REPRINT

REPORT OF INVESTIGATION

O F THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF

PRIVATE WATERFRONT CANALS

BY

W i l l i a m v a d a , R e s e a r c h C o n s u l t a n t W i l l i a m M. Pa r t ing ton , Jr., D i r e c t o r

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTER of the Flor ida C o n s e r v a t i o n Foundation, Inc.

9 3 5 O r a n g e A v e n u e Winter P a r k , Florida 3 2 7 8 9

February 1, 1 9 7 2

R e p r i n t e d June 1 9 7 7

Prepared For: STATE OF FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND

ENVIRONMENTAL COLL. SELBY PUBLIC LIBRARY 1331 FIRST S"TEET SARASOTA, FL 34236

THE PRIVATE WATERFRONT CANAL REPORT A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW

Every month, year a f t e r year , r e sea rcher s a r e plagued with a deluge of government-funded r e p o r t s of s t u d i e s , surveys and i n v e s t i g a t i o n s dea l ing with v i r t u a l l y every s u b j e c t under t h e sun. The c o s t of t h e s e r e p o r t s ranges from a few thousand dol - l a r s t o m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s each -- and t h e i r s i z e and complexity range from a few pages t o multi-volume e p i s t l e s t h a t could requ i re months o r yea r s t o understand.

The v a s t major i ty of t h e s e r e p o r t s i s buried i n a rchives and a r e r a r e l y seen o r read o the r than by a few employees, scho la r s , and s p e c i a l t y researchers . A few make a temporary sp lash i n t h e news media but a r e soon fo rgo t t en . But once i n a while, a r a r e jewel with an impact t h a t he lps t o inf luence t h e course of even t s i s produced.

The enclosed Inves t iga t ion on t h e Environmental E f f e c t s of P r i v a t e Waterfront Canals i s one of these jewels. I t was prepared by the Environmental Information Center of t h e F lo r ida Conservation Foundation a t t h e reques t of J o e l Kuperberg, then Direc tor of F l o r i d a ' s Trus tees of t h e I n t e r n a l Improvement Fund, t o be used a s background information i n determining s t a t e po l i cy regarding t h e widespread p r a c t i c e of water f ront development of homesites s i t u a t e d around a network of cana l s excavated above t h e mean high water l i n e .

The t o t a l c o s t of t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n and r e p o r t t o t h e S t a t e of F lo r ida was only $5,000. But i t s e f f e c t i v e n e s s can be guaged from t h e f a c t t h a t a number of environmental engineering and consul t ing f i rms submitted proposals o f f e r i n g t o make new s t u d i e s t o d i s c r e d i t t h i s r e p o r t , some of which were est imated t o c o s t hundreds of thousands of d o l l a r s each.

Despite such e f f o r t s , t h e Environmental Information Cen te r ' s r e p o r t has withstood t h e test of time and i s a s v a l i d today a s it was when it was f i r s t re leased i n February of 1972. I t has been c ikcu la ted widely a c r o s s t h e na t ion and has helped t o inf luence o f f i c i a l po l i cy , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n F lo r ida and o t h e r c o a s t a l s t a t e s .

A t t h e t ime of t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n no comprehensive s t u d i e s had been made of t h e environmental impact of p r i v a t e water f ront c a n a l s and t h e only d a t a t h a t e x i s t e d were fragmented and sca t - t e r e d b i t s and p ieces developed by l o c a l and reg iona l o f f i c e s of F l o r i d a ' s s t a t e agencies .

The r e p o r t i s a compendium of t h e s e fragmented d a t a which r e v e a l s t h a t t h e networks of box-cut c a n a l s which were s o popu- l a r a s a p r o f i t a b l e and easy method of providing thousands of people with high-priced "waterfront property" a r e no t only d i sas - t r o u s t o f i s h and w i l d l i f e , it a l s o shows t h a t they a r e a se r ious t h r e a t t o t h e h e a l t h and welfare of humans who i n h a b i t homes ad jacen t t o t h e c a n a l s , and t o o t h e r s who may wade o r f i s h i n them.

I n a n t i c i p a t i o n of widespread a t tempts t o d i s c r e d i t t h e information repor ted by o t h e r s c i e n t i s t s and o f f i c i a l s , t h e Environmental Information Center asked m e i f a sampling t e s t could be conducted t h a t would document how badly t h e c a n a l s a r e po l lu ted , and i n a manner t h a t would be d i f f i c u l t t o r e f u t e . I agreed, and a sampling test was made a t 80 l o c a t i o n s of 4 1 sepa ra te cana l systems i n Southwest F l o r i d a c o a s t a l a reas .

I n o rde r t o demonstrate, unequivocally, t h a t t h e r e were 1

organisms harmful t o humans i n t h e s e c a n a l s I chose t o assay f o r an organism which i s such a bad a c t o r a s t o defy anyone t o r i d i - c u l e t h e r e s u l t s of our tests ( i f t h e proved p o s i t i v e ) . The l o g i c a l choice was Clos t r i ' d im we'lchii , a l i a s Clostr idium per- f r ingens.

Like a l l organisms, some s t r a i n s a r e harmless. But s o m e s t r a i n s of C. e r f r ' i n ens can cause: u l c e r a t i v e l e s i o n s of t h e i n t e s t i n a l t r a c t -5-- ood poisoning, t h e d i s s o l u t i o n of red blood c e l l s , va r ious types of g a s t r o e n t e r i t i s , a p p e n d i c i t i s , p e r i t o n i t i s , and gas-gangrene. It can only grow where oxygen i s absent . So l a r g e numbers i n d i c a t e a Eottam slime wriere ord inary animal l i f e is impossiBle. They originate i n f e c e s and can surv ive f o r long per iods as h ighly r e s i s t a n t spores. 'Further, a method w a s a v a i l a b l e t o d e t e c t and enumerate t h i s organism f n t h e presence of many o t h e r types of b a c t e r i a .

Of t h e 4 1 cana l systems sampled, 70% had excess ive ly h igh --•

col i forms i n t h e i r w a t e r s , 56% had high' C. per f r ingens counts i n sediments, and 8 3 % had e i t h e r high c o l i f = s o r high C. per f r ingens .

