1
Water Quality Trends of the Kissimmee Water Quality Trends of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Lake Istokpoga and Chain of Lakes, Lake Istokpoga and
Lake OkeechobeeLake Okeechobee
R. Thomas James, Brad Jones, Paul McCormickR. Thomas James, Brad Jones, Paul McCormickSouth Florida Water Management DistrictSouth Florida Water Management District
Clell FordClell FordHighlands County, FloridaHighlands County, Florida
andand
Karl HavensKarl HavensFlorida Sea GrantFlorida Sea Grant
University of FloridaUniversity of Florida
ObjectivesObjectivesEvaluate long term data for the Kissimmee Evaluate long term data for the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Chain of Lakes, Lake Istokpoga, Lake OkeechobeeOkeechobeeDetermine if trends exist in Determine if trends exist in
NutrientsNutrientsTurbidity and TransparencyTurbidity and TransparencyChlorophyllChlorophyllConductivity and IonsConductivity and Ions
Determine relationships among lakesDetermine relationships among lakesLook for causalityLook for causality
WatershedWatershedDrainage Area 13,859 kmDrainage Area 13,859 km22
6 regions6 regions61 basins61 basinsLanduseLanduse
NaturalNaturalAgriculturalAgriculturalResidentialResidential
Changed over timeChanged over time
Upper Chain of LakesUpper Chain of Lakes
Headwaters of Kissimmee RiverHeadwaters of Kissimmee RiverSampling began in 1981Sampling began in 1981Lakes interconnected by canalsLakes interconnected by canalsWater Levels RegulatedWater Levels RegulatedHydrilla Increased through the Hydrilla Increased through the 1990s1990s
Chemical control has been Chemical control has been partially effectivepartially effectiveLakewide treatments in late 90sLakewide treatments in late 90sHurricanes and turbidity helped Hurricanes and turbidity helped to control in the 2000sto control in the 2000s
East Lake Tohopekaliga
Lake IstokpogaLake Istokpoga
Fifth largest Lake in Fifth largest Lake in FloridaFloridaSampled since 1988Sampled since 1988Outflow Structure built in Outflow Structure built in 19611961Waters regulated within a Waters regulated within a few feetfew feet
Lake OkeechobeeLake OkeechobeeLargest Lake In SoutheastLargest Lake In Southeast
1730 km1730 km22
ShallowShallow
Sampled since 1973Sampled since 1973Surrounded by Herbert Surrounded by Herbert Hoover DikeHoover DikeAll inflow and outflows All inflow and outflows except Fisheating Creek are except Fisheating Creek are regulatedregulated
SamplingSampling
Samples taken on a monthly basisSamples taken on a monthly basisWater samples analyzed for ions, nutrients Water samples analyzed for ions, nutrients and chlorophyll using standard methods and chlorophyll using standard methods Transparency measured with a Secchi Transparency measured with a Secchi Disk Disk
AnalysisAnalysis
KendallKendall’’s s TauTau analysis analysis GraphicsGraphics
TimelinesTimelinesFit with 2Fit with 2ndnd order polynomial curveorder polynomial curve
Significant Trends 1981 to 2007Significant Trends 1981 to 2007
-0.9873-2.9379-0.1857CHLA
0.00030.00030.0004DIN
-0.0094-0.0179-0.0437TN
0.0000SRP
-0.0021-0.0045TP
-0.0190-0.0617-0.0238SI
0.0150SECCHI
-0.3700-0.0333TURB
-1.8571SCOND
-0.2154-0.1806-0.3937-0.2322SULFATE
CL
0.2533CA
KissimmeeHatchinehaCypressTohopekaligaEast TohopekaligaParameter
East Lake TohopekaligaEast Lake Tohopekaliga
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08Ja
n-81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus
(mg/
l)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Secc
hi D
isk
Dep
th (m
)
05
1015202530354045
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Chl
orop
hyll
a ( μ
g/l)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(mg/
l)
Lake TohopekaligaLake Tohopekaliga
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus
(mg/
l)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(m
g/l)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Secc
hi D
isk
Dep
th (m
))
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Jan-
08
Chl
orop
hyll
a ( μ
g/l)
Lake CypressLake Cypress
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus
(mg/
l)
00.20.40.60.8
11.21.41.61.8
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Secc
hi D
isk
Dep
th (m
)
0
50
100
150
200
250
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Chl
orop
hyll
a ( μ
g/l)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Jan-
