The Florida LAKEWATCH Program is one that trains citizen scientists to monitor water quality at locations throughout the state. Created in 1986 as a partnership between the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) and School of Forestry Resources and Conservation, LAKEWATCH has trained thousands of volunteers to monitor hundreds of bodies around the state for many years. In 1991, the state recognized the value of this program and, through a state statute, provides an annual budget to continue.

In Escambia County, the LAKEWATCH program has been monitoring local waterways since 1998. Volunteers are trained and overseen by the Sea Grant Agent at the County Extension Office. There are currently four estuarine bodies of water being monitored, but there has been one creek and four lakes monitored in the past.

 

The parameters selected to monitor are trying to determine the waters trophic state. Trophic refers to “feeding” and biological productivity. An excess of nutrients can cause low dissolved oxygen and fish kills. This has historically been a problem in Escambia County, particularly in the bayous.

Oligotrophic – indicates the waterbody is nutrient poor.

Mesotrophic – indicates the waterbody is mid-range for nutrients.

Eutrophic – indicates the waterbody is high in nutrients.

Hypereutrophic – indicates the waterbody is excessively high in nutrients.

It is important to understand that (a) some bodies of water are naturally oligotrophic or eutrophic, and (b) secchi readings are subjective.

Below is the 2018 update on water quality from each.

 

Summary:

 

Creeks

Only Carpenters Creek has been monitored by LAKEWATCH, and has not been monitored in four years. However, there are 14 years of data prior and the creek seems to be low in nutrients. That said, the water clarity is not as good and there could be sediment discharge issues that the community could address.

 

Lakes

LAKEWATCH has monitored five lakes in Escambia County over the years. Two of those, Blue Angel and Crescent Lake, were both low in nutrients but had not been monitored by LAKEWATCH for 14 years. Crown Point Lake seems to be doing well but has not been monitored in five years.

Though they have not been monitored in four years, Grand Lagoon and Stone Lake were high in nutrients. The residents of those communities may want to consider monitoring again and, if nothing has changed, change behaviors to help improve them.

 

Estuaries

Bayou Texar has been monitored by LAKEWATCH for almost 20 years. It has gone from hypereutrophic to eutrophic over that time.

Bayou Chico has been monitored since 2014 and is high in nutrients and algae

Bayou Grande has improved since LAKEWATCH began monitoring in 2012. It is still eutrophic but nutrients have been decreasing over time

Lower Perdido Bay is low in nutrients and mid-range in chlorophyll a.

DATA FOR EACH BODY OF WATER

 

Carpenters Creek

Two stations were monitored along Carpenters Creek between 2000 and 2014. Those two stations were located north of where Airport Blvd crosses the creek, and east of where Davis Highway crosses.

 

Station 1 – Airport Blvd (2000-2014)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	14	19	40	8	Mesotrophic Slowly decline over time
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	14	450	623	327	Mesotrophic Steady decline over time
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	13	5	41	2	Mesotrophic Steady decline over time
Secchi (ft)	10	2.0	4.3	1.3	Hypereutrophic Steady improvement in clarity over time
Color (Pt-Co units)	11	16	29	11
Specific Conductance (µS/cm@25C)	6	90	98	79
Salinity (ppt)	6	-0.3	-0.3	-0.3

 

Station 2 – Davis Highway (2000-2002)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	3	21	25	16	Mesotrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	3	481	664	355	Mesotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	3	3	5	2	Mesotrophic
Secchi (ft)	2	1.5	2.0	1.0	Hypereutrophic
Color (Pt-Co units)	1	10	10	10
Specific Conductance (µS/cm@25C)
Salinity (ppt)

 

Comments:

 

Phosphorus and nitrogen are nutrients that can fuel the growth of algae. Excessive algae (an algal bloom) can reduce water clarity (impeding photosynthesis for bottom dwelling plants – like seagrasses) and increase biological oxygen demand – which can lead to fish kills. The mean values for these nutrients suggest that Carpenters Creek (between 2000 and 2014) was mesotrophic.

 

Chlorophyll a directly measures the amount of algae in the water. These mean values indicate that the creek is mesotrophic as well.