7

Our knowledge of t h e causes and t h e s e r i o u s e f f e c t s of water p o l l u t i o n has advanced tremendously s i n c e t h i s r e p o r t was w r i t t e n i n 1972. A p le thora of s c i e n t i f i c s t u d i e s have compiled a wealth of d a t a which i s r e f l e c t e d i n comprehensive f e d e r a l , s t a t e and l o c a l laws designed t o c l ean up America's waters.

The enclosed r e p o r t on t h e environmental impact of p r i v a t e wa te r f ron t cana l s , however, s t i l l s t ands a lone a s an example of t h e r e s u l t s t h a t can be produced by a few dedica ted , concerned c i t i z e n s a t very l i t t l e c o s t t o t h e taxpayers . I t should a l s o serve a s an example t o our bureaucra t i c agencies t h a t t h e t r u e va lue of a p iece of work cannot always be measured by t h e h igh p r i c e t a g ( i n taxpayers ' , d o l l a r s ) placed on it.

John V. Betz, Ph.D. Tampa, F lo r ida June, 1977

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

. . . . . . . . . . . In t roduct ion and Purpose of Survey 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scope. Methods and Techniques 3

T y p e s o f c a n a l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . Finger -F i l l Canals 6

. . . . . . . . . A . Effec t s on Fish and Fish ing 6 . . . . . . B Adverse E f f e c t s of Excessive Depths 8 . . . . 1 Stagnat ion and Anaerobic Conditions 8 2 . Temperature S t r a t i f i c a t i o n . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C . Odors 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . D . Effec t on Receiving Waters 11

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I1 . Uplandcanals 1 4

. . . . . . . . . . A Effec t s on Fish and Fishing 1 4 1 . F i s h K i l l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2 . DissolvedOxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 . . . . . . . . . . . B Ef fec t s of Excessive Depths 1 9 . . . 1 . Stagnation and Anaerobic Conditions 19 . . . . . . . . 2 . Temperature S t r a t i f i c a t i o n 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C . Odors 20 . . . . D . Stagnation from Inadequate C i rcu la t ion 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E . Aquaticweeds 23

. . . . . . . . . I11 . Sources of Po l lu t ion A l l Canals 26

A . Urban Storm Water Runoff . . . . 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . Nutr ients 27 2 . B a c t e r i a l Contamination . . . . . . . . . 27

B . Sep t i cTanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 C . Sewage Treatment P lan t Ef f luen t . . . . . . . . 30 D . Boats and Houseboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 E . Canal WaterQual i ty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 F . pH a s an Ind ica t ion of Water Q u a l i t y . . . . . 34

IV . Effec t s on Public Health and Welfare . . . . . . . 35

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . A South F lo r ida Canals 36 B . Other Canals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . 38 C . Bottomsediments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

1 . Study of C . welchi i (Gas gangrene . . . . . . . anaerobes-ana r e l a t e d forms) 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . Conclusions 4 1

Page

V, Effect of Canals on Underground Water Supplies. . 43

A. Salt-Water Intrusion . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 B. ~epletion of Water Supplies . . . . . . . . . 46

VI. Effect on Receiving Waters . . . . . . . . . . . 48

VII. Economic Impact of Canal-Type Developments . . . 4 9

A. Values of Natural Areas . . . . . . . . . . . 51 B. Importance of Natural Features on Tourism . . 53

V I Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5

References, . . . . . . > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF SURVEY

F l o r i d a ' s qubt ropica l climate and clear waters p r e s e n t

d i v e r s e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r outdoor r e c r e a t i o n t h a t a t t r a c t m i l l i o n s

o f t o u r i s t s and thousands of new r e s i d e n t s every year . This i n f l u x

o f populat ion has c rea ted a tremendous demand f o r wa te r f ron t

property with convenient access t o f i s h i n g , swimming and water

s p o r t a reas . For many yea r s , t h i s demand has been s a t i s f i e d by

dredging and f i l l i n g s h a l . 1 0 ~ bays and e s t u a r i e s . Waterfront

property i s manufactured by f i n g e r - f i l l s with deep, narrow cana l s

dredged betwe.23 the f i n g e r s , o r hy connecting such upland canal

systems with naturnl waters .

F lo r ida i s uiAiquely vulnerable t o t h i s type of develop-

ment. Unlike most s t a t e s which have s t e e p s lop ing beaches and

rocky s h o r e l i n e s , F l o r i d a ' s t e r r a i n i s f l a t . Most c o a s t a l a reas

a r e bordered by lob-lying swamps and marshes which gradual ly blend

i n t o marine embaymer-ts, and it i s o f t e n d i f f i c u l t t o determine

where t h e land s t o p s and t h e sea begins. I n many p laces , p a r t i a l l y -

submerged land, with v a t e r depths of only a few f e e t , extends

miles i n t o t h e sea . The loose su r face sediments a r e e a s i l y

excavated, and dredged ina ter ia l from canals and boat channels

provides t h e f i l l n e e d ~ d t o r a i s e lowlands above sea l e v e l .

I n r e c e n t yea r s , t h e value of t h e e s t u a r i e s and t h e i r

surrounding marshlands a s h ighly productive nursery and spawning

grounds f o r marine l i f e is becoming increas ingly recognized. b he

d e s t r u c t i v e e f f e c t s of dredging and f i l l i n g of those submerged

lands has been recognized as a s e r i o u s t h r e a t t o F l o r i d a ' s

waters, i t s most valuable resource. (Consensus*) Steps were

taken t o c o n t r o l t h i s method of development, and l e g i s l a t i o n ,

properly r e f l e c t i n g pub l i c c o n c e r q h a s c u r t a i l e d dredging and

*"Consensus," a s used i n t h i s r e p o r t , r e f l e c t s t h e opinions expressed by an overwhelming major i ty of t h e p ro fess iona l people interviewed f o r t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n arrl whose names appear i n t h e a t tached references.

filling of submerged lands which lie below the mean high water

lines. Numerous laws, administrative actions, and court decisic~ns

offer confirmation that protection of submerged lands is in the

public interest.

These restrictions have caused waterfront development *

to move inland with homesites situated around a network of csnals

excavated above the mean high water line.

At present, Florida has no restrictions governing dredgin~

and filling on upland private properties. The only controls

available to authorities are the permits required for dredging

access channels which connect those upland canal systems to a

navigable waterway, or which would utilize submerged lands or

state-owned property.