82
Jan-
84
Jan-
86
Jan-
88
Jan-
90
Jan-
92
Jan-
94
Jan-
96
Jan-
98
Jan-
00
Jan-
02
Jan-
04
Jan-
06
Jan-
08
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(mg/
l)
Lake HatchinehaLake Hatchineha
00.020.040.060.08
0.10.120.140.160.18
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus
(mg/
l)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Chl
orop
hyll
a ( μ
g/l)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(mg/
l)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Sec
chi D
isk
Dep
th (m
)
Lake KissimmeeLake Kissimmee
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16Ja
n-82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus
(mg/
l)
0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.61.82.0
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Secc
hi D
isk
Dep
th (m
)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Chl
orop
hyll
a ( μ
g/L)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Jan-
82
Jan-
85
Jan-
88
Jan-
91
Jan-
94
Jan-
97
Jan-
00
Jan-
03
Jan-
06
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(mg/
l)
Significant Trends 1981 to 1994Significant Trends 1981 to 1994
-2.3222-5.4083CHLA-0.0006-0.0020-0.0004DIN-0.0373-0.0443-0.0671-0.1103TN
-0.00130.0001SRP-0.0028-0.0028-0.0085-0.0160TP-0.0250SI
0.01670.01570.0182SECCHI-0.4000TURB
3.5000SCOND-0.4111SULFATE
0.4500CL0.65000.3111CA
KissimmeeHatchinehaCypressTohopekaligaEast TohopekaligaParameter
Significant Trends 1994 to 2007Significant Trends 1994 to 2007
CHLADIN
0.0258-0.0170TN
0.0004SRP0.00300.00330.0026TP-0.0792-0.0570-0.0563SI-0.0200-0.0286SECCHI
0.2397-0.0869TURB1.8571SCOND-0.4250SULFATE
0.47620.5509CL0.3667CA
KissimmeeHatchinehaCypressTohopekaligaEast TohopekaligaParameter
Significant Trends 1981 (1988*) Significant Trends 1981 (1988*) --20072007
1.2636CHLA0.0023DIN
0.0233TN0.0011SRP0.00260.0018TP-0.1255SI-0.0113-0.0293SECCHI
0.84650.2502TURB-10.0128SCOND
0.2777SULFATE
-1.8074CLCA
OkeechobeeIstokpoga*Parameter
Lake IstokpogaLake Istokpoga
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30Ja
n-88
Jan-
90
Jan-
92
Jan-
94
Jan-
96
Jan-
98
Jan-
00
Jan-
02
Jan-
04
Jan-
06
Jan-
08
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus
(mg/
l)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Jan-
88
Jan-
90
Jan-
92
Jan-
94
Jan-
96
Jan-
98
Jan-
00
Jan-
02
Jan-
04
Jan-
06
Jan-
08
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(m
g/l)
0102030405060708090
100
Jan-
88
Jan-
90
Jan-
92
Jan-
94
Jan-
96
Jan-
98
Jan-
00
Jan-
02
Jan-
04
Jan-
06
Jan-
08
Chl
orop
hyll
a ( μ
g/l)
00.20.40.60.8
11.21.41.61.8
Jan-
88
Jan-
90
Jan-
92
Jan-
94
Jan-
96
Jan-
98
Jan-
00
Jan-
02
Jan-
04
Jan-
06
Jan-
08
Secc
hi D
isk
Dep
th (m
)
Lake OkeechobeeLake Okeechobee
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
Jan-
81
Jan-
84
Jan-
87
Jan-
90
Jan-
93
Jan-
96
Jan-
99
Jan-
02
Jan-
05
Tota
l Phs
oprh
orus
(mg/
L)
0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.4
Jan-
81Ja
n-83
Jan-
85Ja
n-87
Jan-
89Ja
n-91
Jan-
93Ja
n-95
Jan-
97Ja
n-99
Jan-
01Ja
n-03
Jan-
05Ja
n-07
Secc
hi D
isk
Dep
th (m
)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Jan-
81Ja
n-83
Jan-
85Ja
n-87
Jan-
89Ja
n-91
Jan-
93Ja
n-95
Jan-
97Ja
n-99
Jan-
01Ja
n-03
Jan-
05Ja
n-07
Chl
orop
yhyl
l a ( μ
g/L)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Jan-
81Ja
n-83
Jan-
85Ja
n-87
Jan-
89Ja
n-91
Jan-
93Ja
n-95
Jan-
97Ja
n-99
Jan-
01Ja
n-03
Jan-
05Ja
n-07
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(mg/
L)
SummarySummary
Upper Chain of LakesUpper Chain of LakesLake Tohopekaliga had greatest trendsLake Tohopekaliga had greatest trends
Related to diversion of effluent from sewage Related to diversion of effluent from sewage treatment plant treatment plant Led to improvements downstreamLed to improvements downstream
Improvements reached a plateau in 1994Improvements reached a plateau in 1994HydrillaHydrillaIncreased population Increased population
SummarySummaryLake IstokpogaLake Istokpoga
Increased nutrients, reduced lightIncreased nutrients, reduced lightHydrillaHydrillaNutrient LoadingNutrient Loading
Lake OkeechobeeLake OkeechobeeIncreased nutrients, turbidity, reduced lightIncreased nutrients, turbidity, reduced light
Excessive nutrient loadsExcessive nutrient loadsSediment bufferSediment bufferPhytoplankton light limited?Phytoplankton light limited?
Questions?Questions?
