Numeric Nutrient and Dissolved Oxygen Criteria Development Using a Self-Referencing Approach: A Southwest Florida Estuary Case Study

摘要

In Florida, new and changing surface water quality standards have taken center stage in waterresource management. The push for Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) and correspondingrevisions to the dissolved oxygen (DO) standard have spawned an innovative methodology fordeveloping water quality standards based on a waterbody specific, self-referencing approach thatutilizes the waterbody’s biological condition as the baseline for criteria development. Thisapproach was implemented for an estuary in southwest Florida for development of nutrient (totalnitrogen and total phosphorus) criteria and the characterization of the site-specific DO regime.Existing data indicated the waterbody would be listed as impaired for nutrients and DO,potentially requiring Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development, even though the baywas biologically healthy. Stakeholders addressed steps to avoid a potentially inappropriate,unnecessary, and costly TMDL process with favorable results. This approach can benefit otherstates and stakeholders tasked with NNC development and compliance.