Category Archives: Council District 4

Council At-Large District 2, Council District 1, Council District 4, Planning District 2, Tributary

2.7.2. Arlington River

2.7.2.1.  About the Arlington River

Figure 2.31 The Arlington River Tributary (WBID 2265A) with sanitary sewer overflows reported by JEA in 2022 (JEA 2022b).
Figure 2.31 The Arlington River Tributary (WBID 2265A) with sanitary sewer overflows reported by JEA in 2022 (JEA 2022b).
  • East of downtown Jacksonville
  • Primary Land Use: Residential
    • Current TMDL reports:
      Nutrients
  • 2022 Verified Impairment for Iron
  • WBID Area: 1.6 sq. mi.
  • Beneficial Use: Class III M
    (Recreational – Marine)

2.7.2.2. 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 Arlington River WBID 2265A (DEP 2023b) shown above. No water quality data for the selected parameters discussed below for the Arlington River were available in WIN for 2020.  The filtered dataset reflects water column concentrations and was used to generate Table 2.7.

2.7.2.3. Discussion

Water quality data for the Arlington River are presented in Table 2.7. Average phosphorus levels were historically higher than the recently updated WQC (DEP 2015c; DEP 2016d; DEP 2016i) and the tributary was listed as impaired for nutrients. Elevated levels of phosphorus may be a result of effluent from the Monterey WWTF that is discharged into the river, fertilizer runoff from the surrounding residential area, or other unidentified sources. The Arlington River was delisted (removed) from the Verified List for nutrient impairment as a result of a finalized TMDL report for nutrients in 2009 (Magley 2009c).  However, the Arlington River remains impaired for nutrients until there is sufficient data to demonstrate the waterbody is meeting the applicable water quality criterion. Total phosphorus concentrations in recent years have been lower than the WQC used here of 0.12 mg/L. (Phosphorus in the Arlington River is regulated by the Nutrients TMDL, not the WQC presented here.)

The Arlington River was identified as being impaired for mercury, based on elevated levels of mercury in fish tissue; however, this has been delisted (DEP 2016f) as it has been addressed by the statewide mercury TMDL (DEP 2013c). The Arlington River is no longer listed as impaired for chlorophyll-a as that is being addressed by the Nutrients TMDL, which calls for a 30% reduction in TN compared to historical levels (DEP 2016f). However, chlorophyll-a continues to remain high, with average concentrations double the WQC in 2021-2022. The Arlington River is impaired for iron, based on the number of exceedances for the sample size; DEP cannot rule out the possibility of anthropogenic sources. In 2022, the average iron level was near the WQC, with one of five samples exceeding it.

Historical water quality data for the Arlington River are available in previous versions of the River Report.

Table 2.7 Water quality data for Arlington River.

Water QualityAverage and Number of Samples º
ParameterCriteria (SW)202020212022
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)≥4.0Not Available 6.40
(0 of 7 samples)		7.05 ± 0.47
(0 of 5 samples)
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)<1.54‡Not Available 0.81
(0 of 2 samples)		0.81 ± 0.08
(0 of 5 samples)
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)<0.12‡Not Available 0.10
(1 of 7 samples)		0.08±0.002
(0 of 5 samples)
Chlorophyll-a (µg/L)<5.4‡Not Available 10.51
(5 of 7 samples)		12.28 ± 4.32
(4 of 5 samples)
Arsenic (µg/L)≤50Not Available Not Available 1.85 ± 0.18
(0 of 5 samples)
Cadmium (µg/L)≤8.8Not Available Not Available 0.03 ± 0.01
(0 of 5 samples)
Copper (µg/L)≤3.7Not Available Not Available 0.98 ± 0.12
(0 of 5 samples)
Iron (µg/L)≤0.3Not Available Not Available 0.23 ± 0.06
(1 of 5 samples)
Lead (µg/L)≤8.5Not Available Not Available 0.68 ± 0.13
(0 of 5 samples)
Nickel (µg/L)≤8.3Not Available Not Available 1.90 ± 0.78
(0 of 5 samples)
Silver (µg/L)≤0.92Not Available Not Available 0.01 ± 0.004
(0 of 5 samples)
Zinc (µg/L)≤86Not Available Not Available 5.50 ± 1.23
(0 of 5 samples)
Fecal Indicator Bacteria (Enterococci) (CFU/100 mL)<130Not Available 500 (3 of 4 samples)36 ± 13
(0 of 3 samples)
Turbidity (NTU)<29Not Available 9.53 (0 of 4 samples)5.74 ± 1.19
(0 of 5 samples)
Note: Hardness-dependent freshwater criteria for cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc were generated based on a hardness concentration of 100 mg/L.
° = 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.

