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Environmental Assessment Team
Mission Statement
The mission of the Environmental Assessment Team is to assess Broward County 's surface waters to provide a technical basis for the development of policies that protect and maximize their designated uses and to facilitate public awareness, understanding, and appreciation for our unique, urban watershed.
Program Description
The Environmental Assessment Team is responsible for the science needs of the Water Resources Division with regard to the lakes, rivers, and canals of Broward County . This program assesses surface water quality based on data collected by the Environmental Monitoring Division at numerous ambient monitoring stations located throughout the county. A variety of surface water quality parameters are monitored including oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll, bacteria and others. The results are compared with standards outlined in Broward County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27, Article V. These types of analyses are used to identify trends and are the basis of surface water management policy. This program also coordinates technical comments relating to pollution loading in waterways and ecosystem restoration. Additionally, the surface water assessment program interacts with the public to provide information and answer questions about Broward County 's water resources. Our public outreach projects afford hands-on experience for children and adults to learn about our waterways. By making information available to the public and educating through outreach, we hope to promote responsible use and preservation of Broward County 's waters.
What is Surface Water in Broward County?
With over 266 miles of fresh and estuarine waterways, and thousands of lakes, Broward County has an abundance of surface waters that are used for a variety of purposes by the people who live here, those who visit, and by the fish and wildlife that also depend on these waters.
Although we have a few natural, freshwater ponds and remnant rivers such as the Middle and New Rivers , the majority of our waterways are man-made canals and stormwater management lakes. Significant drainage needs of south Florida for land development and flood control in the early 1900's resulted in the construction of an extensive canal network throughout Broward County . Our seven primary canals and numerous secondary and tertiary canals provide flood control and water supply protection for the area's enormous growth and development. Stormwater management lakes are also used for flood protection as well as stormwater treatment, and are created by removing rock to build up the surrounding land for homes. In addition to the canals and lakes, to the east we have the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and other tidally influenced water bodies. These coastal waterways are brackish, meaning they are part saltwater and part freshwater.
Special Projects and Issues
1) The Historical Water Quality Atlas
2) North Fork of the New River
3) Broward Urban River Trails (BURT) (.pdf)
4) Urban Institute of Environmental Studies (.pdf)
5) Marine Industries Association of South Florida's Annual Waterway Clean-up (.pdf)
Technical Reports
The following .pdf reports, related to water quality, are available on the DPEP Technical Reports webpage, or can be obtained by calling the Environmental Monitoring Division:
- Assessing the Effects of Hydrating Snake Warrior's Island Natural Area with Urban Storm Water (.pdf 26 mb and 106 pages)
- Assessing the Effects of Hydrating Snake Warrior's Island Natural Area with Urban Storm Water Appendices 1-4 (.pdf 324 kb)
- The Occurrence of Metals in Broward County Waterways (.pdf)
- An Investigation of Water Quality Complaints in the Kingfisher Canal, Deerfield Beach, FL (.pdf)
- Summary of Bacteriological Testing in the Las Olas Isles (.pdf)
- Implementation of a Chemical Method for Differentiating Human and Animal Fecal impacts in Surface Waters and Sediments (.pdf)
- A Survey of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Port Everglades Surface Waters (.pdf)
- A Survey of the Occurrence and Distribution of Volatile Organic Compounds in Broward County Surface Waters (.pdf)
- A Second Survey of the Occurrence and Distribution of Volatile Organic Compounds in Broward County Surface Waters (.pdf)
- New River Restoration Plan 1994 (.pdf)
- New River Restoration Plan Update; Activities & Accomplishments from 1991-2000 (.pdf)
- Water and Sediment Quality of the Lakes at Vista View Park (.pdf)
- Technical Report Series TR: 05-01 Metals in Fish From the North Fork of the New River (pdf)
The following reports can be obtained by calling the Water Resources Division:
Indicators for Determining the Sources and Extent of Fecal Contamination in Coastal Waters: An Annotated Bibliography
New River Study: Final Report
North Fork of the New River Restoration Projects: Final Report, June 2, 1999
North Fork of the New River Restoration Projects: Benthic Macroinvertebrate Recruitment Study, November 19, 1999
North Broward Aquifer Drainage and Recharge Study: Water Quality Analysis
Sediments of the New River, Broward County Florida: Microtox® Bioassay and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Initial Survey
Surface Water Quality Survey of the C-9 (Snake Creek) Canal
Toxicological Screenings of the Hard-Head Catfish (Arius felis) and the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the North Fork of the New River, Broward County, Florida
Water Quality Data
1) Broward County Water Quality Index Map
2) SFWMD Water Quality Quarterly Report
3) Water Quality In Your Community (1972-1997) (.pdf)
What Can I Do To Protect Water Quality?
Do's and Don'ts Around the Home (.pdf)
Do a Number On Cleaning Up the New River (.pdf)
Where Should the Water Go? (.pdf)
For More Information
E-mail Kevin Carter or call the Environmental Monitoring Division at 954-519-1477
Weather/Storm Links
NOAA's National Weather Service
Rainfall data
Florida Emergency Operations Center
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