# S t

. M

a r k s R i v e r W

a t e rs h e d

Surface Water Improvement and Management

Plan Update

Northwest Florida Water Management District

August 2009

Program Development Series 200 9

– 02

# S t

. M

a r k s R i v e r W

a t e rs h e d

Surface Water Improvement and Management

Plan Update

Developed by the Northwest Florida Water Management District under the auspices of the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program and in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Program Development Series 2009

- 2

August 2009

# G OVERNING 

# B OARD

George Roberts, Chair Panama City

Philip McMillan, Vice Chair

Blountstown

Steve Ghazvini , Secretary/Treasurer

Tallahassee

Douglas E. Barr

— Executive Director Stephanie Bloyd Peter Antonacci Jerry Pate Panama City Beach Tallahassee Pensacola

Tim Norris Joyce Estes Ralph Rish

Santa Rosa Beach Eastpoint Port St. Joe

### ABOUT THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

The Northwest Florida Water Management District is one of five water management districts in Florida, created by the Water Resources Act of 1972 (Chapter 373, Florida Statutes) to address regional water resource issues while furthering statewide goals and policies. The District stretches from the St. Marks River Basin in Jefferson County to the Perdido River in Escambia County, covering approximately 11,305 square miles, or 17 percent of the state’s geographic area. There are 63 incorporated cities within the District. It is bordered on the north by Georgia and Alabama, on the west by Alabama, on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, and on the east by the Suwannee River Water Management District, which shares Jefferson County with the District.

The District has worked for decades to protect and manage water resources in a sustainable manner for the continued welfare of people and natural systems across its

16

- county region. A nine member Governing Board, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florid a Senate, guides District activities. The District serves Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington and western Jefferson County.

As directed by Florida Statutes, t he District has four interrelated areas of responsibility: Water Supply, Water Quality, Flood Protection, and Natural Systems. The District meets these responsibilities through programs established and implemented in cooperation with local governments

, state and federal agencies , and resource

stakeholders

.

For additional information, write or call:

Northwest Florida Water Management District 81 Water Management Drive Havana, Florida 32333

- 9700 (850) 539

- 5999

Or visit us on the web at: www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us

## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This document was developed by the Northwest Florida Water Management District under the auspices of the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program and in accordance with sections 373.451

- 459, Florida Statutes. The plan update was prepared under the supervision and oversight of Ron Bartel, Director, Division of Resource Management.

Program Direction: Ron Bartel

Document Text: Leigh Brook s, Paul Thorpe, and Ron Bartel

Geographic Information Systems: Leigh Brooks and Karen Kebart

Cover Photograph: Dogwoods blooming at Cherokee Sink, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. Leigh Brooks, 2008

District staff would like to especially recognize members of the St. Marks River

Watershed SWIM Technical Advisory Group (TAG) , who volunteered their time and efforts to assist in the development of this plan . Their assistance and thoughtful comments were invaluable and are gratefully acknowled ged

.

St. Marks SWIM Technical Advisory Group

Mr. Dan Pennington, 1000 Friends of Florida Ms. Bonita Gorham, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Mr. Paul Johnson, Paul G. Johnson and Associates Mr. Jamie Shakar, City of Tallahassee Ms. Lindsay Stevens, Wakulla County Mr. Jim Stevenson, Wakulla Spring Basin Working Group

### (This page intentionally left blank.)

### i



## EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since the first Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan was approved for the St. Marks River Watershed in 1997, considerable progress has been made both in developing an improved understanding of watershed resources and challenges and in implementing projects and initiatives to address these challenges. Such progress has included implementation of a number of stormwater re trofit projects to improve water quality and flood protection , enactment of local government initiatives and regulations
protect ing water resources, and significant investment in improved wastewater treat ment and management systems. Additionally, ongoing scientific investigations have yielded

new insight s into the hydrogeology of the watershed and increased public awareness of its vulnerability. At the same time, the population of the region has been inc reasing at a rapid pace, bringing with it additional development and non

- point source pollution.

The accomplishments achieved have proven important and timely, as the effects of population growth and development on some of the region’s most valued resources have become increasingly apparent. Improvements that have been achieved must be seen as providing a foundation for continued and future efforts

. Continued investment in

st ormwater retrofits, advanced wastewater treatment

, and scientific research will protect water resources and help to reverse adverse effects that have already been realized

.

This update to the St. Marks River Watershed SWIM P lan provides a framework for

wa tershed protection and restoration

, complementing other programs and initiatives of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, local governments, and state and federal agencies. The plan is focused on the long

- term sustainability of watershed resources and functions that are essential to healthy and productive natural systems and the quality of the human environment. Among these are water storage and flood attenuation, water quality protection and improvement, and fish and wildlife habitat. These in turn provide quality of life, public health, and economic benefits for the community.

The resource challenges and management actions within this SWIM plan update describe three overarching priorities: water quality protection and improvement , na tural systems protection and restoration, and flood protection. These are inherently interrelated, as

reflected in the complementary strategies and practices proposed for implementation. The specific management actions described include those taken a t mu ltiple scales

– from individual best management practices to regional scale projects requiring considerable community investment. Nonstructural approaches to resource protection are considered significant priorities, along with stormwater retrofit and oth er capital improvement projects

.

### ii (This page intentionally left blank.)

### iii



## TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... iii

1.0 INTRODUCT ION

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 1 1.1 Purpose and Scope

................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 1

1.2 Planning Approach

................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 1

1.3 Plan Goal and Vision

................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 1

1.4 Related NWFWMD Programs and Activities

................................ ................................ ....... 2

2.0 ST. MARKS RIVER WATERSHED

................................ ................................ ............................ 5

3.0 WATERSHED CONDITIONS

................................ ................................ ................................ ... 12

3.1 Water Quality

................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 12

3.2 Natural Systems

................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 17

3.3 Flood Protection

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 19

4.0 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 21

5.0 IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN

................................ ................. 26

6.0 REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

................................ ................................ ......................... 27

A PPENDIX: RELATED AND SUPPORTING INITIATIVES

................................ ........................... 32

List of Figures

Figure 1. St. Marks River Watershed

................................ ................................ .............................. 6

Figure 2. Surface Water Features of the St. Marks River Watershed

................................ .............. 7

Figure 3. Land Use and Land Cover in the St. Marks River Watershed

................................ ........ 10

Figure 4. Conservation Lands in the St. Marks River Watershed

................................ .................. 11

Figure 5. Point Source Discha rges in the St. Marks River Watershed

................................ .......... 16

Figure 6. Distribution of On

- Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems

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

Figure 7. Wetland and Aquatic Habitats in the St. Marks River/Apalachee Bay Watershed

.......... 20

List of Tables

Table 1. Conservation Lands in St. Marks River/Apalachee Bay Watershed

................................ .. 9

Table 2. Population Estimates and Projections by County: 1980

- 2030

................................ ........ 15

Table 3. Objectives and General Strategies

................................ ................................ ................. 21

Table 4. Management Tactics and Funding Options

................................ ................................ ..... 22

### iv (This page intentionally left blank.)St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 1

- 

## 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose and Scope

The purpose of the St. Marks River Watershed Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) plan is to provide a framework for watershed resource protection and restoration, encompassing programs and statutory responsibilities of the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD or District ). This plan is an update to the original plan developed in 1997 (Ryan and Hemmert 1997). The planning area includes the Florida portion of the St. Marks River

watershed , encompassing portions of Leon, Wakulla, and Jefferson counties. The scope of the pla n includes management actions to address strategic priorities of water quality, natural systems

, and flood protection , as described in Chapter 4 .0 Management Actions

.

The SWIM plan has been developed pursuant to the Surface Water Improvement and Management Act, as enacted through sections 373.451

- 373.459, Florida Statutes (F.S.). Through this act, the Legislature recognized threats to the quality and function of the st ate’s surface water

resources . The act directed the five water management districts to develop plans and programs for improvement and management of surface waters and to conduct research in order to improve scientific understanding of the causes and effects of the degradation of surface waters and associated natural systems.



## 1.2 Planning Approach

The approach of the St. Marks River SWIM plan update is to identify priority challenges affecting watershed resources and functions and prescribe a set of management actions to meet those needs. The management actions are limited to those within the mission and s cope of the

NWFWMD SWIM program

, recognizing the ongoing initiatives of local communit ies and other agencies

. S uccessful watershed management requ ires coordination and implementation of complementary programs under the purview of all jurisdictions and agencies involved in the

watershed

. Among these are local, state, and federal regulatory agencies ; conservation lands acquisition and management programs ; and other public

, private

, and stakeholder initiatives

.

