R. Chamberlain et D. Hayward, EVALUATION OF WATER-QUALITY AND MONITORING IN THE ST LUCIE ESTUARY, FLORIDA, Water resources bulletin, 32(4), 1996, pp. 681-696
The St. Lucie River and its tributaries form a major estuarine system
on the southeast coast of Florida. This system is strongly affected by
anthropogenic influences, including controlled releases of freshwater
from Lake Okeechobee through the St. Lucie Canal and an extensive art
ificial drainage and irrigation system in the watershed. In the presen
t study, three years of biweekly water quality monitoring data from th
e estuary were examined. The major stresses to the system stem from hi
gh variability of the salinity, frequent low dissolved oxygen (DO) eve
nts, and light limitation due to high levels of humic substances broug
ht into the system with the fresh water. Nutrient levels also are high
. Management goals for the system, including improvement of DO and wat
er clarity, will require reduction in quantity and variability of fres
hwater releases.