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Turbidity and Salinity in Water Quality

Have you ever been on Crystal River and not been able to see the bottom? Well, there are two possible reasons for this: water depth and suspended solids. The Gulf of Mexico can be very clear, but due to its depth, light can’t penetrate to the seafloor and reveal its sandy bottom. At its deepest point, the Gulf is 14,383 feet (more information here), and light can only penetrate 1,000 meters (~3280 feet). Therefore, it is impossible to see the Gulf floor without artificial lights.

Turbidity:

Crystal River is not nearly this deep, but due to high levels of turbidity, or suspended solids, sunlight doesn’t efficiently penetrate through the silt and organic matter suspended in the water. This is why even in the shallow water of Crystal River’s banks, you can only see shapes and outlines of the riverbed. 

Every body of water naturally has suspended solids. For example, a flowing river stirs particles up from the river floor and these bits of sediment collect throughout the water column. Have you ever done the stingray shuffle and looked at the plume of sand you made? The water becomes cloudy, and your feet almost disappear. This shuffle momentarily increases the turbidity of the water and provides a perfect example of why disturbed sediment makes the bottom of Crystal River hard to see. 

Three Sisters Springs has less turbidity than the water in the main river because the springs actively provide clear, filtered water from the aquifer (this is why the springs are so clear). The only solids suspended in a spring originate from around the vent where the water comes out. Sometimes, tourist can temporarily increase turbidity when they disturb the nearby sands too.

Suspended solids can quantify the “dirtiness” of the water. An excess of suspended solids indicate an unhealthy amount of dirt and organic matter in water.  Turbidity is dangerous in large quantities and changes from erosion along riverbanks or runoff caused by heavy rains. When suspended solids thicken, they block light from penetrating through the water. This prevents aquatic plants from photosynthesizing efficiently and harms every animal up the food chain. (I will write about the food chain in a future post.)

Salinity:

Along with suspended solids, salinity also helps determine water quality. Salinity measurements determine how much salt, in parts per thousand (ppt), is in a given volume of water. Most marine plants and animals either thrive in freshwater (less than 1,000 parts per million) or saltwater (~35 ppt). Some animals like bass, stingrays, and crabs can live in a range of salinities, but most marine animals cannot. If salinity were to increase or decrease drastically in any given body of water, it would alter the composition of the marine ecosystem.

Importantly, higher salinity water cannot hold as much dissolved oxygen as freshwater. Animals or plants that require high concentrations of dissolved oxygen to live will struggle to survive in a lower dissolved oxygen concentration. During the “No Name Storm” of 1993, the Gulf of Mexico flooded into Crystal River. This disturbed the riverbed and inundated the freshwater river with salty, Gulf Water. Almost thirty years later, Crystal River’s ecosystem has been struggling to recover from this salt water intrusion.

While Save Crystal River’s efforts to plant eelgrass does not reduce salinity, the grasses themselves have the capacity to thrive in both saltwater and freshwater. Along with this survival ability, eelgrass helps hold sediment at the bottom of the river floor, which reduces overall turbidity of the water. These traits make eelgrass perfect for restoring Crystal River’s clarity and providing a stable environment for indigenous wildlife. 

I’ll see you on the water,

Walker A. Willis

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Photo Credit:

Turbidity Chart: The Marine Research Council

Nitrates and pH in Water Quality

Nitrates:

Nitrates are organic compounds that consist of one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms. We consume nitrates everyday in meats and vegetables. Groundwater, our drinking water, typically has a nitrate concentration less than 2mg/L, which is safe for consumption. If nitrate levels rise above 2mg/L, the water is considered harmful to humans and wildlife because it can cause nitrate poisoning. 

Often caused by fertilizer runoff, excessive nitrates seep into our drinking water. Because Florida has extensive waterfront property, it is common for rain to wash landscape fertilizer from yards directly into waterways. Nitrates are not only tied to fertilizer, however, as they also increase in concentration due to leakage from wastewater, landfills, and septic systems.

Increased nitrate levels can cause methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby” syndrome (BBS). In BBS, high nitrate levels (from contaminated water) decrease the amount of hemoglobin transporting oxygen throughout the body. Without sufficient oxygen, the baby turns blue. Due to frequent water quality monitoring, this syndrome is not common, but it given enough reason to constantly regulate nitrate levels in drinking water. When nitrate levels increase in nearby waterways, it signals the presence of contaminants and the overall decrease in water quality.

 

This image shows that more acidic things have a lower pH and more basic things have a higher pH.

pH:

While regulating nitrates, scientists also seek to regulate pH because the two go hand in hand. Scientists use pH to determine if solutions, like water, are acidic, basic, or neutral. Higher nitrate concentrations can lower the pH, making the water more acidic.   

Most aquatic life can only tolerate a pH from 6-9, but if pH fluctuates out of this range, it could signal either a change in nitrate concentration or a change in dissolved carbon dioxide concentration. (See the chart above to see where household objects fall on the pH scale.) Even a slight change in pH can be devastating for marine life. 