Council At-Large District 2, Council At-Large District 3, Council District 2, Council District 4, Planning District 2, Tributary

2.7.12. Ginhouse Creek

2.7.12.1. About Ginhouse Creek

Figure 2.41 The Ginhouse Creek Tributary (WBID 2248) with sanitary sewer overflows reported by JEA in 2022 (JEA 2022b).
Figure 2.41 The Ginhouse Creek Tributary (WBID 2248) with sanitary sewer overflows reported by JEA in 2022 (JEA 2022b).
    • South of the St. Johns River just west of Craig Airfield
    • Primary Land Use: Residential
    • Current TMDL reports: None
    • 2022 Verified Impairment for Fecal coliform
    • WBID Area: 2.0 sq. mi.
    • Beneficial Use: Class III F

    (Recreational – Freshwater

2.7.12.2. 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 Ginhouse Creek WBID 2248 (DEP 2023b) shown above. The filtered dataset reflects water column concentrations and was used to generate Table 2.17.

2.7.12.3. Discussion

The number of reported water quality measurements in the Ginhouse Creek tributary is quite limited compared to other tributaries.  Prior to the one reported measurement for arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc in 2021, no other data for these metals were available in WIN or STORET going back to 2005. Ginhouse Creek is currently identified as impaired for fecal coliform 2022 (DEP 2022), and average fecal indicator bacteria concentrations were higher or near the WQC in 2020-2022, despite limited sampling.

No recent measurements were available in WIN between 2020 and 2022 for the following parameters: Total Nitrogen.

Historical water quality data for these parameters in Ginhouse Creek are available in previous versions of the River Report.

Table 2.17 Water quality data for Ginhouse Creek.

Water QualityAverage and Number of Samples º
ParameterCriteria (FW)202020212022
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)≥34% sat. (≥3.0)6.54
(0 of 3 samples)		7.34
(0 of 5 samples)		6.42 ± 0.43
(0 of 4 samples)
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)<0.12‡Not available0.09
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Chlorophyll-a (µg/L)<20‡Not available60.00
(1 of 1 sample)		Not available
Arsenic (µg/L)≤50Not available1.41
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Cadmium (µg/L)≤0.3Not available0.01
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Copper (µg/L)≤9.3Not available1.17
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Iron (mg/L)≤1.0Not availableNot included in
2022 SORR		Not available
Lead (µg/L)≤3.2Not available0.30
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Nickel (µg/L)≤52Not available0.25
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Silver (µg/L)≤0.07Not available0.01
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Zinc (µg/L)≤120Not available2.50
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Fecal Indicator Bacteria (CFU/100 mL)E. coli <41053
(2 of 3 samples)		8510
(3 of 3 samples)		385 ± 122
(1 of 4 samples)
Turbidity (NTU)<29Not available6.80
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Note: Hardness-dependent freshwater criteria for cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc were generated based on a hardness concentration of 100 mg/L.
° = 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.

Council At-Large District 2, Council At-Large District 4, Council District 4, Planning District 2, Planning District 3, Tributary

2.7.24. Pottsburg Creek

2.7.24.1. About Pottsburg Creek

Figure 2.53 The Pottsburg Creek Tributary (WBID 2265B) with sanitary sewer overflows reported by JEA in 2022 (JEA 2022b).
Figure 2.53 The Pottsburg Creek Tributary (WBID 2265B) with sanitary sewer overflows reported by JEA in 2022 (JEA 2022b).
    • East of the St. Johns River at the
      Butler Blvd./I-95 interchange
    • Primary Land Use: Residential
    • Current TMDL reports:
      Fecal coliform with BMAP
    • 2022 Verified Impairment for Nutrients (Chlorophyll-a) (2265D) and Iron (2265D)
    • WBID Area: 9.1 sq. mi.
    • Beneficial Use: Class III F/M

    (2265C Recreational – Freshwater, 2265D Recreational – Marine)

2.7.24.2. 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 Pottsburg Creek WBID 2265C (freshwater),and 2265D (marine) (DEP 2023b) shown above. The filtered dataset reflects water column concentrations and was used to generate Table 2.29.

2.7.24.3. Discussion

Water quality data for Pottsburg Creek are shown in Table 2.29. The marine reach of Pottsburg Creek (2265B) was verified as Impaired for nutrients in 2022 because of long-term chlorophyll-a concentrations exceeding the WQC (DEP 2020g; DEP 2022). Average phosphorus levels were near the WQC in 2020 (DEP 2015c; DEP 2016d; DEP 2016i) and the marine reach had concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen near the WQC in 2022, with concentrations much higher (and fewer samples) than the freshwater reach (2265C). Average dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a were within limits in the freshwater reach, but average chlorophyll-a concentrations exceeded the WQC 2021-2022 in the marine reach.  The marine reach (2265C) was also verified impaired for iron concentrations in 2022 (DEP 2022); the single reported measurement in 2021 was below the WQC.