Often the car.al systems have been excavated and homesites - - - -

sold before an application for dredging an access channel is a

received by the state. In these cases, responsible officials

are caught in a dilemmz:. They must either grant what amounts

to an after-the-fact permit or face the wrath of irate home

buyers who have been pr~~mised waterfront property with access

to a navigable waterway. (Consensus, field representatives in

Department of Pollution Control and Game and Fresh Water Fish

Commission)

Secretary of the Army, Stanley Resor, in a letter to thc

Governor of Florida (December 4, 1969) stated:

"We are, of course, particularly concerned over the possibility that individual purchasers of home sites might be misled with respect to the character of the land in question or the date of anticipated dredging and filling activities. Developers should avoid making financial and other arrangements which assume the granting of major permit applications, since all such applications will, at the very least, be carefully reviewed at the Department of the Anny level in Washington. " (73)

Col. A. S. Fullerton, District Engineer of the Corps

of Engineers, in a news release ( ~ u l ~ 20, 1970), was quoted:

"Col. Fullerton also expressed concern about excavation on upland property which could later find its way into navigable waters. Fullerton said no one should assume that a Corps of Engineers' permit will be issued routinely, even though canal excavations are started on private upland property."

Projects involving massive canal systems are either

underway or planned along coasts, streams and lakes throughout

the state. These include waterways as well as along

both coasts. If this trcnd continues unabated, Florida may

eventually be blanketid by a labyrinth of artificial canal

systems interconnected with publicly-owned waterways.

The purpose of this survey is to determine the impact

of canal-type waterfront developments upon Florida's environ-

ment and the ways in which they affect the public interest.

This survey was commissionad by the Trustees of the Internal

Improvement Fund as backgro:.lnd in determining new state

policy.

SCOPE, METHODS AND TECHNIQUES - A review of existing literature revealed that a complete

ecological study of private canal systems has never been made.

The data available are primarily derived from water quality

studies in conjunction with other projects and results are inter-

mixed with numerous agency field reports.

In order to ensure that the scope of this investigation

included private property canal systems over the entire state,

and,to ensure #e greatest possible accuracy in our determinations,

the above data were supplemented with an input of professional.

observations and opinions which were requested and received

from the following sources: 1)' federal, state, regional,

county, and local pollution control field biologists and

investigators; 2) Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission

biologists; 3) flood control and water management district

hydrologists; 4) regional and local field agents for the federal

~nvironmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau

of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries

Service; 5) state and county health department officials;

6) numerous private scientists specializing in particular areas;

7) scientists employed by major developers; and 8) private

citizens and homeowners in canal-type developments.

The Environmental Information Center sponsored a

special test for gas gangrene organisms in bottom sediments of

canal systems in the Tampa Bay area which has been made an

attachment (Appendix A).

The determinations presented in this report are a synthesis

of information gathered'frorn the foregoing wide variety of

sources. Only those points which represent the consensus of

professionals in this field, or which are supported by research

data, are presented.

TYPES OF CANALS

Waterfront canals discussed in this investigation have

been placed in two general categories: 1) I finger-fill canals

created by dredge and fill of suhmegged iands of bays, estuaries,

lakes, or other wetland88 and 2) canals i t . *T cut into upland property

and connected to flood control channels, lakes, rivers, or other . natural or artificial waterwaw.

A third category to which many of the same environmental

characteristics apply includes drainage and flood control canals

which carry runoff water from urban developments, agricultural

areas and highways. However, this investigation is primarily

concerned with private waterfront canal systems.

I. FINGER-FILL CANALS

The destructive effects of dredge and fill in bays and

estuaries resulting in the elimination of highly productive

marine nursery and spawning grounds is well documented and

widely recognized. (Consensus) Florida's commercial and sport

fishing industries and a large segment of its tourist industry

are supported by food and sport fisheries which depend upon

the estuaries for survival. (1,4,6)

In addition to the destruction of fish nursery and

spawning grounds, the deep canals, channels, and borrow pits

excavated into both saltwat.3r and freshwater wetlands have other

deleterious effects.

A. Effects on Fish and Fish:-ng

A common fallacy regarding finger canals is that their

depth provides a haven in which game fish thrive. This may

occur in the very early stages after canal excavation. A typical

pattern is that in the first few months of early spring, bottom

animals and fish are abundant in newly-dug canals. However, with

the advent of summer and hot weather, dissolved oxygen in lower

waters drops to zero, or near zero. There is heavy mortality

of benthic organisms and practically no fish are found. When

cooler weather returns, benthic animals may recolonize newer

canals and the fish move back in. But as dead and decaying

organic materials gradually build up in the canal bottom, the

number of marine creatures declines and eventually there is

virtually no desirable biological production in the canal.

John L. Taylor and Carl Salnman i n t h e i r s tudies

of the e f f e c t s of dredging i n goca Ciega Bay, s ta ted:

"...the sediments i n undredged areas averaged 94 percent sand and s h e l l whereas the sediments i n dredged canals averaged 92 percent s i l t and clay. "

The r e s u l t i s a paucity of spor t and commercial species i n

these areas. (7 1

Taylor and Saloman a l so found very l i t t l e recolonization

of benthic forms i n ten year old box-cut canals and half a s

many species of f i s h i n canals as i n surrounding areas. They . believe t h a t the accumulation of organis material and low

dissolved oxygen i n these canals have a permanent adverse a f f e c t

on f i s h and marine l i f e .

A s imilar conclusion was reached by D r . J. Kneeland

McNulty a f t e r a study of the e f f e c t s of abatement of domestic

sewage pollution i n Biscayne Bay i n 1970. H e found t h a t i n

deeper, dredged portions where there is l i t t l e current , the

sediment i s a s o f t , gray to black ooze of predominantly f ine

fractions. Comparisons of before and a f t e r pollution abatement

showed d r a s t i c changes i n macroinvertebrate populations. However,

there was no evidence of improved commercial and sport f ishing

i n dredged areas following abatement. McNulty interpreted t h i s t o

mean tha t long-lasting detrimental e f f e c t s resulted from pollution

and dredging. (11) For instance, a f t e r abatement the s o f t ,

sediments pers is ted, Indicating the persistance of wastes once

they have been allowed t o accumulate.

Deep dredged canals and channels also contribute to

massive fish kills in several different ways. A mass mortality

of snook in Tampa and Boca Ciega Bays in 1966 was caused by a

change in water temperature in deep dredged canals. The

temperature of the deeper water stays warm into the winter

months and fish take refuge from the cold water in these areas.

