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Environmental Monitoring of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project

Writer's picture: Alyssa CavanaughAlyssa Cavanaugh

Updated: Jan 17

Seasonally flooded trail along the border between Collier-Seminole State Park and Picayune Strand State Forest.
Seasonally flooded trail along the border between Collier-Seminole State Park and Picayune Strand State Forest.

In 2024, Earthology completed the hydrologic and water quality monitoring components of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project - Southwest Protection Features contract. This is a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan project with the US Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District. This included data collection and assessment of 12 groundwater wells, 7 canal stations (surface water quality, stage, and discharge) and 1 marsh station (stage and water quality only). We also completed vegetation transect and periphyton monitoring at numerous locations in Collier-Seminole State Park (CSSP) and Picayune Strand State Forest. The purpose of this monitoring was to characterize baseline conditions prior to hydrologic restoration (which is anticipated to begin in 2025) and to support adaptive management.


Earthology created a detailed surface water stage and discharge dataset for canals entering CSSP. We characterized the phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations in the canals around CSSP using grab samples and autosamplers. We identified saltwater intrusion via groundwater into CSSP up to the Old Marco Road Trail (aka Bicycle Trail; 25,000 uS/cm conductivity in the groundwater at a depth of one foot). We helped better quantify the differential levels of surface flooding in CSSP following large rain events. We also characterized the vegetation communities – primarily wetlands – at 12 locations, and sampled the periphyton communities to determine trophic status at 5 locations.  Earthology will continue to monitor the vegetation transects and sample periphyton until mid-2025.  All these data will help CSSP biologists and managers better prepare for future potential changes in the park, either due to restoration activities or climate change.


We thank the US Army Corps of Engineers for the opportunity to contribute to Everglades restoration. Earthology looks forward to 2025 and to continue working towards a healthier planet.


The salt marsh and mangrove monitoring station inside Collier-Seminole State Park.
The salt marsh and mangrove monitoring station inside Collier-Seminole State Park.
A Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Channel Profiler velocity sensor being used for discharge monitoring.
A Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Channel Profiler velocity sensor being used for discharge monitoring.
Surface water stage data (feet NAVD 88) for eight stations within the Picayune Strand Restoration Project – Southwestern Protection Features from June through September 2024. This image also shows the effects of Hurricane Debby on stage; some stations are tidally influenced.
Surface water stage data (feet NAVD 88) for eight stations within the Picayune Strand Restoration Project – Southwestern Protection Features from June through September 2024. This image also shows the effects of Hurricane Debby on stage; some stations are tidally influenced.
Periphyton sampling in Collier-Seminole State Park.
Periphyton sampling in Collier-Seminole State Park.




 

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