Th is plan is designed to address water quality and natural systems challenges that are more generally outlined in the District Water Management Plan (DWMP) (NWFWMD 2005). T he plan integrate s a number of complementary programs and activities to protect and restore watershed

resources and functions. Projects may include stormwater retrofit s for water quality improvement and flood protection, wetland and aquatic habitat restoration, r esource assessments, floodplain mapping, public outreach and awareness initiatives, and watershed protection in support of water supply planning

.



## 1. 3 Plan Goal and Vision

The St. Marks River watershed shall be managed to ensure the long

- term sustainabili ty of watershed resources, values, and functions. This shall encompass preservation and, where necessary, restoration of ecosystem health and integrity.

Th e District’s vision for this plan recogni zes important water resource functions and benefits of the

watershed which are further defined through the underlying hydrologic and ecological functions or

processes

, which may be described as follows:St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 2

-

 Important h ydrologic functions include surface water storage , flood attenuation, recharge to ground wate r, and the quantity of surface water discharge. Maintaining and or restoring these functions are also strongly related to water quality.

 Water quality protection and improvement are accomplished through a variety of means

, such as stormwater treatment facilities, best management practices ( BMPs )

, wastewater
treatment, pollution prevention

, and public awareness

.

 Habitat, which is highly dependent upon hydrologic function, provides for ecological diversity among aquatic, wetland

- dependent, and terrestrial species. Restoration or preservation of these water resources provides many natural ecosystem benefits

.

Asso ciated with these functions are numerous benefits contributed by ecosystems for the human community , including :

 Usable surf ace and ground water resources;

 Public health benefits of good water quality;

 Fish and wildlife resourc es;

 Commercial and recreational fisheries ;

 Recreational and aesthetic water resource values;

 E nvironmental resiliency ; and

 Economic benefits derived from all of the above.



## 1.4 Related NWFWMD Programs and Activities

A number of other programs and initiatives of the Distric t are supportive of the SWIM program and cooperative efforts of local governments and other agencies

. Thus

, an important part of the District’s vision is to integrate SWIM program activities in a coordinated fashion with these other

programs. Cumulatively, the overall effort results in significant protection and improvement of

water resources within the St. Marks River basin.

 Environmental Resource Permitting

— Phase I (stormwater) of the Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) program began Oc tober 1, 2007. With the first phase, the District implemented stormwater permitting to address water quality and flooding from construction and development. The program initiated special standards for sensitive karst areas. Phase II (wetland permitting) is expected to be implemented in the near future. Additional information may be found at www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/permits/permits

- ERP.html

.

 Flood Map Modernization

— National flood maps are being updated by the District through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) map modernization pro gram. The District is the cooperating technical partner with FEMA for performing flood hazard mappi ng in the Florida Panhandle. Flood insurance rate maps are being developed using high resolution aerial photography, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) elevation data, and hydrologic studies, and

are now available digitally for the first time. Public ou treach is an important component of this

initiative. The project is expected to be completed in 2010. For more information visit nwfwmdfloodmaps.com

.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 3

-  Land Acquisition and Management

— The NWFWMD has to date protected about 1,375 acres within the St. Marks River watershed through less

- than

- fee acquisition. Additionally, the District has worked cooperatively with the Tallahassee

- Leon County Blue p rint 200 0 Intergovernmental Agency (Blueprint 2000) to protect and preserve lands with high water resources value within

the St. Marks River basin in Leon County.

 Florida Forever Grant Program

— The District ha d a competitive grant program for local governments and other government entities in northwest Florida as a means of identifying and funding capital improvements, with emphasis on those that help implement the SWIM plans. To date, nearly $2 million in grant funding ha s been awarded for four stormwater retrofit projects within the St. Marks River watershed. These grants have leveraged over $11 million in local match funding

. Further information is available by visiting www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/rmd/swim/fla_forever_grants/fla_forever_grants.htm

.

 Regional Mitigation Planning

— The District implements the Umbrella Regional Mitigation Plan for mitigation of regional trans portation impacts. The plan encompasses state mitigation requirements under Section 373.4127, F.S. and federal requirements under Section 404 of the

Federal Clean Water Act . Information is available at www.nwfwmdwetlands.com

. T ogether with the District’s Five Year Land Acquisition Work Plan, the SWIM Plan may help establish watershed acquisition and restoration priorities that would be eligible for funding through the Umbrella Mitigation Plan

.

 Water P rotection and Sustainability Program

— The District provides cooperative construction grants for alternative water supply development and springs protection projects, with funding provided by the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund. Amo ng the projects that have received funding under this program are water reuse and advanced wastewater treatment initiatives of the City of Tallahassee and Wakulla County . Limited funding for SWIM

may also be provided by this source.

 Regulation of Consumpt ive Use of Water and Wells

— The District regulates the consumptive

use of water under Rule 40A

- 2; wells are regulated under Rule 40A

- 3. District rules may be

found at www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/permits/ruleform.htm

.

 LiDAR

— This District is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Florida Division of Emergency Management, and local governments to acquire detailed topographic data using the LiDAR technology. Through the SWIM program

, d a ta will

be available for the Florida portion of the basin

, as we l l as other areas of the District.

 Monitoring

— The District operate s 53 surface water and rainfall monitoring stations in cooperation with Leon County and the City of Tallahassee. In a coope rative effort with the County, the District and National Weather Service operate the Leon County flood warning

network

– a real

- time radio telemetry flood warning system that includes 14 stream and rainfall stations to help identify developing flood condit ions for emergency management staff. Additionally, in cooperation with F DEP, the District collects long

- term ground and surface water data through the Integrated Water Resources Monitoring and Ambient Surface Water Quality Assessment programs.

 Florida Spr ings Initiative

– Through the Florida Springs Initiative, the District monitors discharge from Wakulla Springs. Additionally, the District conducts quarterly discharge measurements at St. Marks Spring and has completed a spring inventory of the St. Marks and Wakulla r ivers (Barrios 2006)

.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 4

-

 Regional Water Supply Planning

– T he D istrict has updated a water supply assessment addressing the consumptive demands and the availability of ground water and surface water

resources in the basin.

 Minimum Flows and Levels (MFL)

– The Dist rict included Wakulla Springs on its MFL priority list, although establishment of a reservation may be the preferred means of protecting ecologically significant flows . See the discussion of freshwater needs in 3.2 Natural Systems.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 5

- 

## 2.0 ST. MARKS RIVER WATERSHED

The St. Marks River watershed ( Figure 1 ) extends from the red hills of southern Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico, covering app roximately 1,170 square miles (74 8

, 8 00 acres). Approximately 91 percent of the watershed (1,060 square miles or 67 8

, 400 acres) lies within Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla counties in Florida; the remainder is in Thomas County, Georgia. S urface water features include the St. Marks River; its major tributary the Wakulla River

, and the headwaters of the Wakulla River

, Wakulla Springs . Other major surface water features within the watershed are lakes Miccosukee, Lafayette, and Munson

, and the coastal rec eiving waters of Apalachee Bay. A brief description of

these features and their condition follows. Lewis et al. ( 200 9 ) provides a more complete account of the features, physiography, hydrology, biological resources, and resource uses of the watershed

and Apalachee Bay. The watershed’s hydrogeology is described by Chelette et al

. (2002 b ) and Barrios (2006).

The St. Marks River begins as an intermittent blackwater stream, collect ing surface water drainage

from much of eastern Tallahassee. The stream submerge s a t Natural Bridge and re

- emerges one

half mile south at St. Marks River rise

, with its flow greatly augmented by the contribution of ground water. Discharge measurements indicate that on average about 24 percent of the discharge at St.

Marks Riv er r ise is contributed by inflow at Natural Bridge s wallet (Barrios 2006). From the rise,

the river receives water from a series of Floridan Aquifer springs and takes on characteristics of a karst stream (Barrios 2006). The ten

- mile long Wakulla River is the major tributary, beginning at Wakulla Springs and merging with the St. Marks River at the C ity of St. Marks about five miles north of Apalachee Bay. Surface water features of the watershed are shown in Figure 2 . The

estimated regional ground water contribution area for Wakulla Springs and springs of the St. Marks

River is depicted in Figure 1 ( Chelette et al . 2002 b ; Barrios 2006)

.

The watershed encompasses two main physiographic regions: the Tallahassee Hills subdivision of the Northern Highlands in the north and the coastal lowlands in the southern portion of the watershed ( F DEP 2001; Pratt et al. 1996). These regions are physically divided by an escarpment designated as the Cody Scarp ( Figure 2 ). North of the scarp, water generally drains to closed

basin lakes. These lakes are karst features with connections to the Floridan A quifer where the confining layer has been breached or is more permeable

. Within the St. Marks River watershed, the eastern portion of the coastal plain is characterized by numerous karst features where surface and ground waters readily interact. This area is known locally as the Woodville Karst Plain.

Barrios (2006) documents significant karst features within the watershed.

