2.7.5.1. About the Broward River
- Between downtown and Jacksonville International Airport (JIA)
- Primary Land Use: Residential/Forested
- Current TMDL reports: None
- 2022 Verified Impairment for Fecal Coliform (2191B)
- WBID Area: 14.4 sq. mi.
- Beneficial Use: Class III F/M (2191A – Recreational Freshwater, 2191B – Recreational Marine)
2.7.5.2. Data sources
Data were historically downloaded from the FL STORET website (DEP 2010f), with recent data downloaded from WIN WAVES (DEP 2022f). Data were filtered based on the stations in the Broward River WBID 2191A/B (DEP 2023b) shown above. The filtered dataset reflects water column concentrations and was used to generate Table 2.10.
2.7.5.3. Discussion
Water quality data for the Broward River are shown in Table 2.10. Little water quality data is available for the Broward River compared to other tributaries. Historically, average phosphorus levels were higher than the 2010 updated WQC (DEP 2015c; DEP 2016d; DEP 2016i). Historical maximum fecal coliform level at times exceeded the WQC, and as a result, the marine reach (2191B) was listed as impaired for fecal coliform. FDEP considers the Broward River a low priority for the development of a TMDL to address Fecal Coliform levels (DEP 2016d). Average fecal indicator bacteria levels did not usually exceed the WQC in 2022, although there are few samples to base this assessment on. The Broward River was identified as being impaired for mercury, based on elevated levels of mercury in fish tissue; however, it was delisted (DEP 2016f) as it has been addressed by the statewide mercury TMDL (DEP 2013c).
The freshwater segment of the Broward River was added to the FDEP study list for dissolved oxygen (DEP 2020f). The freshwater segment is considered impaired for dissolved oxygen based on the number of exceedances for the sample size, but the causative pollutant has not yet been identified.
No recent measurements were available in WIN between 2020 and 2022 for both freshwater and marine reaches (WBID 2191A, 2191B) for the following parameters: Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, Chlorophyll-a, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Nickel, Silver, Zinc, Turbidity.
Historical water quality data for the Broward River are available in previous versions of the River Report.
Table 2.10 Water quality data for the Broward River.
| Water Quality | Average and Number of Samples º | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parameter | Criteria | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) | ≤34% sat. (≤3.0) FW | 6.07 (0 of 3 samples) | 6.84 (0 of 4 samples) | 6.82 ± 0.50 (0 of 4 samples) |
| ≤4.0 SW | 7.1 (0 of 3 samples) | 7.90 (0 of 4 samples) | 7.42 ± 0.79 (0 of 4 samples) |
|
| Fecal Indicator Bacteria (E. coli) (CFU/100 mL) | E. coli <410 FW | 1060 (3 of 6 samples) | 500 (1 of 7 samples) | 174 ± 32 (0 of 4 samples) |
| E. coli <410 SW | 108 (0 of 1 samples) |
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| Enterococci <130 SW | 140 ± 32 (2 of 3 samples) |
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° = Number of samples below Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen; Number of samples above Water Quality Criteria for all other parameters.
FW = freshwater; SW = saltwater (marine). Values denoted with (*) indicate a proposed criterion, which has not yet been adopted.
Values denoted with (‡) are reference values based on EPA criteria (EPA 2010b), but the water body is not regulated by this standard.