Strong acids have the potential to burn or melt through metals. Imagine what would happen to an ocean if it became too acidic. It wouldn’t be a pretty sight (and would probably feel even worse to the fish!). Even if a larger fish could survive a change in pH, the microorganisms wouldn’t be able to adapt to the changes. Without these microorganisms, a domino effect takes place where animals all along the food chain begin to suffer the consequences.  pH can fluctuate from acid rain; the more acid rain, the more dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2), and the lower the pH becomes. (Acid rain is precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid.)

Both pH and nitrate levels are critical for determining water quality. Constant measuring and record keeping reveals trends in values and the effects of human actions. Generally speaking, a healthier body of water is one where pH and nitrate levels are close to its natural state. Save Crystal River works tirelessly each week to restore the Crystal River water quality, but they can’t do it alone. It is also up to us to be good stewards and to practice safe fertilizing. Crystal River, like all waterways near populated areas, needs our help to restore and maintain its natural state.

I’ll see you on the water,

Walker A. Willis

 

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Photo Credits:

Nitrate Chart: Beta Analytic Inc.

pH Scale: Science News for Students

Introduction to Water Quality in Crystal River

Crystal River Florida is known for its vibrant, azure springs and “Old Florida” landscape.  How can you look out on a sawgrass prairie and not say “wow”?  Even though the landscape remains picturesque, the water quality of the river still drastically declines. Only 40 years ago, one could clearly see fish and manatee swimming below. Now in the main river, it is hard to spot any fish unless they jump from the murky water.  

What exactly defines water quality though? Water quality simply is the state or condition of the water. When calculating water quality in Crystal River, marine biologists must consider many aspects: temperature, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and nitrate concentration. Biologists measure many other element concentrations, but we will not focus on them right now. I will briefly define the terms mentioned above, but I plan on addressing them each individually on different posts.

 

Definitions: 

Temperature: It measures the relative hotness or coldness of the water.

Suspended solids: It measures small solid particles floating or suspended in water (comparable to turbidity or cloudiness in the water).

pH: It measures the acidity or basicity of the water (higher pH = more basic; lower pH = more acidic).

Dissolved oxygen: It measures the amount of dissolved oxygen in water over a given area of space. 

Salinity: It measures the saltiness of the water.

Nitrate: It measures the amount and type of nitrates (harmful in high concentrations) found in water. 

  

Marine biologists run tests at least once a year to identify trends and see patterns in water quality data. Sadly, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Crystal River’s water quality has been decreasing rapidly due to human pollutants. The lower the water quality, the harder it is for the ecosystem to thrive. Thankfully Three Sisters and Hunter Springs are places of high water quality where manatee, birds, and fish can take refuge. Sadly though, even these landmark locations suffer from degrading water quality.

 

What’s being done?

Thankfully, there are people willing and able to help restore the river to its original good health. The organization Save Crystal River has been working tirelessly since their foundation in 2011 to preserve the river and restore the degraded areas. Their impact can already be seen through the improved water quality in project zones and in downstream locations.  Save Crystal River’s success inspired Homosassa to organize a similar project called the Homosassa River Restoration Project, which is currently waiting for their final permit before they begin work. (Check out their website for more information: https://homosassariverrestorationproject.com/about/) 

 In these next few posts, I will explain the factors that determine water quality and how good water quality is essential for a healthy ecosystem. I’ll lead you through Save Crystal River’s three step plan to accomplish their mission and hope you will share this information with others. Maybe you will even consider chipping in your time and energy to make our river even more captivating. 

I’ll see you on the water,

Walker A. Willis

Walker on the Water: Crystal River, Florida

Give me a wave!

Hi everyone, my name is Walker Willis, and I am the newest volunteer for Save Crystal River. My blog posts, “Walker on the Water” show the importance of Save Crystal River and the beauty of Crystal River. Save Crystal River dedicates itself to restoring Kings Bay through a three step plan: remove, plant, protect. With cooperative and robust restoration efforts, and increased awareness, Crystal River can regain its crystal clarity once again.

My family has a small fishing cabin, called “The Shack,” on Kings Bay where over the years I spent many days on the water. Spending my free time on the water developed my love of ecosystems and marine life. Tampa Bay and Crystal River showed me different types of beauty in Florida waterways. Over time, I gained an appreciation for the natural world and the experiences it provided me.

My father spent many weekends up at The Shack when he was growing up, and when we spend time at Crystal River, he poignantly reflects on how clear the river used to be. Back then, my dad saw trout and bass swimming beneath him. A local resident even said he used to pump his drinking water directly from the river because it was so fresh! Nowadays, no one would ever dream of doing that without a filter.

As a kid, I found it hard to imagine what my dad meant. Three Sisters Springs was clear, but that seemed like an aberration. I knew Crystal River as muddy and turbid. However, when my dad took me to Rainbow River (or Blue Run, its local nickname), I saw what he was talking about. I could see straight down to the white, sandy riverbed and the flowing eelgrass. There were speckled brim and river trout swimming right underneath me! If Crystal River looked like Rainbow River only 50 years ago, what happened that destroyed the river’s health and beauty?       