 

The Secchi readings indicate the water in the creek is very turbid (not clear). The reduced clarity is probably associated with sediment runoff from surrounding development. Though the other data do not suggest an eutrophication problem with this runoff, sediment runoff can still smother needed submerged plant communities – impacting fisheries in both the creek and adjoining Bayou Texar.

 

Blue Angel Lake

Blue Angel Lake is located near the west entrance to NAS Pensacola. It was only monitored from 2003 to 2004.

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	2	7	8	6	Mesotrophic-Eutrophic border
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	2	224	259	188	Oligotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	2	1	1	1	Oligotrophic
Secchi (ft)	2	9.3	10.1	8.5	Mesotrophic

 

Comments:

These data suggest that in 2003 and 2004, Blue Angel Lake did not have a nutrient issue.

 

Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake is located north of Michigan Avenue between Mobile Highway and Brent Lane. It was monitored for only one year – 1998.

 

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	1	8	8	8	Oligotrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	1	320	320	320	Oligotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	1	7	7	7	Mesotrophic-Eutrophic border
Secchi (ft)	1	7.6	7.6	7.6	Eutrophic

 

Comments:

These data suggest that Crescent Lake was only sampled once during 1998. There did not seem to be a nutrient issue but water clarity had a value suggesting it may have sediment runoff issues.

 

Crown Point Lake

Crown Point Lake is located north of Highway 98 on Perdido Bay. It was only monitored between 2012 and 2013.

 

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	2	11	13	9	Oligotrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	2	548	626	470	Mesotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	2	3	3	2	Oligotrophic-Mesotrophic border
Secchi (ft)	2	4.4	4.5	4.2	Eutrophic

 

Comments:

Like the other lakes that have been sampled – the nutrient levels are not high but water clarity is low. This, again, suggest sediment runoff.

 

Grand Lagoon

Grand Lagoon is located south of Gulf Beach Highway between Bauer Road and Blue Angel Parkway. It was monitored for four years between 2002 and 2014.

 

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	3	41	52	34	Eutrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	3	945	966	925	Eutrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	4	42	64	5	Hypereutrophic
Secchi (ft)	4	2.7	4.7	1.7	Hypereutrophic

Comments:

During the four years Grand Lagoon was monitored the data suggests excessive nutrients in the water. These excessive nutrients can come from (a) lawn fertilizers and grass clippings, (b) animal waste, and (c) septic tanks. It was almost five years ago when monitoring of this location stopped. Residents of this community might consider monitoring once again.

 

Stone Lake

Stone Lake is located south of Highway 4 between Clary Road and Highway 29 in Century. It was monitored for 10 years between 2002 and 2011.

 

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	10	30	39	19	Eutrophic Declining over time
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	10	651	973	496	Eutrophic Increasing over time
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	10	25	54	15	Eutrophic Slight increase over time
Secchi (ft)	10	5.1	6.7	1.9	Eutrophic Decreasing over time

Comments:

This 10-year data set suggests 10 years ago, Lake Stone was high in nutrients and the problem was increasing up until the time they stopped monitoring. This is another location where a local community member might consider monitoring.

 

Bayou Texar

Bayou Texar is located in east Pensacola near where Scenic Highway / Cervantes Street merge. It was monitored for three years between 2000 and 2002 and then again for 11 years between 2007 to the present. It is our most monitored body of water. With our larger estuaries, volunteers monitor three stations accessing them by boat.

 

Station 1 – near the Cervantes Bridge – (2000 – 2002)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	3	26	37	19	Eutrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	3	394	560	300	Mesotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	3	7	7	6	Eutrophic
Secchi (ft)	3	3.0	4.0	2.1	Eutrophic – Hypereutrophic border

 

Station 2 – south of Cervantes Bridge near island – (2000-2002)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	3	29	39	24	Eutrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	3	424	492	375	Mesotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	3	14	29	6	Hypereutrophic
Secchi (ft)	3	3.0	4.0	1.9	Eutrophic – Hypereutrophic border

Comments:

Between 2000 and 2002, the waters of Bayou Texar near the Cervantes Bridge were high in nutrients. This body of water has had a history of fish kills dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. Though fish kills are not as common now, the nutrient issue is still there. Excessive nutrients can come from (a) lawn fertilizer, leaves, and grass clippings, (b) animal waste, and (c) septic tanks. Bayou Texar, being a larger estuary, is collecting spot for runoff from across the entire watershed. It will take the entire behavior changes across the entire watershed to improve things.

