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Title
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Determining the extent of saltwater influence on groundwater in Dr. Von D. Mizell Eula Johnson State Park.
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Name/Creator
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Deitsch, Adam Michael
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Abstract/Description
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Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is a barrier island off the coast of Dania Beach, Florida. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, with the brackish Whiskey Creek transecting the park from north to south, the park is home to several coastal ecosystems and poses an unique opportunity to collect valuable data to assess the impact of sea-level rise on the distinct ecological communities within. The park is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental...
Show moreDr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is a barrier island off the coast of Dania Beach, Florida. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, with the brackish Whiskey Creek transecting the park from north to south, the park is home to several coastal ecosystems and poses an unique opportunity to collect valuable data to assess the impact of sea-level rise on the distinct ecological communities within. The park is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Recreation and Parks. Goals for the park management and protection include protecting the water quality and quantity in the park (including restoring hydrology to a feasible level), as well as restoring and maintaining the natural communities within the park. As studies have shown, changes of the salinity in the groundwater and surrounding soils can affect the viability of coastal forest habitats and cause a shift in ecotones. To this date, there have been no detailed studies on the extent of the groundwater dynamics within the park. With three bodies of water with differing salinity surrounding the park, the geological design should create four independent zones of saline lensing around the freshwater lenses within the two segments of the island. Installation of piezometers in east-west transects at regular increments from the north to the south could allow for the mapping of the transition from saline to freshwater within the park. Subsequent sampling and testing of temperature, salinity, and water depth, as well as other ambient factors, over a complete lunar cycle, would provide critical data in determining the extent of the tides and sea-level rise on park’s freshwater-saltwater interface. Understanding this dynamic flux is vital in preservation and restoration management plans, especially involving protection and reestablishment of at-risk or endangered species. This research will provide insight into predictable changes in the park’s communities. This knowledge can be incorporated into established Florida Department of Environmental Protection management and monitoring plan. Establishing long-term groundwater monitoring protocols can influence future protection and restoration projects with ground truth data. If successful, this type of monitoring can be expanded to other state parks of similar coastal geomorphological features.
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Date Issued
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2020-06-15
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Identifier
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BC747
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/broward/fd/BC747