MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

B269
Horse Creek Freshwater MFLs
Project Type Basin Initiatives
AOR(s)
Water Supply, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Peace River
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager HOOD, JASON
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
Approved funding will be utilized to establish minimum flows for Horse Creek by 2012. Staff anticipates additional
requests in the future as the Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) are developed for this waterbody. Florida Statutes
mandate that the District must establish MFLs for water bodies within its jurisdiction. This project is to provide technical
information to support the adoption of MFLs for the freshwater portions of Horse Creek. An understanding of
ecosystem components is needed so that relationships between minimum flows and significant harm can be evaluated
in a defensible manner. It is necessary for a number of reasons to document the abundance, diversity, and distribution
of plants and animals that are associated with these resources under seasonally changing flow conditions.
Physico-chemical variables (e.g., dissolved oxygen, temperature), drainage alterations, and extensive hydrologic data
also need to be evaluated. While much of the data can be collected and developed in-house, manpower and time
limitations and the specialized expertise required for some analyses dictates that some of it must be consulted out.
Funding under this project will accomplish three goals specific to MFLs development: 1) characterization of wetland
and floodplain vegetation and soils along the river corridor; 2) evaluation of hydraulic characteristics of the stream for
the purpose of describing floodplain inundation patterns under various flows; and 3) assistance in the analysis of
hydrologic and biologic data to establish relationships between river hydrology (stage and flows) and the ecologic
resources that are supported.
Benefits
Completion of this project will support timely adoption of MFLs on this water body consistent with the Board adopted
MFLs priority list and schedule. Funding for FY2010 is primarily for use in evaluating the potential reduction in fish and
macroinvertebrate habitat due to reductions in flow and includes Physical Habitat Simulation Model (PHABSIM)
analysis. Funding in FY2009 was primarily for field visits to establish study sites and to determine possible stream
gauging needs.
Costs
Total funding for FY2010 is $30,000 to be funded by the Governing Board. Total requested funding in FY2009 was
$2,000.
Prior
Funding
Cumulative FY 2009 FY2010
Transfers Funding Funding
District Budgeted - Ad Valorem Based
Revenue
010 General Fund (Districtwide) 0 0 8,296 39,594
0 47,890
020 Peace River Basin 0 0 1,250
0
0 1,250
Total:
Future
Funding
Total
Funding
$49,140
Critical Project Milestones Projected Amended Actual
Field Site Selections
Identify Field Sites and Habitats 1/1/10 6/24/09
Map Shoals 1/1/10 6/24/09
Obtain Permission to Access Private Property 3/1/10
Floodplain Vegetation Analysis
Field Sampling/Survey 1/1/12
Vegetation Assessment Report 6/1/12
Flow Measurement and Analysis
020 - Peace River Basin 141