Water & Air conducted professional environmental services for the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to collect data at three spring-fed rivers (Chassahowitzka, Homosassa, and Rainbow Rivers) by characterizing and mapping the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in each river. These first magnitude spring-fed rivers are also Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) priority waterbodies, and thus have independently adopted SWIM plans that cover priority issues, management actions, and quantifiable objectives. The purpose of this project is to provide ongoing information on the patterns of SAV abundance and distribution in these four natural systems.
Water & Air scientists used an outboard powered boat, as well as an airboat, to collect field data including SAV and algae cover, water velocity, and water quality at predetermined transect locations along the four rivers. The field data were electronically recorded into a tablet computer and geo-referenced with sub-meter accuracy. Quadrat photos and transect videos were taken of the river bottom and water column where applicable. In-water plant cover and above ground (above the sediment surface) SAV and algae biomass samples were collected by divers using SCUBA. Biomass samples were processed in the Water & Air laboratory where wet and dry weight determinations were made for each plant and algae species.
Source: fatfred.nl