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as a result of the PPBI reports, began in August 2002 and ends during October 2003. Ms.
Browder noted that the predicted model salinities by Wang et. al. do not match field
measured salinities due to the coarseness of the model. As mentioned by Jack Meeder,
inshore salinities have note been adequately characterized.
When asked about VECs she said that establishing a gradient of salinities and not
targeting just one or a few species would be the ecosystem approach which she
recommended. Obviously there is a short list of possible indicator species (similar to
Alleman 2003) but accurately predicting what MFLs might provide the ideal polyhaline
salinities for juvenile pink shrimp inshore on the west side of Central Biscayne Bay, for
example, is not possible at this time. Thus the "Performance Standards" document she
mentioned is the closest thing to an attempt at this time. A goal of trying to provide a system
with a gradient from freshwater to marine, favoring oysters in shore and increasing diversity
of estuarine species seems feasible. 10 years of background may be necessary to truly
measure the impact of restoration with additional monitoring after restoration of habitat and
flows is complete in such areas as Historic Creek.
Ms. Browder corroborated the concept offered by other intervieweesthat at least the
Central and Southern Biscayne Bay areas suffer from "dry season shortages of freshwater",
and that freshwater discharges are not "rainfall controlled" or patterned, and that freshwater
pulses are a problem.
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (Continued)
Interviewees: Joseph E. Serafy, Ph.D., Research Fishery Biologist, NOAA Fisheries, Miami.
Interviewer: R.R. Lewis. Interview date: Sep. 23, 2003.
Discussed the lack of success with the red drum stocking in Biscayne Bay due to
stocking “in the right bay, but the wrong century.” Historic conditions are described in
Chardon (1975) for Biscayne Bay in 1776, and by Smith (1896) clearly show conditions in
which much larger amounts of freshwater entered Central Bay. The Bay now is a
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“freshwater pulsed lagoon” and with any further reductions in freshwater flow, it could move
to a marine lagoon and then a hypersaline lagoon.
Salinity variation is an important as quantity of water. Abrupt salinity change leads
to a natural selection for “tough guys” (limited suite of fish and invertebrates, or lack of
certain benthic plants). He suggests that the evidence of historic oyster reefs and remnant
oysters and oyster reefs define the very limited current extent of real estuarine habitat (very
small).
Would he recommend a VEC? No. He would rather use as an indicator of success of
restoration, these items in this order of priority:
1. Change in species composition.
2. For a given list of species, an increase or decrease in abundance.
3. Density of given monitored species
4. Productivity of the restored ecosystem
The basic ecosystem indicators of diversity and species composition are easily
monitored and are robust measures, if measured over a long enough period of time (e.g., 5
years minimum (10 years better), pre-restoration, and 5-10 years after with provisions for
adjusting water flows through adaptive management using the collected data. Real
monitoring periods should be some multiple of the life spans or generation times of the
monitored species.
Dr. Serafy also laments that, for any monitored species, exploitation via fishing, etc.,
needs to be factored in.
National Park Service; Biscayne National Park
Interviewees: Rick Clark, Todd Kellison, Sarah Bellmund, Max Flandorfer, Richard Curry
and Amanda Bourque, of Biscayne National Park in Homestead. Interviewer: R.R. Lewis.
Interview date: Sep. 23, 2003.
After an introduction to the MFL program by R. Lewis, and introductions to Park
staff by Rick Clark (RC), which he described as an “interdisciplinary team”, Sarah Bellmund
(SB) was introduced as the key contact on MFL issues.
Ms. Bellmund expressed concern about a proposed flood prevention proposal for
Dade County as further reducing freshwater flows to Biscayne Bay. She also mentioned the
paleo-ecological studies that are underway to determine the historical estuarine conditions in
Biscayne Bay. She believes that current conditions in the Bay are severely degraded, and
indicated her opinion that the Bay meets the legal definition as being ‘significantly
degraded.” Oysters are a VEC concerning restoration. Other potential species are sea trout,
red drum and croaker. Preventing hypersaline conditions should be a key goal during the
development of the MFL rule. Pulses of freshwater are a significant problem. Wide ranges in
salinities are the issue, not a given salinity. Historically, she suggests that Biscayne Bay had
fewer mangroves and more brackish and freshwater marshes than what presently exists.
Historical photographs should be consulted to confirm this.
The interviewees questioned “What is the baseline? And during what time period?
RRL: Not sure. Rick Alleman will need to answer.
SB: Peer review group to BB MFL - delayed. holding pattern. This is a problem.
Questions asked. No answers. Logistically housekeeping needed.
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Richard Curry: Reference to look at: Iver Brook, dissertation on cores in BB. Pockets
of artesian activity at shoreline and into BB. Existing system of monitoring wells from Black
Point to Pacific Reef. 10 ppt drop in the middle of the reef 3 feet above bottom.
SB: Conduit v. diffuse flow. Ground water leakage is important. Peter Swart is
studying.
Curry: “migration to marine systems” since 1976. 5 canals. Preventing water access
to the Bay. 70-100 historical tidal creeks emptied into Biscayne Bay. Information contained
in studies at Turkey Point prior to power plant. 1968 - 1969. Bader. Rosentstiel. 2-3 papers
on larval fish.
Todd: Compared to historical conditions, transitional areas are reduced. Suggested
Goal of “establish full salinity regime.” Is the distribution of oysters important?
SB: We are concerned about OTHER factors other than salinity. No to single species
as a VEC.
Curry: Estuarine systems have certain biological components, not one species.
SB: EJ sampling and larval fish by Serafy. Lutz redfish. Provided list of individuals
who should be contacted.
St. Johns River Water Management District.
Interviewee: G.B. (Sonny) Hall, Div. of Water Supply Mgmt. Interviewer: G. Braun.
Interview date: Sep. 16, 2003.
Very familiar with MFL process, as SJRWM has developed and adopted rules for
dozens of water bodies (primarily lakes and ponds) during the last + 10 years. He is not at all
familiar with Biscayne Bay, so discussion focused on the methodologies and approaches
used by SJRWMD. They rely heavily on soil conditions as the key indicator in their
development of MFL criteria for the many lakes and ponds in their region where MFL rules
have now been developed.
They’ve interpreted the MFL statute to allow them to recognize that many of their
surface water bodies are currently in unacceptable hydrological conditions and they’ve
developed MFL rules that seek to restore levels and flows to conditions that more closely
approximate natural conditions. Rule development for many individual water bodies has