Description: The Numeric Nutrient Criteria are established to set allowable surface limits on nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and floral response) in Florida's waters. The Rule's hierarchical approach gives preference to site-specific analyses that result in a numeric interpretation of the NNC. Site specific interpretations are generally deemed superior to more broadly applicable interpretations of the NNC because of the many natural factors affecting the expression of nutrient loadings on a given waterbody. If there is a site specific interpretation of the narrative, such as a Total Maximum Daily Load, Site Specific Alternative Criterion, Water Quality Based Effluent Limitation, or other Department-approved action that numerically interprets the narrative criterion (e.g., Reasonable Assurance derived values), that numeric interpretation is the applicable nutrient criterion. These numeric interpretations of the narrative criterion must establish the total allowable load or ambient concentration for at least one nutrient that represents achievement of a healthy, well balanced aquatic community. Each nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) is interpreted independently using this hierarchical approach; if the site-specific interpretation only addresses one nutrient, then the generally applicable numeric interpretations will apply for the other nutrient.If a site specific interpretation is not available, the Rule’s hierarchical approach then gives preference to numeric nutrient values based on quantifiable stressor-response relationships between nutrients and biological response (i.e., springs and lakes). If no quantifiable stressor-response relationship has been established, such as is the case for Florida streams, reference-based Nutrient Thresholds, in conjunction with biological information, are used to determine the applicable interpretation of the NNC. For those waters without a numeric interpretation under any of these approaches, the NNC continues to apply to the waterbody.
Copyright Text: FDEP, DEAR, Standards Development Section
Description: Criteria for chlorophyll a for the open ocean coastal waters listed in subsection 62-302.532(2), F.A.C., are delineated by Coastal Segments. The Coastal Segments were adopted by reference in subsection 62-302.532(2), F.A.C., in the Map of Florida Coastal Segments, dated May 13, 2013 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03017). The open ocean coastal chlorophyll a criteria were derived from satellite remote sensing techniques and are expressed as annual Geometric Mean remotely sensed chlorophyll a values. These criteria were calculated excluding Karenia brevis blooms (>50,000 cells/L). The annual geometric mean criteria are based on measurements using the SeaWiFS satellite or standardized MODIS or MERIS satellite data. The standardization factors for MODIS and MERIS are provided in subsection 62-302.532(2), F.A.C. Achievement of these criteria shall be assessed only by using satellite remote sensing data that are processed in a manner consistent with the derivation of the criteria. Data selection and preparation shall be consistent with the process described in Section 1.4.3 and Section 1.4.4, pages 14 through 17, in the report titled “Technical Support Document for U.S. EPA’s Proposed Rule for Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Florida’s Estuaries, Coastal Waters, and South Florida Inland Flowing Waters, Volume 2: Coastal Waters,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, November 30, 2012 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03018). A copy of the referenced pages from EPA’s document above are available by writing to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Standards Development Section, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 6511, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400.
Copyright Text: FDEP, DEAR, Standards Development Section
Description: Waterbodies and waterbody segments for which the Department has determined that only the narrative nutrient criterion currently applies based on available data and information. This does not represent an exhaustive or complete list of such waters, only those waters where an affirmative demonstration has been made that one or more of the numeric nutrient criteria exemptions apply. The narrative water quality criteria for nutrients in paragraphs 62-302.530(47)(a) and (b), F.A.C., applies to all Class I, Class II, and Class III waters. This criterion has been numerically interpreted in 62-302.531, F.A.C., for the majority of the waterbodies in the State of Florida. However, only the narrative nutrient criterion is in effect for wetlands, tidal streams, non-perennial streams, and ditches, canals and other conveyances, or segments of conveyances that are man-made, or predominantly channelized, unless a site specific numeric interpretation has been established by the Department. Provisions for exempting a waterbody are provided in paragraphs 62-302.200(36)(a) and (b), F.A.C., and Section 62-302.532, F.A.C, and described in the document titled “Implementation of Florida’s Numeric Nutrient Standards,” dated April 2013 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02905).Until a Class I or III stream segment is identified as meeting the provisions in paragraphs 62-302.200(36)(a) or (b), F.A.C., the criteria in Rule 62-302.531(2)(c), F.A.C., will apply. Interested parties wishing to distinguish the characteristics of a waterbody with respect to provisions in paragraph 62-302.200(36), F.A.C., may provide the Department with the applicable information set forth in the stream definition. A clear delineation of the geographic boundaries of the segment in question is necessary so that the Department knows exactly where applicable criteria apply. Delineation of segment boundaries can include physical, biological, and chemical information, such as intersections of tributaries into a segment, control structures, the interface of wetlands, or other factors that indicate that the homogeneous physical, biological, or chemical condition of the segment would change at the boundary.Only narrative nutrient criteria apply to wetlands or to tidal tributaries that fluctuate between predominantly marine and predominantly fresh waters during typical climatic and hydrologic conditions unless specifically provided by name in subsection 62-302.532(1), F.A.C. The determination of whether a segment is tidally influenced can be made using either chloride or specific conductance data that were collected during typical hydrologic conditions, taking into account tidal cycles and seasonal and climatic variability. The information (continuous or frequent grab sampling data) that demonstrates changing salinity conditions during a typical tidal cycle is necessary for the Department to establish that a segment is exempt from numeric nutrient criteria under the tidal creek provisions.