 

Station 1 – near 12^th Avenue Bridge – (2007 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	11	18	25	11	Mesotrophic Steady decline over time
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	11	843	1088	722	Eutrophic Slight increase over time
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	11	8	13	4	Eutrophic Steady decline over time
Secchi (ft)	11	3.4	4.3	2.8	Eutrophic Steady increase over time
Salinity (ppt)	11	8.3	3.3	17.7

 

Station 2 – near Paradise Point – (2007 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	11	20	28	11	Mesotrophic Steady decline over time
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	11	698	848	617	Eutrophic Slight increase over time
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	11	10	15	5	Eutrophic Steady decline over time
Secchi (ft)	11	3.7	4.4	3.0	Eutrophic Steady increase over time
Salinity (ppt)	11	15.4	11.2	4.9

 

Station 3 – just north of Bayview Park – (2007 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	11	20	29	11	Mesotrophic Steady decline
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	11	636	786	517	Eutrophic Slight increase
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	11	11	22	6	Eutrophic Slight decline
Secchi (ft)	11	3.8	4.9	3.1	Eutrophic Steady increase
Salinity (ppt)	11.4	17.5	5.1

 

Comments:

Since 2007, Bayou Texar has been EUTROPHIC – high in nutrients. However, phosphorus has been mid-range and declining. Our part of the Florida does not typically have issues with phosphorus as central and south Florida do. Nitrogen has been slightly increasing over time. Steps should be considered to try to slow this. There are practices such as Florida Friendly Landscaping, Living shorelines, Clean boater, and removing pet waste. Keep in mind, Texar is a catch basin for the entire watershed and the improvements will have to come from within the entire watershed – which would include septic tanks.

 

Bayou Chico

Bayou Chico is located just west of downtown Pensacola. LAKEWATCH has monitored Bayou Chico from four years (2014 – present). Presently we do not have a LAKEWATCH volunteer monitoring Bayou Chico – if interested, contact me.

 

Station 1 – in the “left arm” towards Jones Creek – west of Lakeshore Park (2014 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	4	39	96	19	Eutrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	4	466	580	400	Mesotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	4	33	89	11	Hypereutrophic
Secchi (ft)	3	3.1	3.5	2.7	Eutrophic
Salinity (ppt)	2	8.3	10.4	6.3

Station 2 – near Patti Shipyard – (2014 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	4	39	93	16	Eutrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	4	616	990	393	Eutrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	4	18	42	9	Hypereutrophic
Secchi (ft)	3	3.3	3.8	2.8	Eutrophic
Salinity (ppt)	2	9.2	10.6	7.9

 

Station 3 – just west of Bahia Mar Marina – (2014 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	4	25	36	15	Mesotrophic-Eutrophic border
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	4	345	365	320	Oligotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	4	12	24	6	Eutrophic
Secchi (ft)	3	4.6	5.7	4.0	Eutrophic
Salinity (ppt)	2	8.9	11.8	6.0

 

Comments:

Chlorophyll levels in Bayou Chico are hypereutrophic and high enough to trigger fish kills – though reports of fish kills are low (2018 Fish Kill Report will be posted in November). What is interesting is the phosphorus levels are higher in Bayou Chico than the nitrogen levels. One explanation for this is that the excessive nitrogen has been taken up by the algae – generating the high levels of chlorophyll found. However, they should be removing phosphorus as well. Another note here is this body of water is less saline that Bayou Texar.

 

Bayou Grande

Bayou Grande is the largest of the bayous (hence the name) extending 5.3 miles. Gulf Beach Highway runs along its north shore and NAS Pensacola along its south. It has been monitored for six years (2012 – present).

