Prediction of estuarine salinities in Everglades National Park, Florida, by the use of ground water records

Tabb, Durbin

In this study a strong relationship between ground water level as expressed by elevation of water height in specified wells in the respective watersheds (Taylor Slough & Shark River Valley) and salinity in the estuaries of Everglades National Park was found. The precision of prediction of salinity increases with proximity to the land from which the water supply comes. Local rainfall has little effect in changing salinity except at the end of the dry season and drought. These studies indicate that ground water discharge is by far the most significant factor in moderating coastal salinities in Everglades National Park. It was determined that nearshore Florida Bay salinities will rise above 50 ppt whenever ground water elevations in the Homestead well fall below 2 ft. above MSL; offshore sites vary between 25-35 ppt when water levels fall between 2 to 5.5 ft above MSL, while 6 ft. water levels will result in abrupt declines of salinity, 11-15 ppt. It was concluded that to refine the prediction method, hourly salinity measurements, and current direction and velocity meters would eliminate most of the errors. Study Period: 1957-1962; Study Type: Quantitative; Number of Stations: Ground water level sites - 3 (P-35, P-38, & Homestead), Salinity sites - Florida Bay 47 (10 used in correlations), Whitewater Bay/10,000 Islands variable (6 used in correlations); Temporal Frequency: Water level sites-monthly, salinity-monthly/ bimonthly/variable; Abiotic Parameters Measured: Ground water levels, salinity; Habitat: Estuarine, coastal marine.