Why am I here?

A few Christmases ago, my grandmother bought me a book titled 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz. Visiting Crystal River was on the list, but without efforts towards improvement it might fall off that list. So, let’s put on our bathing suits and pitch in. Improvement starts with awareness, progresses with financial and community support, and succeeds through continual participation. With your help, we can make a change for the better in the river and see it restored to its original beauty.

“Walker on the Water” hopes to take you on a journey through my personal experiences on the water, how Save Crystal River is restoring Crystal River, and how you can help.

I’ll see you on the water,

Walker Willis

COVID-19 Essential Service – Sea & Shoreline

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A Decade Dedicated to Restoration

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Declared the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, 2021 -2030 is set to be a decade dedicated to the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems. From fighting climate change to enhancing food security, water supply, and biodiversity, this massive movement aims to potentially generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services and take an additional 13 to 26 gigatons of greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere. (unenvironment.org). 

This is a pretty big deal if you consider that right now the rapid loss of land and marine ecosystems effect roughly 3.2 billion people across the world and costs about 10 percent of the annual global gross domestic product in loss of species and ecosystems services.

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“We have a small window of opportunity, but I believe there is every reason to be hopeful. There are many opportunities to halt land degradation and shift to a more sustainable world,”

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What that means for us.

Our local ecosystem is imperative to so much more than our weekend adventures. Our springs attract visitors from across the globe making it a major factor in our local economy. According to DiscoverCrystalRiverFL, tourism alone brought $166 MILLION to Citrus County in 2018. Those visitor dollars help our local businesses, schools, public safety, and ultimately YOU a a resident.

Not to toot our own horn (Toot Toot), but Save Crystal River’s Kings Bay Restoration Project is well underway to meet this new UN goal. We are starting our 5th year of restoration and the results are speaking for themselves (Check out our Pilot Project!). We are excited to see what the next 5 years brings for our project, and what the next 10 brings for the world.

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Joining the movement

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Change can only begin when we make a conscious decision to commit to it. That doesn’t mean dedicating every waking moment on ecosystem restoration. There are many different opportunities to get involved, many of which include things you’re probably already doing! Advocating, volunteering, and (shameless plug time) donating are some of the major ways to help our restoration process. We are blessed to have continued support and funds from state and local government, but those are never guaranteed and can sometimes take a while to receive. Donations allow us to move faster and farther in our restoration process (which means we could get to your canal sooner that expected!)

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link=”https://savecrystalriver.com/anyone-can-help/” text_transform=”” title=”” target=”_blank” link_attributes=”” alignment=”center” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” color=”orange” button_gradient_top_color=”” button_gradient_bottom_color=”” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” type=”3d” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” size=”” stretch=”default” shape=”pill” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]Volunteer[/fusion_button][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ layout=”1_2″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” 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Find out where we are cleaning this week!

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Make sure your Summer garden is eco-friendly!

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How YOU can save the world

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Saving the world.

Intimidating, right? How can one person save the entire world? When you think about it that way, of course it seems unattainable. Instead, lets think of it in more relatable terms.

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See something DO something

Yes, saying something will help.. in some cases. But, what if you see someone throw paper on the ground, or an old lady trying to cross the street? Are you supposed to go run and find someone else to pick it up? Is dear sweet Ethel still waiting on you to bring her escort? Of course not!

The same applies for our ecosystem. But how can you help?

Advocate 

Inform your friends, co-workers, neighbors. Tell anyone you can! In some cases, problems go unnoticed simply because we assume everyone already knows it’s there. Raising awareness of the problem is the first, and biggest, step to solving it.

Donate

We know the ‘D WORD’ can be pretty intimidating in itself. But it doesn’t have to be! We have bills too, but donating even the smallest amount adds up tremendously. You can even donate without actually costing yourself anything! Amazon Smile donates a portion of your purchase on eligible items to the organization of your choice (Hopefully ours!)

Volunteer

Definitely our favorite way to make a difference, volunteering is a great way to really be involved. From saving ‘floaters’ (eel grass that has up rooted, usually seen floating on the surface), to collecting items that will go in to our educational science kits (We need Iphones BTW). Save Crystal River volunteers range from all different ages to all different skill sets. You can find out more on getting involved by signing up for our newsletter.

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Mind your waters

This one takes a little… self reflecting. Think about the actions you are taking that could be effecting our water ways.

Gardening

There a several ways you could be unknowingly damaging our local springs. Check out these great tips to hep you become a responsible gardener (Let us know if any surprise you!).

Fun in the sun

Our favorite past time. Spending lazy days out on the waters. This is where a lot of damage happens, though. Staying informed on the proper in-water etiquette can greatly help reduce your foot print and leave a positive impact for future generations. (You know we’ve got tips on this one too!)

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Be the difference

Just knowing there is a problem and believing you can make a difference, no matter how small, is a BIG step to ensuring our natural water ways will thrive for generations to come.

Welcome to the team!

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Save Crystal River is a 501c3 not for profit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s waters for generations to come.

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