Copyright Text: FDEP, DEAR, Standards Development Section
Name: Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) - Estuary Nutrient Regions
Display Field: SEGMENT_NAME
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: As part of the analyses conducted to derive nutrient standards for predominately marine waters, the Department evaluated the available water quality data for individual estuary systems and further subdivided these estuaries into homogeneous (with regard to nutrients, nutrient response variables, and salinity) segments or Estuary Nutrient Regions. Estuarine and marine areas for the estuaries listed in subsection 62-302.532(1), F.A.C., are delineated in the maps of the Florida Estuary Nutrient Regions, dated October 2014, which were incorporated into the rule by reference. These Estuary Nutrient Regions represent water segments over which the estuary-specific numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion in subsection 62-302.531(1), F.A.C., apply. Unless otherwise noted for a specific Estuary Nutrient Region, the criteria are expressed as concentration-based open water, area-wide averages. Numeric nutrient criteria do not apply to wetlands or to tidal tributaries that fluctuate between predominantly marine and predominantly fresh waters during typical climatic and hydrologic conditions unless specifically provided by name in subsection 62-302.532(1), F.A.C. The NNC Implementation Document(http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02905) provides additional information describing the information and data needed to determine whether a location is within either a wetland or tidal tributary.
Copyright Text: FDEP, DEAR, Standards Development Section
Name: Site Specific Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion
Display Field: SEGMENT_NAME
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: Site specific numeric interpretation of the narrative nutrient criterion in paragraph 62-302.530(47)(b), F.A.C., established by the Department shall be the primary interpretation for that waterbody. If there are multiple interpretations of the narrative criterion for a waterbody, the most recent interpretation established by the Department shall apply. This feature provides a list of the most recent site specific numeric interpretations, not including estuary and coastal criteria adopted in section 62-302.532, F.A.C., established by the Department and approved by the U.S. EPA. The estuary specific and coastal numeric nutrient criteria segments are provided in the Estuary Nutrient Regions and Coastal Nutrient Segment features, respectively.Site specific interpretations must establish the total allowable load or ambient concentration for at least one nutrient (total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite, or total phosphorus) and at least one response variable (typically chlorophyll a), with the exception of the Everglades Protection Area. The Everglades phosphorus criterion in Rule 62-302.540, F.A.C., provides a site specific numeric interpretation for only phosphorus. There are no nitrogen or floral response criteria applicable to the Everglades. In cases where the site specific interpretation does not include total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and a response variable, the default criteria for the waterbody type (i.e., stream, lake, spring, estuary, or coastal) applies for the missing parameters. For example, if a site specific interpretation established a total nitrogen load for a stream, but did not establish total phosphorus and floral thresholds, then the stream total phosphorus threshold and floral response metrics in paragraph 62-302.531(2)(c), F.A.C., still apply to that stream. Nitrate-nitrite criteria do not apply to all waterbodies, but rather only to spring vents as described subparagraph 62-302.531(2)(b)2., F.A.C., which are not considered site specific numeric interpretations, and a limited number of waters on a site specific basis as determined by the Department to be necessary to provide full achievement of the narrative nutrient criterion.
Copyright Text: FDEP, DEAR, Standards Development Section
Description: As part of the analyses conducted to derive nutrient standards for streams, the Department evaluated the available nutrient data for regional differences and ultimately developed a regionalization criteria for the stream nutrient standards. Nutrient Watershed Regions are drainage areas over which the stream nutrient thresholds in paragraph 62-302.531(2)(c), F.A.C., apply.For purposes of interpreting the numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) in paragraph 62-302.530(47)(b), F.A.C., under paragraph 62-302.531(2)(c), F.A.C., a 'stream' is defined as a predominantly fresh surface waterbody with perennial flow in a defined channel with banks during typical climatic and hydrologic conditions for its region within the state. During periods of drought, portions of a stream channel may exhibit a dry bed, but wetted pools are typically still present during these conditions. Streams do not include: (a) non-perennial water segments where fluctuating hydrologic conditions, including periods of desiccation, typically result in the dominance of wetland and/or terrestrial taxa (and corresponding reduction in obligate fluvial or lotic taxa), wetlands, or portions of streams that exhibit lake characteristics (e.g., long water residence time, increased width, or predominance of biological taxa typically found in non-flowing conditions), or tidally influenced segments that fluctuate between predominantly marine and predominantly fresh waters during typical climatic and hydrologic conditions; or (b) ditches, canals and other conveyances, or segments of conveyances, that are man-made, or predominantly channelized or predominantly physically altered; and 1) are primarily used for water management purposes, such as flood protection, stormwater management, irrigation, or water supply; and 2) have marginal or poor stream habitat or habitat components, such as a lack of habitat or substrate that is biologically limited, because the conveyance has cross sections that are predominantly trapezoidal, has armored banks, or is maintained primarily for water conveyance. The NNC Implementation Document (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02905) provides additional information describing the information and data needed to determine the applicable freshwater criteria (i.e., stream, springs, lakes, or narrative).
Copyright Text: FDEP, DEAR, Standards Development Section