Prolonged cold weather eventually lowers the bottom tempera-

tures and the fish die. ( 7 )

Taylor reports that kills of snook and other fish

from this dredge-caused terb~perature change are a continuing

problem, and the stench of rotting fish emanates from these

areas until the fish sink to the bottom. The decaying fish

add to the organic detritus accumulated in the bottom of finger

canals.

The majority of Florideqs fish kills are attributed to

over-enrichment by pollutants which deplete the water's dissolved

oxygen below fish survival leveis. (Consensus) ~ i s h kills '

due to oxygen depletion in c a s ~ ~ s -often caused by the leaching

of decaying organic material and hydrogen sulfide from anaerobic

bottom sediments. (14,15,16,19,20,27)

B e Adverse Effects of Excessive Depths

1. Stagnation and Anaerobic Conditions - With rare exceptions, deep excavations are little

affected by normal tidal action and currents. The movement of

water in Florida's shallow bays and estuaries flows across

the surface of these steep-walled channels leaving the deeper

water relatively undisturbed. The lack of water movement causes

stat ic condit ions with v i r t u a l l y no f lushing act ion t o remove

accumulated debr is . Thus, box-cut dredged channels become

sediment t r a p s f o r dead and decaying organic material. These

accumulated mater ia ls e x e r t a tremendous oxygen demand upon

overlying waters, dissolved oxygen is depleted and anaerobic

(no oxygen) condit ions prevai l . (7,8,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,

19,20,65,77,78,79,80,83)

This c h a r a c t e r i s t i c has been observed i n the open Gulf

of Mexico a s w e l l a s i n bays, e s tua r i e s and canal systems.

(11,12,13,14)

This is almost universal ly the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c condit ion

of areas dredged t o depths grea te r than the surrounding t e r r a i n .

(7,8,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,1b,19,65,77,79,80,83)

John W. Bell inger, a f i shery b io log i s t with the Bureau

of sport ' F i sher ies and Wildlife i n Vero Beach, s ta ted :

"Dredging (both hydraulic and dragl ine operat ions) has a va r i e ty of poss ible adverse e f f e c t s , including removal of es tabl ished marine sediments and associa ted b io ta , c rea t ion of water depths i n which p l a n t communities can no longer survive, c rea t ion of pockets which can t r a p organic mater ia ls and lead t o condit ions of low, even anaerobic, oxygen l eve l s , and the always present dangers of s i l t a t i o n , increased water t u rb id i ty , and s a l t water in t rus ion." (5)

Taylor and Saloman a l s o s t a t e d t h a t canal bottoms i n Boca

Ciega Bay a r e f a r too deep t o receive l i g h t required f o r t h e

growth of sea grass . ~ u r b i d i t y from dredging l i m i t s b io log ica l

production and r e s u l t i n g sediments a r e dark, semi-fluid

and usually sulfurous. They are predominantly organic, con-

s i s t i n g of accumulations of decomposing d e t r i t u s . (7)

2. Temperature S t r a t i f i c a t i o n

I n a study of a nulmber of box-cut cana l s i n t h e F l o r i d a

Keys, D r . James OnHara, .a Univers i ty of South Carolina e c o l o g i s t ,

found a d i s t i n c t temperature s t r a t i f i c a t i o n i n a l l c ana l s deeper

than 15 feet. The warmer, upper l aye r usua l ly had ample oxygen

and supported -a heavy plankton bloom. A t d e ~ t h s of 10 to 12 feet,

the water was sharply d iv ided, w i t h co lder , c l e a r e r water extend-

ing from t h e s t r a t i f i e d l a y e r t o t h e bottom. Algae were absent

i n t he bottom w a t e r and no marine l i f e was detected. Dissolved

oxygen dropped sharply a t t h e s t r a t i f i c a t i o n zone with anaerobic

condi t ions p r eva i l i ng throughout t h e lower l ayer . Decaying

vegeta t ion and d e t r i t u s w a s accumulated on t he bottom and hydrogen

s u l f i d e gas was concentrated throughout t h e lower l aye r of w a t e r . *

S t r a t i f i c a t i o n was apparent ly due almost e n t i r e l y t o

depth, r egard less of pr0ximit.y t o open w a t e r o r canal con-

f igura t ion . (12)

S imi lar problems have been repor ted from o the r s e c t i o n s

of t he Gulf Coast, and it is reasonable t o assume t h a t

add i t i ona l i nves t i ga t i ons w i l l dLsclose temperature s t r a t i f i -

c a t i o n a s a common c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of sa l t -water canals

dredged t o excess ive depths. (19)

C. Odors

Addit ional problems usual ly encountered i n deep-

dredged f i n g e r cana l s throughout t h e s t a t e a r e f o u l odors

emanating from hydrogen s u l f i d e gas , decaying a lgae and o t h e r

wastes which c o l l e c t under anaerobic condit ions. These odors . , ,

a r e o f t e n q u i t e pronounced a t va r ious t i m e s of t h e year and

cause numerous complaints from waterf ront property owners. (Consensus )

. "

Taylor and Saloman observed windrows of the alga Ulva - " .

lactuca in bayfill access canals after residents reported

objectionable odors in the central part of Boca Ciega Bay. These

and other filamentous algae become fetid as they decompos.e. (7 )

Similar conditions are common in finger canals throughout the

state. (Consensus )

Hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous, corrosive gas which smells

like rotten eggs, emanates from decaying algal mats under

anaerobic conditions. It is lethal to marine life, exerts

a powerful oxygen demand upon overlying waters and has a corrosive

effect upon metals, paint and other materials. It is present in

practically all of Florida's salt water canals and is readily

detected whenever bottom sediments are disturbed. (7,12,19,20,22,23)

Hydrogen sulfide emanating from canals has turned white

paint black on nearby hones (7) and contributes to fish kills

both by its poisonous effect upon marine life and by contributing

to the reduction of oxygen in overlying waters. (14,16,19,24,25,26)

D. Effect on Receivina Waters

The accumulation of organic sludge and poisonous waste

in deep dredged channels and canals presents athreat to marine

life in large sections of bays and estuaries. (15,16,20,24,25)

A 1970 study of Escambia Bay by the Federal Water Quality Adminis-

tration (now incorporated into EPA) disclosed that a deep channel

dredged for the construction of the 1-10 bridge, and the canals

of Escambia Shores, contribute significantly to the massive fish

kills which occur regularly in Mulat-Mulatto Bayou. The report

states, 'me borrow area has become a settling basin for suspended

organic material including algal organisms. The very high oxygen

demand of this material has totally depleted DO (dissolved oxygen) and

Bas turned this area irto an anaerobic digester of organic wastes.

