Halifax River

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Bulow Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Tomoka River

0

5

10

15

20

25

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Spruce Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

Rose Bay

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TSS (mg/l)

D E

B C

A
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 102

Figure 11. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) chlorophyll a corrected in the Halifax 

River (A), Bulow Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and 

Rose Bay (E) from 1991 to 1999. 

Halifax River

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl 

a Corr (μg/l)

Bulow Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

Tomoka River

0

5

10

15

20

25

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

Spruce Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

Rose Bay

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

D E

B C

A

Halifax River

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl 

a Corr (μg/l)

Bulow Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

Tomoka River

0

5

10

15

20

25

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

Spruce Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

Rose Bay

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Chl a Corr (μg/l)

D E

B C

A
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 103

Figure 12. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) color in the Halifax River (A), Bulow 

Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and Rose Bay (E) from 

1991 to 1999. 

Halifax River

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Bulow Creek

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Tomoka River

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Spruce Creek

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Rose Bay

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

D E

B C

A

Halifax River

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Bulow Creek

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Tomoka River

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Spruce Creek

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

Rose Bay

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

Color (pcu)

D E

B C

A
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 104

Halifax River

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

Bulow Creek

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

Tomoka River

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

Spruce Creek

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

Rose Bay

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TN (mg/l)

D E

B C

A

Figure 13. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total nitrogen in the Halifax River (A), 

Bulow Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and Rose Bay (E) 

from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 105

Halifax River

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

Bulow Creek

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

Tomoka River

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

Spruce Creek

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

Rose Bay

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Month

TP (mg/l)

D E

B C

A

Figure 14. Monthly distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in the Halifax River 

(A), Bulow Creek (B), Tomoka River (C), Spruce Creek (D), and Rose Bay 

(E) from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 106

Salinity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

Salinity (ppt)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

pH

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

8

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

pH (SI)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 15. Spatial distribution (north – south) of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean 

(+SE) pH (B) in the Halifax River watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 107

Dissolved Oxygen

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

DO (mg/l)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Turbidity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

Turbidity (ntu)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 16. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) and mean (+SE) 

turbidity (B) in the Halifax River watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 108

Total Suspended Solids

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

TSS (mg/l)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

5

10

15

20

25

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

Chl 

a Corrected (μg/l)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 17. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) total suspended solids (A) and mean 

(+SE) chlorophyll a corrected (B) in the Halifax River watershed from 

1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 109

Total Nitrogen

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

TN (mg/l)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Color

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

Color (pcu)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

A

B

Figure 18. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean (+SE) total nitrogen 

(B) in the Halifax River watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix C: Halifax River Watershed 110

Total Phosphorus

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

HL01

HL02

HL03

HL04

HL05

HL06

HL07

HL08

HL09

HL10

HL11

HL12

HL13

HL14

HL15

HL16

HL17

HL18

HL19

HL20

BUL

RB01

RB02

RB03

SC01

SC02

SC04

SC05

TR01

TR02

TR03

TR04

TR05

Station (North - South)

TP (mg/l)

Estuarine Sites Tributary Sites

Figure 19. Spatial distribution of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in the Halifax River 

watershed from 1991 to 1999. 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix D: All NCB Waterways 111

APPENDIX D 

WATER QUALITY: 

Comparison of the Water Bodies 

in the Northern Coastal Basin 
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix D: All NCB Waterways 112

Figure 1. Comparison of mean (+SE) salinity (A) and mean (+SE) pH (B) in the 

Northern Coastal Basin project area. Data collected between 1991 and 

2000. 

pH

5.8

6

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

pH (SI)

Salinity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Ros

e

Bay

Waterbodies

Salinity (ppt)

A

pH B

5.8

6

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

pH (SI)

Salinity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Ros

e

Bay

Waterbodies

Salinity (ppt)

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix D: All NCB Waterways 113

Figure 2. Comparison of mean (+SE) dissolved oxygen (A) and mean (+SE) turbidity 

(B) in the Northern Coastal Basin project area. Data collected between 

1991 and 2000. 

Dissolv ed Oxygen

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

DO (mg/L)

Turbidity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Ros

e

Bay

Waterbodies

Turbidity (ntu)

A

B

Dissolv ed Oxygen

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

DO (mg/L)

Turbidity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Ros

e

Bay

Waterbodies

Turbidity (ntu)

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix D: All NCB Waterways 114

Figure 3. Comparison of mean (+SE) total suspended solids (A) and mean (+SE) 

chlorophyll a corrected (B) in the Northern Coastal Basin project area. Data 

collected between 1991 and 2000. 

Total Suspended Solids

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

TSS (mg/L)

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

Chl 

a Corr (μg/L)

A

B

Total Suspended Solids

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

TSS (mg/L)

Chlorophyll a Corrected

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

Chl 

a Corr (μg/L)

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix D: All NCB Waterways 115

Figure 4. Comparison of mean (+SE) color (A) and mean (+SE) total nitrogen (B) in 

the Northern Coastal Basin project area. Data collected between 1991 and 

2000. 

Total Nitrogen

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Tolom

ato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

TN (mg/L)

Color

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

Color (pcu)

A

B Total Nitrogen

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Tolom

ato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

TN (mg/L)

Color

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Cree

k

Tomoka

River

Spruce Cree

k

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

Color (pcu)

A

B
Status and Trends of Water Quality in the Northern Coastal Basin 

St. Johns River Water Management District Appendix D: All NCB Waterways 116

Figure 5. Comparison of mean (+SE) total phosphorus in the Northern Coastal Basin 

project area. Data collected between 1991 and 2000. 

Total Phosphorus

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

Tolomato-Matanzas

Pellicer Creek

Flagler Co. Sites

Halifax

River

Bulow

Creek

Tomoka

River

Spruce

Creek

Rose

Bay

Waterbodies

TP (mg/L)