Alafia River Minimum Flows and Levels - Southwest Florida Water ...

Collectively, the short and long-term compliance standards proposed for the
USGS gage site at Lithia comprises the District's proposed minimum flows and
levels for the Alafia River. The standards are intended to prevent significant harm
to the water resources or ecology of the river that may result from water use.
Since future structural alterations could potentially affect surface water or
groundwater flow characteristics within the watershed and additional information
pertaining to minimum flows development may become available, the District is
committed to revision of the proposed levels, as necessary.
A minimum flow recommendation was developed for Buckhorn Spring based on a
PHABSIM analysis of Buckhorn Creek. It was determined that Buckhorn Spring
flow should not be reduced by more than 15% to ensure no more than a 15%
reduction in fish habitat in Buckhorn Creek. Flows from Lithia Spring were
evaluated using a recreational standard (for bathing places) and a PHABSIM
analysis of the short spring run between the spring and the Alafia River. The
recreational standard would allow considerable reductions in flow before being
violated; however, the PHABSIM analysis indicates that no more than a 5%
reduction in flow is allowable before a 15% loss of fish habitat in the run occurs.
The spring run is small and offers no unique fish habitat that does not exist in the
main channel of the Alafia River. Because flow from these two springs may be an
important component of downstream estuarine flow requirements, we have
refrained from recommending minimum flows for Buckhorn Spring and Lithia
Springs until the MFL assessment for the estuarine portion of the river is
complete.
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