Florida’s Coral Reef Water Quality Data Compilation, Analysis and Decision Support

This project was motivated by the need to easily understand water quality patterns at different spatial and temporal scales, and to ultimately assess the effect of efforts to improve water quality locally. Under Tasks 1 and 2, we proposed compiling, collating, and mapping water quality data for the south Florida coral reef ecosystem, and to subsequently construct a water quality data comparison matrix to compare parameters and protocols across all sampling programs. Under Tasks 3 and 4, we proposed analyzing the suite of water quality data to identify spatial and temporal hotspots and changing patterns. Additionally, we proposed integrating remote sensing visualization of water quality with the field water quality measurements to assess the role of watershed processes on coastal water quality.

Generally, changes in water quality trends over time differed between inshore and offshore areas across several parameters and monitoring programs. For the most part, there were greater trends and changes in water quality calculated for nearshore stations/regions versus offshore. This held true both near the Florida Peninsula and near the Florida Keys. However, the waters connecting these two regions on the southwest Florida shelf, had smaller changes in water quality.