During the ebbing current, this deoxygenated water and suspended and

dissolved waste material is carried into Escambia Bay as previously

discussed, and into the main section of Mulatto Bayou. ... The com- bination of waste input; poor circulation caused by alteration

of the natural physical configuration; and dredging practices are

the major causes of the fish kills occurring in Mulat-Mulatto

Bayou." (16) ( E r n p h o s ? : ~ adds d )

A report by P. J. Doherty, Regional Engineer for the

Department of Pollution Control in Pensacola, describes the

condition of the Escambia Shcsres canals. Mr. Doherty states:

"Several fish kills lave occurred during 1970 and 1971 in the Escambil Shores canals. It was noticed upon investigating these kills that because of inadequate flushing, the dead fish remained trapped in the canal system. Unusually p r conditions were noted, such as the breeding of maggots and the bubbling of hydrogen sulfide gas from the sediments.

" (1) Poor flushing zctj-on in deadend canals allows a buildup of organic material (including dead fish). This material requires oxygen for aerobic decomposition. Siifficient oxygen is not available to decompose large amount of organic material and anerobic decomposition occurs, causing the release of hydrogen sulfide gas.

" (2) Anerobic conditions deplete the dissolved oxygen in the canals. Dissolved oxygen can usually be supplied by a combination of algae, sunlight and wind action during daylight hours in sufficient quantities to overcome the demand by the s e d h n t s , but the oxygen is not usually supplied after dark and it is rapidly depleted.

" ( 3 ) Fish go i n t o t h e canals during dayl ight hours when sufficient dissolved oxygen i r ava i l ab l e i n t he water, bu t become trapped a f t e r dark when the oxygen is depleted. They can be k i l l e d by e i t h e r t h e lack of dissolved oxygen o r the increase of hydrogen s u l f i d e gas which is no longer being ox id i zed.

" (4 ) The dead f i s h i n the canals a r e not removed from the canals rapidly because of poor f lushing. A s they decay, they add t o t he organic matter i n t he sediments, Sept ic conditions occur because of t he anerobic condit ions and maggots have been seen breeding i n abundance.

" (5) The poor qua l i t y water i n t h e canals mixes with adjacent water, adding to t h e i r degradation.

"..,Six f i s h k i l l s have' been documented and inves t i - gated i n t h e Escambia Shores Canal system during 1970 and 1971....The s i z e of M e f i s h k i l l s ranged from 700,000 menhaden t o 65,000,000 menhaden." (14 )

A number of s c i e n t i s t s and pol lu t ion cont ro l o f f i c i a l s

are convinced t h a t the condit ions i n Escambia Bay and adjoining

canals may be a prelude t o t he ul t imate f a t e of o ther Flor ida

bays and canal systems. In t h e i r opinion, s i t u a t i o n s e x i s t i n

many o ther a reas which can produce s imi l a r environmental and

economic disasters i f po l lu t i cn becomes as severe as it has i n

I1 UPLAND CANALS

Whereas the environmental problems presented by finger-

fill canals primarily involve saltwater and marine ecosystems,

upland canals may affect saltwater, freshwater or a combination

of both environments. Many of these canal networks are located

long distances from receiving waters with one or more box-cut

navigation channels serving as the sole means of water circu-

lation and exchange. In addition to their effect upon'coastal

areas and marine life, upland canals encounter problems with

freshwater fish and fishing, underground water-supplies,

aquatic weeds and inland bodies of freshwater.

The fallacy that canals provide a haven in which game

fish thrive is also a common belief of upland canals. This

misconception is partially d u ~ to the fact that most of these

canals are excavated into dry land areas where fish could not

exist prior to canal construction. heref fore, if any fish at

all exist in such upland canals, it can be stated that fishing

has been. improved.

As with finger-fill canals, upland canals may provide

good fishing during the early- stages after canal construction.

However, they are virtually a closed body of water which serve

as nutrient traps which accwslate dead and decaying organic

materials, with the same results as in finger-fill canals. In

freshwater canals, thfe is acccmpanied by explosive growth8

of noxious aqua t ic weeds. Decaying vegeta t ion acce le ra tes

eutrophicat ion and reduces dissolved oxygen i n t h e water below

the po in t where des i rab le f i s h can survive. Thus, i n t y p i c a l

upland canals , water q u a l i t y de t e r io ra t e s , dissolved oxygen

is depleted, f i s h k i l l s occur, and eventual ly few, i f any,

des i r ab l e spec ies e x i s t . (Consensus)

Tbe rare exceptions a r e l a r g e canals adjacent to

undeveloped swamps and marshes, such a s i n t he conservation

areas. (61) However , these waterways present an e n t i r e l y

d i f f e r e n t s i t u a t i o n from canals i n urban a reas which are

primari ly designed to provide waterfront property. Such

marshland canals a r e not the sub jec t of t h i s inves t igat ion.

1. Fish K i l l s

The importance of dissolved oxygen condit ions i n subsurface

water is indicated by the massive f i s h k i l l s i n Escambia Shores

canal8 which occur repeatedly during the sumner. Measurements

o f DO taken from surface watera i n these canals on br igh t , sunny

days rsould be extremely misleading because photosynthesis provides

an abundant supply of oxygennand f i s h survive. A t n ight and on

overcas t days, anaerobic bottom sediments and p lan t r e sp i r a t i on

dep le te t he oxygen i n surface waters and the f i s h d ie . (14,20,23,25)

Very few complete DO s tud i e s have been made of Flor ida *

canals. Those s t u d i e s which are ava i lab le i nd i ca t e t h a t anaerobic

bottom condi t ions p reva i l . Many have condit ions s imi l a r to the

canals i n Escarabia Shores bu t to a s l i g h t l y lesser degree of

sever i ty . The r egu la r i t y of sumuer f i s h k i l l s i n tbese and otber

cana ls where f i sh do e x i s t is additional c~Ldence that

anaerobic condi t ions are c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of upland canals. (~onrren~m)

This i s supported by a United S t a t e s Geological Survey

r e p o r t on t h e water q u a l i t y i n ~ r o w a r d County, F l o r i d a , by