An essential aspect of the watershed with important management implications is the complex and widespread interaction between surface and ground waters. Recent and ongoing investigations have substantially increased understanding of the linkages between s urface waters and the underlying Floridan Aquifer. Ground water is susceptible to contamination north of the Cody Scarp from pollutants carried a long distance in surface runoff draining to the lakes

, and south of the scarp due to the relative absence of a confining layer. Detailed discussions are provided by

Chelette et al

. ( 2002b ), Kinkaid (2003), and Barrios ( 2006 )

.

Much of urban Tallahassee drains to Lake Munson , located southwest of the city, and Lake Lafayette, located to the east. Lake Munson is a cypress

- lined impoundment of Munson Slough covering 255 acres . The lake drains south several miles to Ames Sink. The ground water tracing program of the Florida Geological Survey has confirmed a hydrologic connection between Ames

Sink and Wakulla Springs (Kinkaid 2003).St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 6

-

Figure 1 . St. Marks River WatershedSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 7

- Figure 2 . Surface Water Features of the St. Marks River WatershedSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 8

- Lake Lafayette was an ancient tributary of the St. Marks River that now is a closed basin

, connected only intermittently to the river during high water ( Chelette et al

. 2002b ). The lake system has been the subject of multiple hydrologic alterations that have resulted in four distinct

lake sections: Upper Lake Lafayette, Piney Z Lake, Lower Lake Lafayette

, and Alford Arm. Upper Lafayette Sink, located in Upper Lake Lafayette

, re ceives drainage from eastern Tallahassee.

Lake Miccosukee covers approximately 6,226 acres northeast of Tallahassee in Jefferson County.

It too was a historic tributary of the St. Marks River that is now a closed basin ( Chelette et al

. 2002b )

. An impo undment at the south end of the lake and a berm blocking Lake Miccosukee Sink artificially maintain the lake level . Agriculture and rural development are the primary land uses within the lake’s drainage basin.

The St. Marks River discharge s into Apalache e Bay, a shallow estuary at the Big Bend of northwest Florida that is open and in direct contact with the Gulf of Mexico (Lewis et al. 200 9 )

. T he portion of the bay of primary focus in this plan extend s from Ochlockonee Point in the west to a southward extension of the NWFW M D boundary in the east . This includes tidal portions of the St.

Marks and Wakulla r ivers , as well as Dickerson Bay and Oyster Bay. T he St. Marks River is a major so u rce of freshwater to th e central portion of Apalachee Bay. T he bay also receives fresh water from many small streams within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the Spring Creek springs group

. The Spring Creek group consists of 14 spring vents, including four major vents . It

disc harge s into the mouth of Spring Creek at it s confluence with Apalachee Bay. The springs are tidally influenced and are considered to be one of the largest group s of submarine springs in terms of flow. Reports suggest that the flow is highly variable and change significantly with tides and aquifer levels (Lane 2 001). The spring system reportedly stopped discharging seaward for several months during the drought of 2006

- 2007.

In addition to the watershed being a SWIM priority , numerous waterbodies and segments within

the St. Marks River watershed have been recognized and receive additional regulatory protection through designation as Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) per Section 62

- 302.700 , Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). Among the areas within the surface watershed designated as OFW

are :

 The St. Marks River

, except between Rattlesnake Branch and the confluence of the St.

Marks and Wakulla r ivers ;

 Wakulla River ;

 Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve ;

 St. Marks National Wil dlife Refuge ;

 Florida State Parks, including Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, San Marcos de Apalachee State Historic Site, Letchworth Mounds, Natural Bridge Battlefield State Historic

Site ;

 Mashes Sands (Wakulla County park);

 For t San Luis; and

,  Big Dismal Sink within the Apalachicola National Forest.

Additionally, Lake Jackson, Lake Talquin

, and the Ochlockonee River are OFWs within the larger ground water contribution area ( Figure 1 ).

Predominant land cover and land use in the watershed include s upland forest and silviculture, wetlands, and urban land s associated primarily with the C ity of Tallahassee. Other centers of development include the cities of St. Marks and Monticello and the unincorporated communities of Crawfordville, Woodville, and Panacea. Residential areas, while predominately in Leon County, are increasing in the Waku lla County portion of the watershed. C oncentrations of residentialSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 9

- development are scattered across unincorporated areas throughout much of the watershed. Figure 3 d isplays generalized land use and land cover across the Florida portion of the St. Marks

River watershed.

Over 220,000 acres within the watershed consist of public and private conservation lands ( Table 1 ; Figure 

### 4 ). Promin ent among these are the Apalachicola National Forest, Wakulla State Forest, Wakulla Springs State Park, St. Marks River State Park and the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. A sign ificant portion of the lower watershed and adjacent lands are within the National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering grounds for migratory bird species ( Lewis et al. 2009 ). Among other public lands in the watershed are the Tallahassee

- St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail ( multi

- use recreational trail from Tallahassee to St. Marks) and the San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park (old Spanish fort at St. Marks). Lands of continuing public conservation acquisitio n interest are identified in the District’s Five Year Land Acquisition Work Plan 1 and F DEP’s Florida Forever Five Year Work Plan

. 2

Table 1 . Conservation Lands in St. Marks River/Apalachee Bay Watershed

Owner or Easement Holder 

### A rea (acres) *

NWFWMD (Less than Fee) 1,375
City of Tallahassee 1,214
Leon County 662
Wakulla County 427
Tall Timbers Land Conservancy (Less Than Fee) 15,074
The Nature Conservancy 11,686

State of Florida 32,29 3
State of Florida (Less Than Fee) 1,363
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge 51,106
Apalachicola National Forest 106,944

Total 22 2

, 144

*A rea in acres, based on GIS analysis.

1 www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubs/lands/workplan.pdf

2 www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/FFplan.htmSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 10

-

Figure 3

. Land Use and Land Cover in the St. Marks River WatershedSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 11

- Figure 4

. Conservation Lands in the St. Marks River WatershedSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 12

- 

## 3 .0 WATERSHED CONDITIONS

The St. Marks River watershed supports a wide array of aquatic and wetland resources and provides numerous functions and benefits for the human community. While the watershed continues to support a diverse ecosystem and important economic, cultural, and recreational characteristics and uses, it has been affected by anthropogenic impacts common to most of

Florida’s watershe ds and coastal systems. Among these are point source and nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, habitat loss and degradation, and other direct and indirect effects of population growth and land use change. E xisting literature and data sources are sufficient to provide a generalized description , if not a detailed assessment, of watershed conditions and trends.



## 3 .1 Water Quality

Water quality protection within the St. Marks River watershed requires appropriate treatment and management of both point and nonpoint source pollution. The frequent interaction between surface and ground waters discussed in Section 2.0 presents a considerable management challenge. The closed basin lakes in the mo re northern extent of the watershed are breached in places by karst features, enhancing leakage to underlying aquifers. T o the south, t he Woodville

Karst Plain receives stormwater runoff generated in the Tallahassee area as well as locally. The

runoff an d associated nonpoint source pollution can then be recharged directly into the Floridan Aquifer through karst features and generally unconfined conditions

. Affected ground water later reemerges as surface water through numerous springs. This vulnerabilit y of ground water quality affects both drinking water resources and springs that discharge back into surface waters.

A ground water tracing project in the Woodville Karst Plain conducted by the Florida Geological Survey and Hazlett

- Kincaid, Inc.

, has confirmed through d ye tests that Wakulla Springs receives ground water from Leon Sinks, Ames Sink, and the City of Tallahassee’s Southeast Farm sprayfield (Kincaid 2 003). Continuing work on this project has also found ground water

connections between Leon Sinks and disappearing streams to the west

. The vulnerability of ground water to contamination adversely affects water quality in spring systems as well as drinking

water resources.

Nitrate levels observed in Wakulla Springs tripled from the 1970s through the 1990s (Chelette et al

. 2002b ). This increase is largely attributable to nitrogen inputs south of the Cody Scarp. Nitrogen

sources include atmospheric deposition, wastewater treatment facilities, on

- site sewage treatment

and disposal systems (OS T DS or septic systems ), livestock, commercial fertilizer

, and sinking streams (Chelette et al

. 2002b ). Stormwater runoff also carries pollutants from the Tallahassee

urban area into the spring contribution area through Munson Slough and Ames Sink. Kar st features can rapidly transport surface pollutants into and through ground water ( Chanton 2 008)

. The extensive system of caves and underground conduits are probably important pathways of contamination (Kinkaid 2 003).

