Water Quality Physical Parameters Data (Lietz)

The data set contains values for water temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, sample location cross section, and sampling depth at 5 sites. The sites are: Biscayne Canal at S-28 Little River Canal at S-27 Miami Canal at S-26 Snapper Creek Canal at S-22 Tamiami Canal at S-25B

A vital component in ecosystem restoration is the understanding of prerestoration water quality. The health of Biscayne Bay has been threatened by nutrient-laden discharges from the east coast canal system resulting from urbanization and agricultural activities. Extensive changes to the current water management system in order to restore natural historic hydropatterns to the Everglades potentially may affect the Biscayne Bay ecosystem. This study was developed in order to provide a method of estimating nutrient loads from east coast canals to the Bay and to provide an understanding of nutrient distribution and concentration in the east coast canal system. Models for estimation of nutrient loads were developed using the techniques of linear regression analysis. In order to understand current and historical water-quality in southern Florida, long-term trends from two surface water sites potentially affected by restoration efforts, Miami Canal at S-26 and Tamiami Canal - Forty Mile Bend to Monroe, were investigated. This task determined the water quality physical parameters for canals discharging into Biscayne Bay National Park.