Rodney G. Grantham and C. B. Sherwood (1968), which s t a t e s :

"When t h e d i s so lved oxygen becomes very low, t h e r e a r e o f t e n problems of odor, f l o a t i n g s ludge , and k i l l i n g of f i s h and a q u a t i c l i f e . I t is genera l ly e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t 5 ppm disso lved oxygen i s "necessary t o suppor t f i s h l i f e . I n extreme cases when t h e d i s so lved oxygen is t o t a l l y dep le ted , t h e r e i s no s e l f - p u r i f i c a t i o n of t h e water and a s e p t i c cond i t ion develops." ( 4 4 ) (Emphasis added)

A few examples f o r which d a t a are a v a i l a b l e are:

Every known cana l , both primary and secondary, i n both

Dade and Broward coun t i e s i s anaerobic at one t i m e o r another ,

and f i s h k i l l s are a r e g u l a r occurrence i n many. (28,29,30,31,32,75(

The K i s s i m m e e Cana1,C-38, which has an average depth of

25 t o 30 f e e t , is anaerobic o r near anaerobic below depths of

approximately 1 0 f e e t and t h e lower two-thirds of depth w i l l n o t

support d e s i r a b l e spec ies of f i s h . There is l i t t l e flow due t o

impoundments and DO l e v e l s drop from roughly 3.0 t o 3.5 ppm

at 10 feet, t o less than 1 p p a t t h e bottom. (35)

Recurrent f i s h k i l l s i n Palm Beach County upland c a n a l s ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y i n the v i c i n i t y of Palm Beach Gardens and t h e P.G.A.

G o l f Course, are an i n d i c a t i o n of anaerobic condi t ions . (36)

Dissolved oxygen p r o f i l e s of Marco I s l and cana l s show

anaerobic and near anaerobic conditons i n lower l a y e r s o f

water. (531

Fish k i l l s occur s o r e g u l a r l y i n P o r t Char lo t t e cana l s

t h a t Game and Fresh Water F ish Commission personnel no longer

bother t o i n v e s t i g a t e them. (38,39)

Addit ional f i s h k i l l s i n cana l s a r e repor ted by f i e l d

i n v e s t i g a t o r s throughout t h e s t a t e and t h e unanimous opinion

of these and o t h e r exper t s i s t h a t a lack of adequate d isso lved . -

oxygen due t o an accumulation of organic m a t e r i a l i s a chronic

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of cana l s i n F lor ida . (Consensus)

This s tagnant condi t ion o f canal water magnifies t h e

adverse e f f e c t s from p o l l u t i o n , a c c e l e r a t e s eu t roph ica t ion

and l eads t o degeneration i n t o s e p t i c condi t ions which can

endanger t h e h e a l t h of both animals and humans.

The f a c t t h a t g r e a t e r numbers of f i s h are n o t k i l l e d

i n p r i v a t e water f ront cana l s , and t h a t some of t h e very o l d

cana l s do no t experience f i s h k i l l s , is a t t r i b u t e d t o water

of such poor q u a l i t y t h a t few f i s h are a t t r a c t e d t o t h e s e

areas. (Consensus)

2. Dissolved Oxygen

Per Bruun of the Universi ty of F l o r i d a Coas ta l Engineer-

ing Laboratory i n "Bay-Fills and Bulkhead Lines," 1959,

d e f i n e s a "s tagnant pocket" a s a body of water having no adequate

exchange with adjacent bodies of c l ean water. Bruun states t h a t

"dead-water" pockets have l i t t l e o r no f r e e oxygen, o f t e n have

an o f fens ive odor, and c o l l e c t a l l kinds of d e b r i s . H e goes on

to may t h a t deeper pockets a r e more ob jec t ionab le and genera te

more odor than shallow pockets.

D r . Bruun was r e f e r r i n g t o f i n g e r - f i l l cana l s i n

e s t u a r i e s ; however, t h e un iversa l lack of c i r c u l a t i o n which

is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of F lo r ida ' s upland canals conver ts t he se

waterways i n t o elongated "stagnant pockets." The ques t ion

of an adequate supply of free oxygen i n these cana l s is a

sub j ec t of some controversy between represen ta t ives of

developers and pub l ic o f f i c i a l s because of t h e wording of

FXorida's laws governing t h e spec i f i c a t i ons f o r water qua l i t y .

Chapter 17-3 of F lo r ida ' s Administrative Code s p e c i f i e d

t h e c r i t e r i a f o r DO f o r both Class I1 ( s h e l l f i s h ha rves t ing)

and Class I11 ( rec rea t ion , f i s h and w i l d l i f e ) water as follows:.

" ( 5 ) Dissolved Oxygen--shall no t be a r t i f i c i a l l y depressed below t h e values of four (4.0) ppm (unless background information ava i l ab l e t o t h e f - - regula tory agency i nd i ca t e s p r i o r ex i s tence under unpolluted condi t ions of lower values.) I n such cases , lower l i m i t s may be u t i l i z e d a f t e r approval by t h e regula tory author i ty ." (47)

However, the law does no t speci fy a t what depth, o r depths,

o r t i m e s , DO measurements s h a l l be taken and some r e p o r t s which

.conclude t h a t adequate d issc lved oxygen condi t ions e x i s t a r e

based upon samples taken only from sur face waters under optimum

condit ions. Such measurements do not r e f l e c t t h e t r u e q u a l i t y

of the water and can be extremely misleading.

I n some states, where procedures have been set, t h e

accepted approach is t h a t DO measurements be taken 5 f e e t o f f

t h e bottom i n cana l s 1 0 f e e t o r more i n depth o r , i n cana l s less

than 10 f e e t deep, taken from a depth halfway t o the bottom. A

more accura te tes t of water qua l i t y , e spec ia l ly i n s t r a t i f i e d

waters , should show DO p r o f i l e s a t varia: , i depths from the

surface t o the bottom.

An example of dissolved oxygen variations at different

depths is shown in a 1971 report on water quality in an environ-

mental study of Punta Gorda Isles canals by Connell Associates,

Inc. "The data collected on September 21 and 22 show a marked

decrease in dissolved oxygen below 4 feet at each station."

Dissolved oxygen test charts accompanying the report indicate

anaerobic conditions at the bottom of most of the canal test

sites, although adequate DO was shown at the surface in the

majority of cases.