Water quality problems have been documented in the St. Marks River and associated water

bodies

, including low dissolved oxygen related to nutrient enrichment (FDEP 2 003). Lakes

Munson and Lafayette receive most of the urban stormwater runoff from Tallahassee and are therefore among the m ost problematic areas affected by NPS pollution. Lake Munson, including Munson Slough, has experienced nutrient enrichment, low dissolved oxygen, algal blooms, high bacteria counts, and degraded sediment conditions ( Bartel and Ard 19 92 ) . Water quality in the

lake has reportedly improved since sewage discharge was discontinued and restoration efforts

were initiated ( Bartel and Ard 19 92; FDEP 2 003 ; and McGlynn 2 006 ). Upper and Lower LakesSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 13

- Lafayette and Piney Z Lake are affected by intensive NPS pollutio n , manifested as nutrient enrichment, low dissolved oxygen, and bacterial contamination (FDEP 2 003). Upper Lake Lafayette discharge s to a sinkhole. Lake Miccosukee receives rural surface water runoff and has problems with excess nutrients, low dissolved oxygen, and high bacteria counts (FDEP 2 003).

B acteria l contamination from across the landscape affect s water quality

. Persistently high bacteria

counts have been found at Wakulla County beaches (Williams et al

. 19 81 ; Florida Department of

Health 2 008 ), with associated health advisories being issued

. S ource s of bacteriological

contamination are often not well understood. Septic systems, NPS pollution, and wastewater overflows are commonly cited possible sources, as well as w ildlife in unpopulated areas

. Nearshore waters may also be affected by upland sources via submarine ground water discharge (FDEP 19 99 ; Rutkowski et al 19 99 )

.



### Point Source Pollution

As of December 2007

, and as identified in Figure 5 , there were 18 active industrial facilities and 17 active domestic facilities per mitted by FDEP for wastewater discharge in the watershed.

I n 2006

, t he City of Tallahassee committed to sizeable capital investment in advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) improvements at its treatment facilities. These efforts are expected to reduce nitrogen in treated wastewater by approximately 75% over six years ( FDEP 2 008 ). The T. P. Smith Water Reclamation Facility and Lake Bradford Road Wastewater Treatment Facility currently treat approximately 27.5 and 4.5 million gallons per day (MGD)

, respe ctively

, of raw sewage. The resulting wastewater is used to irrigat e the Southeast Farm Wastewater Reuse Facility eight miles

east of the T. P. Smith facility . The C ity has constructed a new public access reuse facility on Tram Road that will use highly treated reclaimed water to replace 1.2 MGD of potable water irrigation in the southeast portion of the city. The AWT and reuse improvements are expected to reduce nitrogen inputs to ground water and improve the quality of water discharging at Wakulla Springs. The City of St. Marks’ sewage treatment plant sends treated wastewater to Tallahassee’s Purdom Power Plant for industrial reuse. The Purdom plant uses zero

- discharge technology.

The defunct St. Marks Refinery on the bank of the St. Marks R iver in the City of St. Marks is a 55

- acre site with significant environmental contamination from decades of asphalt and petroleum production

. Contaminants found in sampling include dioxin, oils an d grease, organics, and pentachlorophenol (PCP) ( FDEP 2 003). Dioxin has been found in the soil, ground water, and sediment (FDEP 2 003). Contamination has been capped and contained by a berm that limit s runoff from the site , and FDEP has overseen removal of the worst petroleum

- contaminated soil.

There are 31 active landfills in Leon and Wakulla counties, and 33 inactive or closed facilities

. Most of these sites have ground water monitoring wells. The Leon County Sanitary Landfill is

located next to Lo wer Lake Lafayette. This landfill was identified as a possibl e source for impairment of this portion of the lake (FDEP 2003 ).



### Nonpoint Source Pollution

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is generated when stormwater runoff collects pollutants from

across the landscape (lawns, pavement, dirt roads, buildings, farms, forestry operations, and

construction sites , etc. ) and carries them into receiving waters. Pollutants entering the water in this way include nutrients, microbial pathogens , sediment, pesticides , heavy metals, and petroleum products. Pollutants entering the ground water may also emerge in surface waters via seepage and spring discharges.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 14

- Evaluations of the relationship between land use and water quality consistently report that urban

land uses tend to have the greatest NPS pollutant loading per unit of area, generally followed by agricultural and lower intensity land uses (Harper 19 94; NWFWMD 19 98). Natural forests and wetlands tend to be associated with good water and habitat quality (Wang et al

. 19 97; Allan et al

. 19 97). Vegetation provide s habitat, regulate s runoff, maintain s surface and surficial ground water flow, prevents erosion, and moderate s effects of floods and droughts. Wetland functions include floodwater storage, sediment and shoreline stabilization, nutrient cycling, primary production, and fish and wildlife habitat. Silviculture activities can result in the discharge of sediments and other pollutants ; however, w hen appropriate best management practices (BMPs) are employed,

s ilviculture has been found to be consistent with maintenance of excellent water quality ( FDEP
1997; NWFWMD 19 98).

The environmental degradation commonly associated with intensive land use reflects not only the deposition of NPS pollutants, but also hydro logic changes and habitat loss caused by physical

alterations to the land. Urbanization leads to the channeli ng of surface water , increased impervious surface area, erosion, and habitat loss. Resulting hydrologic effects include increased peak discharge volume and velocity, decreased time for runoff to reach receiving waters, increased frequency and severity of flooding, a lowered water table, and reduced dry weather stream flow (U.S. EPA 19 93). Similarly, agricultural land use may cause stream channeliz ation, erosion, and loss of protective vegetation

, which affect surface water hydrology. Alterations such as these, coupled with the deposition of pollutants, generally increase pollutant loading and sedimentation.

As is the case across much of northwes t Florida, the St. Marks River region has experienced considerable population growth. The population of Wakulla County has nearly tripled since 1980, exceeding the rate of growth of the state as a whole. Jefferson County’s growth rate has been

lower than the state’s. Leon County’s growth rate was high relative to the state ’s

, but has been declining since 2000. P opulation figures are shown in Table 2

. This growth has resulted in the transformation of land use in many areas from rural to urban/suburban in character. Resulting

effects include increased NPS pollution, generation of additio nal wastewater, and habitat loss and fragmentation.

As noted above, on

- site sewage treatment and disposal, or septic, systems are potential widespread sources of nutrients and other pollutants. Significant concentrations of OSTDS can result in degraded water quality in ground water and proximate surface waters. When a karst aquifer is close to the surface, there is limited ability for soils to attenuate nitrate from septic systems (Harden et al

. 2 008). Figure 6 ill ustrates the general distribution of septic systems in the

watershed.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 15

- Table 2

. Population Estimates and Projections by County: 1980

- 2030

County Population

Census 1 Estimate 2 Projections 2

1980 1990 2000 2006 2010 2020 2030

Jefferson 3 6,422 6,778 7,741 8,612 8,940 9,660 10,320

Wakulla 4 10,887 14,202 22,863 28,393 34,100 42,400 49,600

Leon 4 148,655 192,493 239,452 272,497 291,700 331,600 363,700
Region

Total 4 165,964 213,473 2 70,056 309,502 334,740 383,660 423,620

Florida 9,746,961 12,938,071 15,982,824 18,349,132 19,974,200 23,552,100 26,513,300

1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000

2 Source: University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research, Population Program,

Florida Statistical Abstract 2007, Gainesville, FL, 919 p.

3 Jefferson County figures represent the estimated NWFWMD share, approximately 60% of the county total.

4 P opulation figures are not limited to the St. Marks River watershed area

.

Other potential sources of pollution include marinas, vessels , and boat ramps. Marinas are currently located in St. Marks, Panacea, and Shell Point. The Clean Vessel Act of 1992 prohibits discharge of raw sewage into fresh water or coastal salt

- water. Under the Act, FDEP administers

federal grant funding for construction and installation of sewage pump

- out facilities and floating restrooms at marinas, purchase of pump

- out boats, and educational programs for boaters. The FDEP also administers the Florida Clean Marina Program 3 to raise awareness of environmentally friendly practices to protect Florida’s waterways and offers a ―clean‖ designation for marinas,

boat yards

, and marine retailers that commit to using appropriate best management practices. None of the major marinas in the basin have pump

- out facilities or Clean Marina designations.

3 www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/CVA/default.htmSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 16

-

Figure 5

. Point Source Discharges in the St. Marks River WatershedSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

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- 

## 3 .2 Natural Systems

Wetland and Aquatic Habitats

The St. Marks River watershed includes a diverse association of upland, wetland, and aquatic ecosystems (Wolfe et al

. 19 88; Lewis et al. 2009 ). Fresh water aquatic habitats include the streams, lakes, springs, and sinks described above. Approximately 30% of the watershed consists of wetlands, as estimated from National Wetland Inventory data ( Figure 7 ). Among these are wet pine flatwoods, bottomland hardwood forests, seepage swamps, and tidal fresh water and salt marshes. Wetlands provide important hydrologic, water quality, and habitat fu nctions that have been widely described (e.g., NRC 2 001, and many others) . It should also be noted that upland ecosystems are integrated with and vital to the health of wetland and aquatic systems. Intact terrestrial communities, for example, regulate th e storage and discharge of water, provide buffer areas protective of water quality, recharge ground water systems, and provide corridors necessary for the sustainability of wildlife and plant communities.

