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Watershed Assessment Section

News & Announcements

Availability of the 2024 Strategic Monitoring Plans

(January 31, 2024)

The department announces the availability of the 2024 Strategic Monitoring Plans here. These plans represent the water quality and biological monitoring needs identified by the department in preparation for basin assessments as part of the watershed management approach. The Watershed Assessment Section developed the 2024 Strategic Monitoring Plans to assist in assessing the health of Florida's surface waters by conducting biological assessments and water quality sampling. These activities are carried out by seven Regional Operation Centers (ROCs) located throughout the department's six District offices and by staff in Tallahassee.  The extensive monitoring effort is accomplished through coordination with local stakeholders, water management districts, city and county governments.  


Notice of Applicable Stream Assessments 

(December 1, 2023)

The Department of Environmental Protection gives notice that sufficient documentation has been provided to the department to demonstrate that the waterbody segments identified below meet all of the conditions identified in paragraph 62-302.200(36)(b), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), for an exclusion from the definition of a stream. For purposes of interpreting the narrative nutrient criterion in paragraph 62-302.530(48)(b), F.A.C., these waterbody segments will be assessed applying the stream nutrient impairment thresholds in subsections 62-303.351(3)-(5) and 62-303.450(1), (2) and (5), F.A.C., rather than the numeric nutrient standard for streams. These assessment thresholds will continue to be applied unless the department receives sufficient countervailing information concerning the applicability of paragraph 62-302.200(36)(b), F.A.C., to these waters, including the purpose of the waterbody such as flood protection, stormwater management, irrigation, water supply, navigation, boat access to an adjacent waterbody, or frequent recreational use.  Additional information regarding these waterbody segments may be obtained by contacting: Jessica Mostyn, Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Watershed Assessment Section, MS #3555, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400, or by calling: (850) 245-8441.

Basin WBID - Waterbody Name Map
  Springs Coast 1556A – Cedar Creek Map

 


Notice of Statewide 2022-2024 Biennial Assessment Draft Assessment Lists

(October 2, 2023)

The Department announces the 2022-2024 Biennial Assessment Draft assessment lists of waterbodies and water segments. The DRAFT assessment lists were developed pursuant to Chapter 62-303, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), include all 29 basins in the state. The Draft Verified Lists include those waters that are proposed as additions to the State's Verified List of Impaired Waters and the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list. The Draft Delist Lists include those waters that are proposed for removal from the State's Verified List and CWA section 303(d) list. The Draft Study Lists include those waters that do not attain water quality standards and additional information is needed to confirm attainment; where there is an alternative restoration plan in place; that have an adverse trend in nutrients or nutrient response variables; or there are exceedances of stream nutrient thresholds but the department does not have enough information to fully assess nonattainment of the stream nutrient water quality standard. The Draft Study Lists Removals include those waters that no longer meet the listing requirements for the Study List, as identified in Rule 62-303.390, F.A.C., and are submitted to EPA for removal from the CWA section 303(d) list. The department has posted the draft Master Lists (which contain all assessments for all waterbodies in each basin) here

In addition to the draft assessment lists in spreadsheet format, the department has published an interactive map titled "Biennial Assessment 2022-2024 Draft Lists" that shows the geographic location of the waterbodies and waterbody segments by WBID that are proposed for addition to the Verified List, Delist List, Study List, or Study List Removals. For help using the interactive map features, please review this help file or alternatively, you may download the final list GIS shapefiles as a geodatabase

These assessment lists were produced with water quality and biological data included in the IWR Run 64 Database that has been received by the department as of July 13, 2022. They also include station-WBID assignment updates, WBID classification updates and/or data that have been excluded from assessments based on a preliminary evaluation by department staff.

The department will conduct two public meetings via GoToWebinar. Registration is required. The content and materials will be the same for both meetings.

Date: Oct. 18, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. EDT Registration

Date: Oct. 25, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. EDT Registration

DEP requests that all comments be received by November 10, 2023. Comments on the draft assessment lists should be submitted by email to Jessica.Mostyn@FloridaDEP.gov or by mail to:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Attn: Jessica Mostyn
Watershed Assessment Section
Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration
2600 Blair Stone Road MS# 3555
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000

Meeting materials including copies of the agenda, presentation, public comments received and the department's responses will be available here. Following the end of the comment period, the lists will be finalized and presented to the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for adoption.

 


Notice of Statewide 2020-2022 Biennial Assessment Final Assessment Lists

(July 15, 2022)

The Department announces the 2020-2022 Biennial Assessment Final assessment lists of waterbodies and water segments. The FINAL assessment lists were developed pursuant to Chapter 62-303, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), include all 29 basins in the state and were adopted by Secretarial Order signed by DEP Secretary Hamilton on July 11, 2022. The Final Verified Lists include those waters that are proposed as additions to the State's Verified List of Impaired Waters and the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list. The Final Delist Lists include those waters that are proposed for removal from the State's Verified List and CWA section 303(d) list. The Final Study Lists include those waters that do not attain water quality standards and additional information is needed to confirm attainment; there is an alternative restoration plan in place; waters that have an adverse trend in nutrients or nutrient response variables; or, there are exceedances of stream nutrient thresholds but the department does not have enough information to fully assess nonattainment of the stream nutrient water quality standard. The Final Study Lists Removals include those waters that no longer meet the listing requirements for the Study List, as identified in Rule 62-303.390, F.A.C., and are submitted to EPA for removal from the CWA section 303(d) list. The department has posted the final Master Lists (which contains all assessments for all waterbodies in each basin) available here. Several revisions have been made to develop the final lists since the draft lists were published in September, 2021. A list of waterbodies, parameters, and assessment category changes is available here. For the Study List Removals Lists, changes only occurred in the Northwest basin. 

In addition to the draft assessment lists in spreadsheet format, the department has published an interactive map titled "Biennial Assessment 2020-2022 Final Lists" that shows the geographic location of the waterbodies and waterbody segments by WBID that are proposed for addition to the Verified List, Delist List, Study List, or Study List Removals. For help using the interactive map features, please review this help file or alternatively, you may download the final list GIS shapefiles as a geodatabase

These assessment lists were produced with water quality and biological data included in the IWR Run 60 Database that has been received by the department as of July 7, 2020. They also include station-WBID assignment updates, WBID classification updates and/or data that have been excluded from assessments based on a preliminary evaluation by department staff.


Notice of Biennial Assessment Outreach Public Meetings

(February 18, 2021)

The Watershed Assessment Section held two public meetings on February 25 and March 4 to present updates on the implementation of a streamlined approach to assessing water quality statewide on a biennial (two-year) assessment cycle. These meetings provided stakeholders with an overview of the statewide biennial assessment process, schedule for publishing draft basin assessments lists and supporting documentation for the development of impaired waters lists. Under the previous process, the department operated on a five-year cycle, assessing roughly 20 percent of the state's waters each year. The new biennial assessment approach provides Floridians with a more up-to-date picture of Florida's overall water quality conditions. Stakeholders across the state will have current, actionable information that will promote more effective and timely water quality restoration.  

Meeting materials are available online. Also available is additional information on the biennial assessment here, including a Process Document and Frequently Asked Questions

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