Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has been involved with assessment of sediment quality data for over three decades. In contrast to surface waters and ground waters, sediments have no federal or state standards or criteria. In the absence of standards, Florida has produced guidance documents to assist scientists and managers interpret sediment quality data.

The Status Monitoring Network measures Florida’s freshwater conditions with a known statistical confidence. In this Network, water samples are collected at random and unbiased locations. This is a cost-effective way to estimate statewide water quality without surveying every well and waterbody. The Status Network provides valuable data for more in-depth investigations, such as setting goals for specific districts and water quality indicators.