Apalachee Bay supports one of the most extensive c ontinuous seagrass systems in the United States ( Figure 7 ) ( Lewis et al. 2009 ; FDNR 19 88). Much of this system is encompassed within the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve (FDNR 19 88). Nearshore waters are also substantially protected by the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. These habitats support wintering migratory waterfowl and many marine organisms, including juvenile Ridley sea turtles and commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish. Seagrasses beds are among the most im portant ecological components of the estuary. They may, however, be readily affected by water quality degradation and physical impacts from prop scarring (Handley et al

. 2 007 and Sargent et al

. 19 95)). Lewis et al. (200 9 ) reports on historical seagrass c overage data for Apalachee Bay. The data are indicative of a decline in seagrass area; however, there are uncertainties with the use of these data with respect to identification of long term trends.

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and other publi c and private conservation lands provide a substantial buffer system that helps to protect water quality, provide flood protection, and sustain integrated terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The buffer also helps to protect inland areas from major storms and allow s natural systems to adapt to sea level rise and climate

- related change.

The upper reach of the Wakulla R iver has experienced extensive invasion by non

- native aquatic plants. This has diminished native plant cover and stressed aquatic species. Hydrilla ( Hydrilla verticillata) growth substantially impacted the ecosystem and may have contributed to the disappearance of native apple snails and the limpkin population that feeds on them (Loper et al

. 2 005). Intensive efforts have been undertaken to remove hydrilla, including chemical treatment

and mechanical harvesting. Long

- term maintenance will be needed to keep the plant under

control. Invasive aquatic plants are also a problem on the St. Marks Ri ver, notably hydrilla, water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce ( Pistia stratiotes ) (FDEP 2 003).St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 18

-

Figure 6

. Distribution of On

- Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal SystemsSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 19

- 

### Freshwater Needs

The District has a minimum flows and levels (MFL) schedule for high priority water bodies. 4 This schedule and priority list includes Wakulla Springs within the St. Marks River Watershed. Wakulla Springs was added to the list when Florida Statutes directed the District to include all first magnitude springs on the MFL priority list. However, ra ther than develop an MFL

, the District may elect to reserve the flows from the spring through formal adoption of a reservation

. A reservation

of all flows less previously permitted consumptive uses may be more protective than establishment

of minimum flow s

, which may be too low to sustain or protect the system. Cumulative consumptive

withdrawals across the region largely reflect groundwater withdrawals by local water supply

utilities . These withdrawals are not expected to significantly affect total spring discharge. Further study through application of groundwater models developed for the basin is expected to provide a better understanding of the cumulative effects of withdrawal on spring flow. I n order to quantify or at least depict the extent that fres hwater flow from Wakulla Springs and the St. Marks River supports downstream aquatic systems, a freshwater needs assessment is ongoing. The Wakulla and St. Marks rivers support a significant estuarine aquatic system as well as freshwater riverine aquatic ecosystems. The extent that these freshwater sources influence the salinity and
temperature distribution downstream has not been very well studied. The physical characteristics of the St. Marks River estuary have only recently been measured to better und erstand this flow system. The freshwater needs assessment will therefore take a closer look at the freshwater inputs from the St. Marks and Wakulla rivers to determine the influence freshwater flows have on the system downstream to the estuary.



## 3

. 3 Flood Protection

Flood protection needs within the St. Marks River watershed are closely related with stormwater management, as well as land use planning and land development regulation. Thus, for both retrofit and new development, flood protection and water quality treatment efforts must be closely coordinated through protection of floodplains, wetlands, natural hydrology, and recharge. Where necessary and appropriate, both retrofit needs and stormwater management for new development

should be addressed thro ugh construction of facilities that provide both flood protection and water quality treatment.

To facilitate protection of floodplain and wetland resources, development of improved flood maps and elevation data are ongoing. These needs are being addresse d through a cooperative effort between the District and FEMA to accurately identify flood hazards through the Flood Hazard Map Modernization program, the SWIM program, storm surge modeling, and other cooperative efforts. Additionally, ongoing land acquisi tion efforts serve to protect floodplains, wetlands, and associated public benefits. Restoration efforts implemented through SWIM and wetland mitigation also help restore natural hydrology, with benefits for flood protection, habitat, and water quality. Finally, implementation of the Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) program in northwest Florida will help ensure flood protection is addressed in an integrated manner with water quality protection.

4 www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/rmd/mfl/mfl.htmSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 20

-

Figure 7

. Wetland and Aq uatic Habitats in the St. Marks River/Apalachee Bay WatershedSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 21

- 

## 4 .0 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

Based on consideration of watershed conditions as outlined above

, priorit y objectives for the St.

Marks River watershed SWIM Plan are :

 Water quality protection and improvement , with a primary focus on prevention and abatement of nonpoint source pollutant loading

.

 Natural systems protection, enhancement, and (as necessary) restoration

.

 Flood protection , with a focus on protect ing and restor ing floodplain area s and function s

.

Addressing these priorities will help accomplish the SWIM Plan goal as outlined in Chapter 1.4:

The St. Marks River watershed shall be managed to ensure the long

- term sustainability of watershed resources, values, and functions. This shall encompass preservation and, where necessary, restoration of ecosystem health and integrity.

While watershed needs and management strategies span the responsibilities and programs of a number of federal, state, and local agencies, the recommended actions discussed below are points of entry in which the SWIM program may best contribute to the overall watershed man agement effort. It should be noted that the management strategies described provide an umbrella for numerous, site

- specific projects that may be ongoing at any given time. For the purpose of this plan, management actions are defined as ―tactics‖ in recog nition of the applicability of the encompassed approaches for a broad array of sites and conditions.

Table 3 describes objectives, strategies, and general indicators under the SWIM program for addressing the watershed priorities described above. Descri ptions of individual management tactics that may be implemented to achieve these objectives follow. Due to the inherently interrelated and interactive nature of these objectives, the strategies and tactics listed generally apply to multiple objectives.

Table 3 . Objectives and General Strategies

Objectives General Strategies

Water quality protection and improvement Reduce nonpoint source pollution watershed

- wide through stormwater planning, retrofit and related activities.
Support efforts to more effectively treat and reuse wastewater

and stormwater

.
Natural systems protection, enhancement, and

restoration Protect, enhance, and (as necessary) restore wetlands, aquatic habitats, and riparian and upland buffer areas.
Develop an improved understanding of the freshwater inflow needs of riverine and estuarine ecosystems.

Flood protection

– protect and restore floodplain area and

function Develop / distribute improved flood maps and topographic data.

Protect and restore floodplain area s and functions

. Implement stormwater retrofit projects to address flood protection in an integrated manner with water quality improvement.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 22

-

Individual tactics that may be employed to implement these strategies are described below. Due to the inherently interrelated nature of the objectives, most tactics are applicable to multiple objectives

. Relationships of the prescribed tactics to SWIM pl an objectives are listed in Table 4

. Potential fundi ng alternatives are listed . G eneral descriptions follow.

Table 4 also identifies the importance of key watershed protection and restoration strategies for water supply. Particularly in the St. Marks River watershed, where surface waters and major water aquifers interact as a single system, watershed management is essential for sustaining public water supplies. Additional information may be found in the current water supply assessment (NWFWMD 2008).

Table 4

. Management Tactics and Funding Options

Management
Tactics Water

Quality Natural

Systems Flood

Protection Water

Supply Funding

Alternatives

Resource

characterization 

##     SWIM

State appropriation Federal grants

Hydrologic data

collection and monitoring 

##     SWIM State funding Federal grants

Freshwater needs

assessment 

##   SWIM

Local stormwater planning assistance 

##    Local
governments

SWIM

Construction of

stormwater retrofit

facilities and implementation of

BMPs 

##    Local
governments

SWIM

Florida Forever Federal grants

Integration of Flood

Hazard Map

Modernization 

##    Federal (FEMA)

SWIM

Preservation of critical

lands and habitats 

##    Local
governments

Florida Forever USDA programs

Private

landowners and

initiatives

Ecological restoration 

##    Local
governments

SWIM

Private

landowners and

initiatives FDOT Mitigation Federal grantsSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 23

- Management
Tactics Water

Quality Natural

Systems Flood

Protection Water

Supply Funding

Alternatives

Public education and

outreach 

##     Local
governments

SWIM

Reuse of reclaimed

water 

##    Local
governments

WPSPTF

SWIM

Florida Forever

Federal

* USDA

– U.S. Department of Agriculture;

FEMA

– Federal Emergency Management Agency;

WPSPTF

– Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund;

Resource characterization

– Due to the complexity of the St. Marks River watershed, an improved understanding of its characteristics (hydrology, water chemistry, and ecology) is essential to define appropriate strategies and implement successful management actions. Lewis et al. (200 9 ) ha ve drafted the most recent characterization under the SWIM program

.