 

Station 1 – east of Beach Haven Cove (2012 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	6	17	27	13	Mesotrophic Slight decline
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	6	373	475	273	Oligotrophic Steady increase
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	5	6	10	3	Eutrophic Steady decrease
Secchi (ft)	5	4.2	5.0	2.5	Eutrophic Steady increase
Salinity (ppt)	4	18.2	22.3	16.3

Station 2 – SW of NW Baublits Drive Navy Point – (2012 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	6	16	24	12	Mesotrophic Steady decrease
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	6	337	405	283	Oligotrophic Steady increase
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	5	8	24	3	Eutrophic Steady decrease
Secchi (ft)	5	5.6	6.5	3.0	Eutrophic Steady increase
Salinity (ppt)	4	18.6	21.1	16.3

Station 3 – 0.2 miles west of Main Gate Bridge – (2012 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	6	20	28	14	Mesotrophic Steady decrease
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	6	366	450	290	Oligotrophic Steady increase
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	5	8	20	3	Eutrophic Steady decrease
Secchi (ft)	5	5.6	6.5	4.3	Eutrophic Steady increase
Salinity (ppt)	4	19.0	22.3	16.3

Comments:

Though there has been a slight increase in nitrogen, since 2012 the nutrient levels in Bayou Grande have been very low. The chlorophyll levels are high, but have been decreasing over time. The clarity of the water has been poor but has been improving. Historically, Bayou Grande has some of the largest fish kills in the region. Large fish kills have not been reported in years and the nutrient problem seems to be improving.

 

Lower Perdido Bay

Extending about 17 miles from the river to the Gulf, Perdido Bay serves as the state line between Florida and Alabama. It has had a history of water quality problems, but a lot of these are from industrial discharges releasing metals and other contaminants in the upper portion of the bay. Some residents of lower Perdido Bay (south of highway 98 bridge) have indicated fewer seagrasses, oysters, and crabs – while others have said they have seen an increase. Historic documents suggest that Perdido Bay was probably less saline than it is now. Though fish kill records here have not been as high as those of the bayous do, there is still local concern about the health of this body of water. Lower Perdido Bay has been monitored by LAKEWATCH for four years (2014 to present).

 

Station 1 – 0.5 miles NW of Innerarity Point – (2014 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	4	16	19	15	Mesotrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	4	367	394	352	Oligotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	4	6	6	5	Eutrophic
Secchi (ft)	4	6.3	7.5	5.3	Eutrophic
Salinity (ppt)	4	14.0	14.8	12.0

 

Station 2 – 0.9 miles W of the mouth of Bayou Garcon – (2014- present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	4	16	17	15	Mesotrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	4	362	401	325	Oligotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	4	6	6	5	Eutrophic
Secchi (ft)	4	5.8	7.0	5.1	Eutrophic
Salinity (ppt)	4	15.3	17.7	13.7

 

Station 3 – 1.0 mile SW of Tarkiln Point (2014 – present)

Parameter	Years monitored	Mean value	Max value	Min value	Notes
Mean Total Phosphorus (µg/L)	4	17	22	14	Mesotrophic
Total Nitrogen (µg/L)	4	370	400	340	Oligotrophic
Mean Total Chlorophyll (µg/L)	4	6	7	6	Eutrophic
Secchi (ft)	4	5.7	6.5	5.3	Eutrophic
Salinity (ppt)	4	14.4	15.2	13.2

 

Comments:

Since 2014, the nutrient levels in lower Perdido Bay have been low. The chlorophyll and secchi readings suggest more nutrients in the system but again, this could be due to nutrient uptake by the algae. Again, this area has not been known for the large fish kills seen in the bayous decades ago, and the nutrient levels now are good. It is interesting to see the low salinity readings from this body of water. Usually the lower portions of large estuaries have higher salinities than we are seeing here. However, the mouth of Perdido Bay is very narrow and about four miles from where these samples are being collected. This bay appears to be less saline than others along the panhandle are.

 

If you are interested in monitoring a local body of water, contact Escambia Sea Grant Agent Rick O’Connor at (850) 475-5230, or roc1@ufl.edu

 

 

References

 

Florida LAKEWATCH Water Quality Monitoring Program. http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/index.shtml.

 

Florida LAKEWATCH. Trophic State: A Waterbody’s Ability to Support Plants, Fish, and Wildlife. http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/pubs/circulars/trophic2.pdf.