Average fecal coliform concentrations from 1999-2012 were well above the WQC, and fecal coliform levels in this residential tributary were identified as impaired in 2004. Consequently, a TMDL for fecal coliform was published (Rhew 2009d), with a 50% reduction in contributing sources. A BMAP for Pottsburg Creek (DEP 2010a) was legally adopted in August 2010. Pottsburg Creek remains impaired for fecal coliform, and the size of the exceedances has increased since implementation of the BMAP; the median exceedance increased from 800 CFU/100 mL in the TMDL report to 1,532 CFU/100 mL in the first phase of the BMAP (2010-2014) (DEP 2016b). Average fecal indicator bacteria levels exceeded the WQC 2020-2022. In 2018, FDEP piloted microbial source tracking strategies in selected impaired waterbodies.  They found that the strategies used could be used to narrow down areas suspected of containing sources that actively contribute fecal indicating bacteria to water in order to identify and remediate them, but this work is resource-intensive. Pottsburg Creek was suspected of sources of untreated human waste present (DEP 2019a). In 2020, the freshwater portion of Pottsburg Creek was added to FDEP’s study list to monitor the response in fecal coliform levels to ongoing restoration activities taking place as part of the existing BMAP (DEP 2020f). Additional information about fecal coliform in the tributaries can be found in Section 2.6 and Table 2.3.

No recent measurements were available in WIN between 2020 and 2022 for the freshwater reach (2265C) for the following parameters: Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Nickel, Silver, Zinc.

Historical water quality data for Pottsburg Creek are available in previous versions of the River Report.

Table 2.29 Water quality data for Pottsburg Creek.

 

Water QualityAverage and Number of Samples º
ParameterCriteria202020212022
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)≥34% sat. (≥3.0) FW6.25
(0 of 9 samples)		6.38
(0 of 11 samples)		6.08 ± 0.51
(1 of 12 samples)
≥4.0 SW6.91
(0 of 3 samples)		6.23
(2 of 7 samples)		6.52 ± 1.00
(0 of 4 samples)
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)<1.54‡ FW0.72
(0 of 7 samples)		1.18
(0 of 1 sample)		0.49 ± 0.01
(0 of 18 samples)
<1.54‡ SW1.48 ± 0.10
(0 of 3 samples)
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)<0.12‡ FW0.09
(1 of 7 samples)		0.05
(2 of 18 samples)		0.01 ± 0.001
(0 of 18 samples)
<0.12‡ SW0.11 ± 0.02
(1 of 2 samples)
Chlorophyll-a (µg/L)<20‡ FW2.33
(0 of 4 samples)		1.17
(0 of 12 samples)		2.42 ± 0.16
(0 of 18 samples)
<5.4‡ SW2.58
(0 of 3 samples)		5.95
(3 of 6 samples)		10.40 ± 5.33
(2 of 3 samples)
Arsenic (µg/L)≤50Not available1.69
(0 of 1 sample)		Not available
Cadmium (µg/L)≤0.3 FWNot availableNot availableNot available
Copper (µg/L)≤9.3 FWNot availableNot availableNot available
Iron (mg/L)≤1.0 FWNot availableNot availableNot available
Lead (µg/L)≤3.2 FWNot availableNot availableNot available
Nickel (µg/L)≤52 FWNot availableNot availableNot available
Silver (µg/L)≤0.07 FWNot availableNot availableNot available
Zinc (µg/L)≤120 FWNot availableNot availableNot available
Fecal Indicator Bacteria
(CFU/100 mL)		E. coli <410 FW610
(6 of 11 samples)		1170
(7 of 12 samples)		1239 ± 565
(4 of 4 samples)
E. coli <410 SW1122 ± 552
(2 of 3 samples)
Enterococci <130 SW199
(1 of 1 samples)
Turbidity (NTU)<29 FW3.45
(0 of 6 samples)		4.97
(0 of 6 samples)		Not available
< 29 SW5.30 ± 1.14
(0 of 3 samples)
Note: Hardness-dependent freshwater criteria for cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc were generated based on a hardness concentration of 100 mg/L.
° = 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.

Council At-Large District 1, Council At-Large District 2, Council At-Large District 3, Council At-Large District 4, Council At-Large District 5, Council District 1, Council District 10, Council District 11, Council District 12, Council District 13, Council District 14, Council District 2, Council District 3, Council District 4, Council District 5, Council District 6, Council District 7, Council District 8, Council District 9, Planning District 1, Planning District 2, Planning District 3, Planning District 4, Planning District 5, Planning District 6

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