Hydrologic data collection and monitoring

- Ongoing monitoring of conditions and trends improves understanding of resource characteristics and allows for adaptive management and assessment of plan implementation. Monitoring as previously described in Chapter 1.4 continues for Wakulla Spring s , for basin delineation, hydrologic analys e s and wa ter quality. This program is integrated with other programs

, including w a ter supply planning and assessm ent

, consumptive use permi t ting , the FDEP

- funded springs ini ti ative , and development of detailed topographic data using LiDAR technology.

Freshwater needs assessment : An important aspect to the conditions and management needs of

the watershed is the role freshwater inflows from the Wakulla and St. Marks rivers have in supporting downstream aquatic ecology. Application of modern electronic measuring e quipment and hydrodynamic modeling technology will help quantify freshwater flow needs of the estuarine system. Model development and analys e s will be applied to improve the understanding of how freshwater flows from Wakulla Springs and the St. Marks Rive r affect the downstream salinity distribution in the estuary. Cumulative effects on the estuarine system of potential future

withdrawals then can be better evaluated. This analysis should quantify the extent of the downstream area affected by freshwater inflow and also relate to the discharge of freshwater from Wakulla Spring and other springs in the watershed. Further analysis utilizing recently develop ed groundwater models of the Floridan Aquifer by the USGS and others is also needed and planned

to bet ter understand the cumulative effects of groundwater withdrawals on spring flows during droughts or low flow periods.

Local stormwater planning assistance

– Local stormwater master planning is important to the prevention of new sources of runoff and pollutant loading and to the abatement of existing NPS pollution. Stormwater plans detail the contributing areas of land

- generated pollutant sources

, water qualit y and flooding challenges

, and identify priority projects and funding options. Structural and nonstructural approaches to resource protection are incorporated, depending on landscape characteristics, existing land use, and approved future land uses. Leon County and the City of Tallahassee have stormwater plans that address water quality. Wakulla County and the City of St. Marks have indicated a need to initiate development of stormwater plans.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 24

- Construction of stormwater retrofit facilities and i mplementa tion of BMPs

– Development of regional and other priority retrofit facilities is essential for addressing existing NPS pollutant loading, addressing flooding issues, and restoring hydrologic conditions where necessary. Widespread implementation of best management practices, ideally implemented through a treatment train approach, maintains localized on

- site hydrology and water quality and cumulatively

benefits water quality and natural storage function throughout the wate rshed

.

Integration of Flood Hazard Map Modernization Program

– Modern and accurate floodplain maps and detailed topographic data will help improve resource protection on the part of the District, local governments, and other agencies. The data are direct ly applicable for stormwater management, floodplain delineation and protection, and restoration and protection of wetland and floodplain

functions. As noted above, the District is working with FEMA to develop Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps ( DFIRMS ) for the St. Marks River watershed. New DFIRMS have been developed for

Leon C ount y

, and map development for Jefferson and Wakulla c ount ies will continue through

2009 . The DFIRMS will be publically available in electronic format.

Preservation of critical lands and habitats

– Through the SWIM program, District staff will identify and map priority areas for land and habitat protection. Groundwater recharge areas, w etlands, floodplains, and riparian habitat s must be protected in order to sustain and improve the quality and

natural function of springs

, rivers , and other water resources in the basin. Associated with the protection of lands are other public resource benefits

, including fish and wildlife, recreational and aesthetic resources, public health benef its, useable surface and ground water resources, environmental resiliency, and the economic benefits of all of these.

Priority habitats and areas for preservation may include :

Protective buffers along riparian areas and karst features

, including mapped und erlying
cave systems Wetlands and floodplains Critical recharge areas Springs Potential wetland mitigation sites

Implementation may be achieved through a variety of nonstructural measures:

Developing a land acquisition plan for protection of water resources and functions

Coordination of planning initiatives which direct land acquisition initiatives Acquisition of conservation lands and easements

, with emphasis on public access together with resource protection, enhancement, and restoration

Private landowner initiatives

Public education and outreach

Ecological restoration

– Basin

- wide priorities for restoration of existing resources may be indentified through monitoring, local knowledge, remote sensing, and onsite surveys. Watershed resource restoration is inclusive of wetland, lake, hydrologic, floodplain, vegetation, and aquatic

habitat restoration. Potential restoration projects may include removal of sediments from Lake Munson and elimination of legacy pollutant loading affecting this waterbody ; stream , wetland, and riparian habitat restoration ; and mitigation projects.

Public education and outreach

– Public education and outreach efforts are important to al l aspects of watershed resource protection . Information may be provided through a variety of media, including the Internet, brochures, documents, presentations, and participation in public events

.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 25

- Topics may include personal practices for preventing NPS pollution and preservation of critical habitats on private lands. Modern flood maps will be made available to the public, as well as to local governments and others. Additionally, public education and awareness efforts concerning watershed management hel p to develop public support for watershed initiatives through enhanced understanding of the issues involved and management approaches.

Reuse of reclaimed water

– T reated wastewater and stormwater may prove to be feasible as a resource for landscape irrigation , agricultural crops, and other non

- potable water needs. In addition to reducing demand on potable water supply sources and maximizing efficiency, reuse of reclaimed water may provide benefits for water quality and may en hance water available for natural systems when properly applied . Due to treatment requirements and distribution of

reclaimed water over a wider treatment area, for example, reuse can reduce watershed loading of nutrients and other pollutants. Additionall y, reuse distribution can increase benefi ci al ground water recharge over a relatively broad area of the watershed. Future r euse application should be located

within suitable areas based on hydrogeologic and land use considerations. Additional needs include appropriate application and careful monitoring

.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 26

- 

## 5 .0 IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN

Funding is budgeted annually for implementation of SWIM projects. An annual work plan of planned and project level funding for SWIM plan implementatio n is provided under separate cover

and included with in Chapter VIII of the District’s March 1 st Consolidated Annual Report. 5

By working through complementary programs, as described above, SWIM plan implementation integrates and leverages a variety of funding sources. Direct funding to the District may be provided from:

 Water Management Lands Trust Fund, s. 373.59 F.S.

 Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund (if funded by the Legislature for SWIM), 403.890 F.S.

 Florida Forever Trust Fund (construction only), s. 259.1051 F.S.

 Legislative special appropriations, s. 373.459 F.S.

 Local government funding

 Florida Springs Initiative

 Other state and federal grant funds such as the 319H grant program.

Associated program funding, which complement s and furthers implementation of this plan, may be indirectly provided by:

 Florida Department of Transportation mitigation funding, where appropriate, 373.4137 F.S.

 Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund, Alternative Water Supply (for construction of reuse facilities, and potentially other alternative water supply and water resource development projects), s. 373.1961 and s. 403.890 F.S.

 Environmental R esource Permitting Program (ERP), s. 373.4145 F.S. and s. 62

- 346, F.A.C.

 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Map Mod

5 www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubs/consolidatedAR/consolAR.htmlSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 27

- 

## 6 .0 REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

Agharahimi, H. 2006. EcoSummary: Wakulla Springs Stream Health

. 2006. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Assessment. ftp.dep.state.fl.us/pub/labs/lds/reports/7610.pdf

Allan, J.D., D.L. Erickson, and J. Faye. 1997. ― The Influence of Cat chment Land Use on Stream Integrity Across Multiple Spatial Scales. ‖ Freshwater Biology 37: 149

- 161.

Arthur, J. D. , A.E. Baker, J.R. Cichon, A

. R. Wood, and A

. Rudin. 2005. Florida Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment (FAVA): Contamination Potential of Florida’s Principal Aquifer System

. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Geological Survey. ftp.dep .state.fl.us/pub/geo/hydrogeology/fava/fava_final_dep_report/FAVA_REPORT_MASTER_D OC_3

- 21

- 05.pdf

. See also www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/programs/hydrogeology/fava.htm

.

Barrios, K. 2006. St. Marks River and Wakulla River Springs Inventory: Leon and Wakulla Counties, Florida . Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Water Resources Special Report 06

- 3. www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/rmd/springs/Wakulla_StMarks/index.htm

Bartel, R.L. and F.B. Ard. 1992. U.S. EPA Clean Lakes Program, Phase I: Diagnostic Feasibility Report for Lake Munson

. Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Water Resources Special Report 92

- 4.

Berndt, M.P., E.T. Oaksford, G. Mahon and W. Schmidt. 1998. Groundwater. Pp. 38

- 63 in Water

Resources Atlas of Florida . Fernald, E.A. and E.D. Perdum (eds.). Tallahassee: Institute of Science and Public Affairs, Florida State University.

