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Effects of highway runoff on the quality of water and bed sediments of two wetlands in central Florida

Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4200
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https://doi.org/10.3133/wri884200

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Abstract

Results of a study of the effects of highway runoff on the chemical quality of water and bed sediments of a cypress wetlands and a freshwater marsh in central Florida indicate that detention of the runoff prior to release into the wetland reduces concentrations of automobile-related chemicals in the water and bed sediments in the wetland. Detention of highway runoff for the cypress wetland occurs in a 68-ft by 139-ft detention pond, and in a 12-ft by 25 ft trash retainer for the freshwater marsh. The analysis of the chemical data for water and bed sediments indicates that many of the observed differences in chemistry are due to the difference in detention facilities. Water quality generally improved from the inlet to the outlet of both wetlands. Only inlet and outlet data were collected at the cypress wetland, and these showed a reduction in concentrations through the wetland. Spatial data collected at the freshwater marsh indicated that constituent concentrations in water generally decreased with distance from the inlet. Results of analysis of variance of grouped data for 40 water quality variables at the freshwater marsh inferred that 26 of the 40 variables tested were significantly different among five general locations within the wetland: inlet, outlet, near, intermediate, and far sites (with respect to the inlet). Results from this study indicate that detention structures, larger than the trash retainer at the freshwater marsh, may cause sufficient sorption and settling of substances contained in highway runoff to minimize the transport and deposition of some undesirable chemicals into wetlands. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Schiffer, D., 1989, Effects of highway runoff on the quality of water and bed sediments of two wetlands in central Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4200, v, 63 p. :ill. ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri884200.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Effects of highway runoff on the quality of water and bed sediments of two wetlands in central Florida
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 88-4200
DOI 10.3133/wri884200
Year Published 1989
Language ENGLISH
Publisher Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; Books and Open-File Reports, [distributor],
Description v, 63 p. :ill. ;28 cm.
Additional publication details