B. Effects of Excessive Depths

1. Stagnation and Anaerobic Conditions

The stagnation and anaerobic conditions common to finger-

fill canals are primarily attributed to excessive depths and

box-cut configuration of the excavations. These factors also

contribute to the deterioration of water quality in upland

canals. Often the primary objective of canal-type development

is to obtain fill material for building up lowland properties.

The need for material often leatis to excavating canals to depths

greater than 'is necessary for small boat navigation and similar

uses. (Consensus) Also, in upland canals, the problems created

by excessive depths are compounded by other factors.

2. Temperature Stratification

Temperature stratification is apparently a phenomenon

primarily associated with saltwater canals of excessive depth

,and inadequate circulation. At present, no evidence is available

of similar conditions existing in Florida's freshwater canals

and anaerobic conditions prevailing in t ' - .>ie waterways is due to

other causes.

C. Odors - Many of t he complaints received by publ ic agencies from

owners of property on upland canals a r e of fou l odors emanating

from those canals . me odors are usually associated wi th

de t e r io ra t i ng water q u a l i t y accompanied by decaying vegetat ion,

accumulated d e t r i t u s , f l o a t i n g a l g a l scums and dead f i s h .

Hydrogen sul f idegas and o ther odor-causing d e t r i t u s accumulated

on canal bottoms may be s t i r r e d and brought t o the sur face by

t h e ac t ion of boat p rope l le r s o r turbulence from wind condi t ions ,

re leas ing fou l odors which spread t o surrounding communities.

(Consensus )

I n numerous canal communities, of fensive odors convert

canalf ront property i n t o a detr iment r a t h e r than an a s s e t . , *

f - (Consensus) The e f f e c t of such odors on property values has

not been evaluated.

D. Stagnation from Inadequate c i r c u l a t i o n

The problems of adequate c i r c u l a t i o n i n upland canals

which a r e some d i s tance from receiving waters are more acute

than those ~f f i n g e r - f i l l canals . I n coas t a l areas , t h e prime

mechanism f o r water exchange is produced by t i d a l e f f e c t s . In

Flor ida , t he t i d a l range va r i e s from a few inches t o a maximum

of only about 3 f e e t . This is not conducive to good f lush ing

because much of t h e same water ca r r i ed seaward on the ebb t i d e

may be returned on the following f lood t i d e . The d i s tance of a

upland canals from the coas t l i ne f u r t h e r reduces any e f f e c t of "

t i d a l ac t ion , c rea t ing almost s tagnant conditions. (17,19,24,28, 1 - ,

" a

29,30,31,32,33,34,65,82) This is t r u e not only of deadend canals; L 2

interconnected systems and flood cont ro l channels e x h i b i t the

same c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s with a lesser degree of s eve r i t y ,

In land, f reshwater cana l systems which a r e n o t a f fec ted

by t i d a l a c t i o n d e r i v e c i r c u l a t i o n e n t i r e l y from g r a v i t y flow

due t o d i f f e r e n c e s i n e l e v a t i o n o r seasonal d i f f e r e n c e s due t~

r a i n f a l l . The low p r o f i l e and f l a t na tu re of F l o r i d a ' s t e r r a i n

precludes t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of good g r a v i t y c i r c u l a t i o n i n most

of t h e s t a t e , I n some areas, t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n e l e v a t i o n is

only a f e w inches per m i l e , and few regions provide e l e v a t i o n

d i f fe rences of more than a f o o t p e r m i l e . (U.S. ~ e o l o g i c a l

Survey) Thus, shallow, freshwater c a n a l s a l s o have s lugg i sh o r

s ta t ic flow condi t ions .

That p r a c t i c a l l y a l l o f F l o r i d a ' s c a n a l s a r e plagued

with inadequate c i r c u l a t i o n and f lush ing has been obta ined from

f i e l d i n v e s t i g a t o r s a*d b i o l o g i s t s with t h e Department of

P o l l u t i o n Control and t h e Game and Fresh Water F i sh Comiss ion ,

The consensus of t h e s e , and o t h e r e x p e r t s , i s t h a t few of

F l o r i d a ' s p r i v a t e water f ront cana l systems provide s u f f i c i e n t

c i r c u l a t i o n t o 'obtain adequate f lush ing . (Consensus )

Addit ional evidence, repor ted by a g e n t s ' i n every reg ion

and almost every county i n the state, is t h a t t h e bottoms o f

canal systems i n F l o r i d a kave an accumulation of organic s e a i a e n t

and d e t r i t u s . I n o l d e r cana l s , t h i s s ludge i s s e v e r a l feet

t h i c k , o f t e n f i l l i n g t h e canal t o wi th in a few f e e t of t h e

su r face , sometimes completely d i s p l a c i n g t h e water and render ing

the waterway unusable. (Consensus)

A Dade County Depsrtment of P o l l u t i o n Control i n v e s t i g a t i o n

d iec losed t h a t i n cana l s ad jacen t t o o u t f a l l s , d e p o s i t s of sewage

sludge have acctnaulated t o depths 10 ? I : A E f e e t t h i c k , of mn

within a few inches of the water surface. (30r31,32) (See

Appendix B) Even the release of tremendous volumes of storm-

water by the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District

(FCD) does not create sufficient current to displace this sludge,

while these discharges create other deleterious environmental effects.

At other times, the water in FCD channels is virtually static.

(28,29,30,31,32,35) Objects placed in a tributary canal 500 yards

from the New River require three complete tidal changes in order

to move this short distance. (33) Water near the bottom experi-

A ences even less circulation from this combination of wind and

tidal currents. (12,20) f 1

Sewage sludge studies underway in Broward County canals

were not completed at the time of this investigation, but Mr. R. T.

Willcox,President of' the New River Civic Association, states that

a Harbor Patrol boat went agrclund on sewage sludge accumulated

in the New River.

Some hydrologists and coastal engineers maintain that

adequate.circu1ation in certain t.ypela of canals in specific areas

can be obtained by designs whicr. follow detailed advance mathe-

matical calculations. However, 00 such systems are known to exist in * -

Florida and a characteristic which is virtually~universal in <

present box-cut canals, both finger-fill and upland, is poor

circulation and inadequate flushing. (Consensus) , - >

E. Aquatic Weeds

The explosive growths of aquatic weeds which plague many

of Florida's waterways are usually accompanied by overenrichment

of the water by manmade sources of pollution. (Consensus) The

growth of vegetation in water utilizes nutrients and releases

oxygen in much the same manner as vegetation on land. An over-

abundance of nutrients stimulates an unnaturally lush growth of

vegetation, This is especially characteristic of exotic weeds

which are controlled by few, if any, native forms of wildlife,

and which compete successfully under these artificial conditions

with desirable native plant species.