Castellanos, M. and P.F. Detscher. 1998. The St. Marks Outreach Regional Collaboration Plan, a

Collaborative

- Watershed

- Action Plan (“The St.ORC Plan”) . Pensacola: Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Northwest District.

Chanton, J

. P . 2008. Woodville Basin Tracer Study, FDEP Agreement No: WM926, Wakulla County Septic Tank Study. Tallahassee: Florida State University, Department of Oceanography.

Charbonneau, M. 2008. Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve Manager. Personal communication, January 2008.

Chelette, A., T.R. Pratt

, and J. Godin. 2002 a

. Florida Springs Initiative, FY2001

- 2002 Final Report

. Havana, Florida: Northwest Florida Water Management District, Technical File Report 02

- 01. www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubs/florida_springs /flasprgs0102.htm

Chelette, A., T.R. Pratt, and B.G. Katz. 2002 b

. Nitrate Loading as an Indicator of Nonpoint Source

Pollution in the Lower St. Marks

- Wakulla Rivers Watershed . Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Water Resources Speci al Report 02

- 1. www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubs/nitrate/wrsp02

- 1.htm

Davis, H. 1996. Hydrologic Investigation and Simulation of Ground

- Water Flow in the Upper Floridan Aquifer of North

- Central Florida and Southwestern Georgia and Delineation of

C ontributing Areas for Selected City of Tallahassee, Florida, Water

- Supply Wells

. U.S. Geologic al Survey Water

- Resources Investigations Report 95

- 4296.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 28

- Florida Department of Community Affairs and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

2002. Protecting Florida’s Springs: Land Use Planning Strategies and Best Management

Practices . Tallah assee: Florida Springs Task Force.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 1997. Biological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Forestry Best Management Practices: Okaloosa, Gadsden, Taylor, and Clay

Counties . Tallahassee: Division of Adminis trative and Technical Services.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 1999. ―Ground Water

– Surface Water

Interaction in a Coastal Watershed.‖ Florida Geology Forum , Vol. 13, No. 2 . Tallahassee: Florida Geological Survey. www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/news/forum99_2.pdf

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 2001. Basin Status Report: Ochlockonee and

St. Marks . Division of Water Resource Managemen t.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 2003. Water Quality Assessment Report,

Ochlockonee and St. Marks . Tallahassee: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Resource Management, Bureau of Watershed Management. ftp://ftp.dep.state.fl.us/pub/water/basin411/stmarks/assessment/Ochlockonee

- GP1AR

- WEBX.pdf

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 2008. Notice of Permit to the City of Tallahassee for the T.P. Smith Wastewater Reuse Facility. Pensacola: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Northwest District Office.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 2009. Ochlockonee/St. Marks Basin Group 1

Verified List

. www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/assessment/docs/303d/group1/adopted/cycle2/stmarks

verified

- c2.pdf

Florida Department of Health

. 2008. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Health, Florida Healthy Beaches Program. Wakulla County data: esetappsdoh.doh.state.fl.us/irm00beachwater/beachresults.aspx?county=Wakulla

Florida Department of Natural Resources. 1988. Big Bend Seagras ses Aquatic Preserve and Big Bend Marsh Buffer Management Plan . Tallahassee: Division of State Lands. www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/bigbend/

Florida Department of Transportation. 1999. Florida Land Use, Cover, and Forms Classification System . Florida Department of Transportation Surveying and Mapping Office, Geographic Mapping Section.

Handley, L., D. Altsman, and R. DeMay, eds. 2007. Sea grass Status and Trends in the Northern

Gulf of Mexico: 1940

– 2002. Reston: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006

- 5287 and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 855

- R

- 04

- 003. pubs.us gs.gov/sir/2006/5287/

Harden, H. S., R. Eberhard, M. Hooks, J.P. Chanton. 2008. ― Evaluation of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems in shallow karst terrain. ‖ Water Research 42 (2008) 2585

- 2597.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 29

- Harper, H. H. 1994. Estimation of Stormwater Loading Rate Parameters for Central and South

Florida . Orlando: Environmental Research and Design, Inc.

Harrington, J. and J. Guo. 2007. OSTDS and Decentralized Systems Wastewater Treatment Program

. Tallahassee: Florida State University Center for Ec onomic Forecasting and Analysis. Phase I Report, Planning Area Characteristics. www.cefa.fsu.edu/uploaded%20current%20projects/Phase%201%20report%20Jan %202007.pdf Phase II Report www.cefa.fsu.edu/uploaded%20current%20projects/Phase%202%20report%20January%202007.pdf

Harrington, J. and T.L. Walton, Jr. 2007. Climate Change in Coastal Areas in Florida: Sea Level Rise Estimation and Economic Analysis to Year 2080 . Tallahassee: Florida State University Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis and Beaches and Shores Resource Center. www.cefa.fsu.edu/uploaded%20current%20projects/ncep.pdf

Kimley

- Horn and Associates, Inc. 2008. Wakulla County Evaluation and Appraisal Report, January 2008. Crawfordville, Fla . Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners. www.mywakulla.com/docs/EAR/WakullaCountyRevisedEAR.pdf

Kinkaid, T.R. 2003. ― Groundwater Tracing in the Woodville Karst Plain

- Pa rt I: An Overview of Groundwater Tracing. ‖ DIR Quest (Journal of the Global Underwater Explorer s) , Vol. 4, No. 4.

www.hazlett

- kincaid.com/HTML/main.htm

Lake Munson Action Team. 1994. Lake Munson Action Plan: Restoring and Preserving for

Future Generations . Produced for Leon County Board of County Commissioners, January 1994.

Lane, E. 2001. The Spring Creek Submarine Springs Group

. Florida Geological Survey Special

Publication No. 47.

Lewis, F.G.

, N.D. Wooten, and R.L. Bartel. 200 9

. Lower St. Marks River/Wakulla River/Apalachee Bay Resource Characterization : With a Discussion of Freshwater Dependent Habitats and Species (Draft). Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Water Resources Special Report 0 9

- Draft.

Loper, D.E., D. Landing, C.D. Pollman, and A.B. Chan Hilton. 2005. Degradation of Water Quality at Wakulla Springs, Florida: Assessment and Recomm endations . Tallahassee: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Geological Survey. Special Publication 58

– 2006. www.dep.state .fl.us/geology/programs/hydrogeology/hydro_wkshp/WakullaPeerReportFinal.pdf

Maristany, A.E., R.L. Bartel, and D. Wiley. 1988. Water Quality Evaluation of Lake Munson

. Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Water Resources Assessment 88

- 1.

McGlynn Laboratories, Inc., MACTEC, Tallahassee

- Leon County GIS, Ardaman and Associates.

2006. Woodville Recharge Basin Aquifer Protection Study, Phase III Final Report . Board of Leon County Commissioners. BC

- 07

- 19

- 02

- 29. www.mcglynnlabs.com/WRBPhaseIII.html

McGlynn, S.E. 2006. Leon County Lakes Ecology, Lake Munson . Tallahassee: McGlynn

Laboratories

, Inc. ww w.mcglynnlabs.com/LakeMunson.pdfSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

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- Mossa, J. 1998. ― Groundwater. ‖ Pp. 38

- 63 in Water Resources Atlas of Florida . Fernald, E.A. and E.D. Perdum (eds.). Tallahassee: Institute of Science and Public Affairs, Florida State University.

National Research Council. 2001. Compensating for Wetland Losses under the Clean Water Act

. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences.

Northwest Florida Water Management District. 1998. Land Use, Management Practices, and Water Quality in the A palachicola River and Bay Watershed . Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Water Resources Assessment 98

- 1.

Northwest Florida Water Management District. 2005. District Water Management Plan . Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Program Development Series 05

- 1. www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubs/dwmp2005/dwmp05.htm

Northwest Florida Water Management District. 2006. Surface Water Improvement and Managemen t Program Priority List . Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Program Development Series 06

- 2. www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/rmd/swimpriority%20list%202

- 06.pdf

Nor thwest Florida Water Management District. 2008. 2008 Water Supply Assessment Update

. December 2008. Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management District. Water Resources

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- 2. www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/rmd/wsa/WSA%20Updates/wsa_update_2008.htm

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. Havana: Northwest Florida Water Management Dist rict. Water Resources Special Report 96

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- 0063.- 32

-



## APPENDIX : RELATED AND SUPPORTING INITIATIVES

Local Initiatives

a) Leon County

— In 1992 Leon County initiated an Aquifer Protection Program , as specified in its Aquifer/Wellhead Protection Ordinance

, to prevent contamination of the aquifer in Leon County . In 2005, the county updated its Aquifer Protection Code : www.talgov.com/you/water/pdf/aquifer_protection_code_2006.pdf

.

Leon County has also completed the Leon County Aquifer Vulnerability

Assessment (LAVA) to provide a science

- based management tool to help minimize adverse impacts on ground

- water quality. Additional information may be found at www.adgeo.net/lava.php

.

