Hydrodynamic and Salinity Characteristics of Rivers and Estuaries of the Ten Thousand Islands

The objective of this South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)/USGS cooperative effort is to: (1) describe the hydrodynamic characteristics and the temporal and spatial salinity variability of creeks and estuaries within the Ten Thousand Islands area; and (2) help define circulation and salinity patterns related to prominent physical boundaries, which are generally composed of mud flats, ridges, and oyster beds. Data collection will be conducted over 3 years to capture a representative range of seasonal conditions and extreme events. Hydrologic data will be used to: describe the hydrodynamic characteristics of the area; determine salinity patterns of rivers and estuaries; and provide baseline characteristics before the alteration related to ecosystem restoration efforts. This study also will provide data for the development and calibration of hydrodynamic/salinity models planned for the study area.