Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-303 - IDENTIFICATION OF IMPAIRED SURFACE WATERS › Part II - THE PLANNING LIST › Section 62-303.350 - Assessments of Numeric Interpretation of Narrative Nutrient Criteria

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The numeric interpretations of the
				  narrative nutrient criterion in Sections
				   62-302.531 and
				   62-302.532, F.A.C., and the
				  nutrient impairment thresholds identified in Rules
				   62-303.351 through
				   62-303.354, F.A.C., shall be the
				  primary means for assessing whether a water should be assessed further for
				  nutrient impairment. Other information indicating an imbalance in flora or
				  fauna due to nutrient enrichment, such as algal blooms or mats, excessive
				  nuisance macrophyte growth, decrease in the distribution (either in density or
				  areal coverage) of seagrasses or other submerged aquatic vegetation, adverse
				  changes in algal species composition, and excessive diel oxygen swings, shall
				  also be considered for placing waters on the Planning List.
(2) To be used to determine whether a
				  waterbody should be assessed further for nutrient enrichment, data must meet
				  the requirements of subsections and paragraphs (2), (3), (4)(a), (4)(e)-(g),
				  (8), (9), (12) and (13), in Rule
				   62-303.320, F.A.C.
(3) To calculate an annual geometric or
				  arithmetic mean for TN, TP,
				  NO3-NO2, or chlorophyll
a
, there shall be at least four temporally-independent samples
				  per year with at least one sample collected between May 1 and September 30 and
				  at least one sample collected during the other months of the calendar year. To
				  be treated as temporally-independent, samples must be collected at least one
				  week apart.
(4) To assess nutrient
				  criteria expressed as a long-term average of annual means for TN, TP,
				  NO3-NO2, or chlorophyll
a
, the long-term average of annual means shall be based on
				  data from at least 3 years meeting the minimum data requirements of subsection
				   62-303.350(3),
				  F.A.C.
(5) To assess nutrient
				  criteria expressed as a long-term average for TN, TP,
				  NO3-NO2, or chlorophyll
a
, the long-term average for nutrients shall be based on a
				  minimum of 10 data points over at least 3 years, with at least two temporally
				  independent samples per year, with at least one sample collected between May 1
				  and September 30 and at least one sample collected during the other months of
				  the calendar year.
(6) To be
				  assessed under this chapter, except for data used to establish historical
				  chlorophyll
a
levels, chlorophyll
a
data
				  shall be determined using Department-approved methods as measured according to
				  the DEP document titled, "Applicability of Chlorophyll a Methods"
				  (DEP-SAS-002/10), dated October 24, 2011 (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02914
),
				  incorporated by reference herein, unless an alternative method is specifically
				  approved by the Department under Chapter 62-160, F.A.C. Copies of the
				  chlorophyll
a
document may be obtained by writing to the
				  Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS
				  #6511, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400. Chlorophyll
a
data shall be
				  corrected for or free from the interference of pheophytin.
Rulemaking Authority
						403.061,
						403.067 FS. Law Implemented
						403.062,
						403.067
						FS.
New 6-10-02, Amended 12-11-06, 7-2-12,
						2-17-16.