The City of Tallahassee in 2006 signed an agreement to invest more than $160 million over six years to convert two wastewater facilities to advanced wastewater

treatment , reducing the flow of nutrients into Wakulla Springs by 75 percent and significantly i mproving the quality of reuse water.

In 2008 the City of Tallahassee enacted a pet waste ordinance that requires pet

owners to remove and properly dispose of their pet’s fecal matter from public areas (Ordinance Number 08

- O

- 23AA). This was a response to c oncern about coliform bacteria reported in area waters.

In 2009 the City of Tallahassee adopted a fertilizer use ordinance that sets forth specific management guidelines to minimize environmental effects. The ordinance requires training and licensing of applicators ( Ordinance Number 08

- O

- 72AA)

.

Amendments to the Tallahassee

- Leon County Comprehensive Plan that provide further watershed protections were adopted in January 2009. Local ordinances to implement policies of the C omprehensive P lan are under deve lopment. City and county government have already adopted ordinances establishing a Primary Springs Protection Zone , to become effective upon the effective date of the Comprehensive Plan amendments.

The Tallahassee

– Leon County Watershed Protection Initiative is seeking to address flood control and watershed protection through stormwater capital improvement projects. The Initiative is under the guidance of the Watershed Management Policy Board, established to coordinate watershed management plans

of the City of Tallahassee and Leon County. Both Lakes Munson and Lafayette are included in the capital improvement plan. For more information, see www.leoncountyfl.gov/wpi/home.html

.

Tallahassee

- Leon County Blue p rint 2000 pledged to protect Lake Munson and Lake Lafayette through funding from a local option one cent sales tax. Included in the plan are several projects for stormwater improvement to these lakes and associated waterways. The plan also i ncludes projects for ground water and floodplain protection. For more information, see www.blueprint2000.org/home.html

. Additionally, as noted above, Blueprint 2000 has entered into agreement with the District to jointly pursue environmentally sensitive lands in the St. Marks River watershed for acquisition.St. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 33

- b) Wakulla County

— In July 1994, Wakulla County passed the Wakulla Springs Water Quality Protection Ordinance . The ordinance requires registration o f regulated substances in the special planning area and provides for inspection, containment, reporting, cleanup and monitoring. In April 2008, the county expanded the Springs Special Planning Area to include additional areas that have a

demonstrated conn ection to the Wakulla Springs cave system.

An aquifer vulnerability assessment is under development in Wakulla County by Advanced GeoSpatial Inc. Version 1.3 is under review with the Florida Geological Survey, and when finalized will be available on the F GS web site. www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/programs/hydrogeology/hydro_index.htm

In 2006 the county passed a wetlands protection ordinance . Ordinance 06

- 27

identifies allowable and conditional uses of wetlands and wetland buffer zones, establishes a 75 foot natural buffer zone, provides for variances, establishes design standards, and provides for enforcement and penalties.

Wakulla County Ordinance 2006

- 58, also passed in 2006, revised the comprehensive plan to protect and improve water quality. Among other things, the ordinance requires performance

- based treatment systems (PBTS) that remove a higher level of nitrogen (treatment standard is 10 milligrams per liter) for onsite wastewater treatment and disposal for all new construction . Existing septic tanks and package treatment plants are to discontinue service if central sewer is made available or be replaced with performance

- based treatment systems when they fail. Al l septic systems, new and existing, are to be inspected every three years by a licensed contractor. Standards and guidelines are established for central wastewater

treatment facilities in this ordinance

.

On behalf of Wakulla County, Harrington and Guo’s 2007 work was an effort to provide citizens and officials with the best available information for decision making regarding the use of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems and decentralized wastewater systems in order to reduce nutrients in ground water flowing to Wakulla Springs.

The 2006 ordinance also: adds karst buffers ; requires a nitrate loading study for any proposed development greater than one acre; incorporates practices of the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program and landscaping stand ards that promote native vegetation for new subdivisions; reduces nitrates from public facilities; and, addresses stormwater, water conservation, wastewater facilities , treated wastewater reuse, and natural water flows.

The County’s January 2008 Evaluation and Appraisal Report specifies several areas of the Land Development Code, the Comprehensive Plan and intergovernmental coordination to be addressed to protect environmental resources. Among the needed actions are monitoring impacts of multi

- state water transfers; inventory of water, sewer and stormwater systems; countywide stormwater planning; a master plan for centralized or retrofit sewer system s ; strengthening buffer regulations; a coastal management plan; preservation of habitat corridors; and,

promo ting smart development methods. www.mywakulla.com/docs/EAR/WakullaCountyRevisedEAR.pdfSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 34

-

Wakulla County , in cooperation with the District, is funding the Wakulla Gardens Stormwater Project, an NPS water quality improvement and stormwater management plan for this historic subdivision.

c) Jefferson County

— The county’s comprehensive plan requires a 100 foot buffer around sinkholes and caves to protect grou nd water. Drainage wells are not allowed that dispose of stormwater into recharge areas of potable water aquifers. Untreated stormwater discharge is not allowed into natural water bodies; however, septic systems continue to be allowed in flood areas. Bu ffer widths of 100 feet are required for rivers, streams and lakes.



### State and Regional Initiatives

a) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program

— The federal Clean Water Act, Section 303(d), is implemented in Florida under FDEP’s TMDL program to check that

sur face waters meet water quality standards. The process includes assessing water quality, listing impaired waters, adopting TMDLs, determining pollutant sources, and implementing strategies to reduce pollution. TMDLs are the thresholds of pollutants

that a water body can assimilate and still maintain water quality standards. FDEP’s 2002 listing of impaired waters included 16 water bodies in the St. Marks River and Apalachee Bay watershed, and that may increase to 24 under proposed list revisions. TMDLs have not yet been developed for the watershed. www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/index.htm

b) State Lands

— The S tat e of Florida has acquired 2,590 acres along the upper St. Marks River corridor for a new state park. The S tate plans to protect additional lands in this area through fee simple acquisition under the Upper St. Marks River Corridor Florida Forever Project. Additional acquisitions have increased the size of Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park to 6,055 acres. Nearby, the Wakulla State Forest has been established and is now 4,219 acres. Additional lands may be acquired through the Wakulla Springs Protecti on Zone Florida Forever Project

.

c) The Florida Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment is a GIS

- based model developed by the Florida Geological Survey to show the relative probability that an aquifer could

become contaminated from activities on the land surface. T he maps are useful in guiding land use decisions and in identifying ground water recharge areas in need of protection. www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/programs/hydrogeology/fava.h tm

d) A Sensitive Karst Areas map was developed by Florida Geological Survey for use in

the Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook

- Volume II, Engineering Requirements for Stormwater Treatment and Management Systems

- Water Quality

and Water Quantity

. The map is used when siting proposed stormwater ponds and establishes additional design criteria for these structures. The designated area

covers most of Leon and Wakulla counties. www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/programs/hydrogeology/hydro_resources.htm#Sensitive
_Karst_Areas

e) The multi

- agency Florida Springs Task Force was formed in 1999 with support of

the Governor and Florida L egis lature to address declines seen in many of the state’s springs. The manual Protecting Florida’s Springs: Land Use Planning Strategies and Best Management Practices was developed to inform land use decision makers onSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 35

- strategies for protection and restoratio n of springs and specifies permitting considerations for karst areas (FDCA and FDEP 2 002). In 2001, the Florida Springs

Initiative within FDEP was established as a comprehensive, coordinated program to

increase protection of the state’s springs. www.floridasprings.org

f) The Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve is initiating seagrass monitoring in eastern Apalachee Bay, between the St. Marks and Aucilla rivers. Twenty five fixed sites will be monitored every other year, gathering various measurements (Charbonneau 2 008).

g) The new Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services requires that fertilizer products for urban lawns and sports turf limit the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous to that needed for healthy turf

maintenance. This should reduce nutrients enter ing our water resources. www.flaes.org/complimonitoring/fertilizer.html

h) Coastal Change Planning

— The Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida is developing technical information, rec ommendations, and policy proposals related to climate change, emerging sustainability technologies, and coastal resiliency in

Florida. Related documents and information are at
www.century commission.org/current_projects.asp

. Two publication s to assist community leaders and planners address the vulnerability of coastal areas and water resources have been developed by the Texas Coastal Watershed Program: The Resilient Coast: Policy frameworks for adapting the built environment to climate change and growth in coastal areas of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico 6

, and The Resilient Coast: Policy frameworks for adapting the Wetlands to climate change and growth in

coastal areas of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico 7



### .

6 www.urban

- nature.org/publications/documents/TheBuiltEnvironment08

- sm_000.pdf

7 www.urban

- nature.org/publications/documents/ResilentCoastWetlands

- sm.pdfSt. Marks River Watershed SWIM Plan

- 36

- 

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