Because of the polluted condition characteristic of

canals, these simplified systems are extremely vulnerable to

heavy infestations of one or a few species of aquatic weeds.

This is supported by reports from regulatory agency investigators

and other experts which indicate that virtually all fresh

water canals in Florida are subject to infestation by such heavy

growths of weeds that use of vhe waterways for navigation,

fishing, flood control, or other purposes is virtually impossible

until the weeds are removed. (Consensus)

Studies of the Oklawaha River also indicate that some

of Florida's natural rivers are more resistant to noxious aquatic

weeds than artificial canals. Dr. David S. Anthony, a University

of Florida biochemist, states:

"The established ~o~tmunities of potentially noxious exotic aquatic weeds in the lower Oklawaha River are associated with artificial . canals or impoundments. These canals have been excavated by individuals as access channels for upland property. The natural river system is resistant to invasion by objectionable exotic w e d s . This is particularly true of submersed exotics which, to my knowledge, are not established in objectionable quantities in any portion of the natural river," (50)

Canals are suspected t o be sources of noxious weed

i n f e s t a t i o n s which spread t o ad jacen t waters . (39146)

Submersed aqua t i c s which invaded t h e Bu t l e r chain of l a k e s

were suspected of spreading from ad jo in ing cana l s . Boat

t r a f f i c i s a major means by which t h e weeds are t r anspor ted

from one a r e a t o another . ( 4 6 ) Also, many l akes , such a s

Crooked Lake and Lake Tarpon, remain r e l a t i v e l y f r e e from weed

problems while surrounding cana l s a r e heavi ly i n f e s t e d . (39)

The accepted method of a q u a t i c weed c o n t r o l i s by t h e

use of he rb ic ides i n concent ra t ions s t r o n g enough t o k i l l t h e

weeds. Although many of t h e s e chemicals are l e t h a l t o f i s h

and o t h e r a q u a t i c l i f e , it is claimed t h a t t h e i r use under

c o n t r o l l e d cond i t ions by s k i l l e d e x p e r t s does no permanent

harm, according t o Robert D. Blackburn, USDA. However.

under c e r t a i n cond i t ions , he rb ic ides s t rong enough t o k i l l t h e

weeds w i l l a l s o cause f i s h k i l l s . The q u a n t i t y of chemicals

recommended f o r waterwead problems i n P o r t Char lo t t e c a n a l s i s

an example.

A r e q u e s t d i r e c t e d t o t h e Aquatic P l a n t Research and

Contro l Coordinator of t h e Department of Natural Resources,

s t a t e d t h a t t h e c a n a l s were i n f e s t e d with broadleaf water-

mi1foi l ' " f rom bank t o bank and almost bottom t o top." permission

was reques ted t o use copper s u l f a t e and 2,4-D amine i n

q u a n t i t i e s and methods recommended by M r . Blackburn.

I t w a s admit ted t h a t t h e concen t ra t ions of copper compounds

reconrmended would cauae a f i s h k i l l b u t it w a s claimed t h a t lower

concen t ra t ions would n o t e a t i u f a c t o r i l y c o n t r o l the watermil-

f o i l . (52)

The water in Port Charlotte canals is used for domestic

supplies but the request contained calculations indicating that

the copper and amine in the herbicides would not reach the water

treatment plant in quantities sufficient to be a hazard. ( 5 2 )

Many of the fish kills which occur regularly in fresh

water canal systems are attributed to the effects from herbicides

and decomposing vegetation. (13,28,30,36,38,39,51,65) Weeds killed

by chemicals sink to the bottom where they decompose, adding to

the oxygen-demanding wastes accumulated in canal sediments. In

additin? to their toxic properties, the chemicals applied in

weed control are also oxygen-demanding materials. Thus, chemical

.control of aquatic weeds eliminates the benefits of nutrient

removal and oxygen production from growing vegetation and sub-

stitutes an additional load of oxygen-demanding material. The

result is a reduction of dissolved oxygen throughcrut the water

column and the fish suffocate. (Consensus)

Chemical weed control., when combined with the stagnant

condition, low dissolved oxygen and heavy pollutional load '

characteristic of canals, causes a rapid acceleration of

eutrophication, chronic fish kills, the accumulation of algal

scums, offensive odors and eventual degeneration into septic

conditions. (Consensus )

111. SOURCES OF POLLUTION - ALL CANALS A. Urban Storm Water Runoff

Storm waters from residential communities are normally

collected in street drains, storm sewers and drainage ditches

and channeled into receiving waters. In private developments

having canals, waterways replace some of the streets and serve

as convenient receptacles for all manner of pollutants. These

include insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and animal

excrement washed from lawns, gardens, parks and parkways; oil,

grease and other materials derived from automobiles, service

stations, garages and junk yards; chemical products from auto

washing, laundries and similar activities; and garbage, refuse,

and trash washed or thrown into the waterway. All of these

pollutants accumulate in the canals to decompose eventually

under anaerobic conditions. (Consensus)

Dr. Luna B. Leopold in Geological Survey Circular #554

(1968) states:

"Of all land-use changes affecting the hydrology of an area, urbanization is by far the most forceful. I'

His studies show that in residential areas with homes on 6,000

square foot lots, runoff volume is 80 percent. In areas with lot

sizes from 6,000 to 15,000 square feet, runoff decreases to

40 percent. Where lot sizes are 15,000 square feet or more,

runoff is only 25 percent. (21)

That storm water runoff from residential areas is a

major source of water pollution is often overlooked. Studies . - - -

show that this water often contains concentrations of organic '

-

and toxic material comparable to that of raw domestic sewage.

1. Nutrients

In an attempt to prevent aquatic vegetation from inter-

fering with recreational use of Green Lake, located near a

residential section of Seattle, Washington, investigators found

that stormwater runoff in street gutters contained such high

concentrations of pollutants they reportedly recommended dis-

continuance of most stormwater drainage into the lake, and

the addition of 10,000 gallons per day of city water supply to

the lake to prevent overenrichment. (40)

Field studies of a 27-acre residential and light com-

mercial urban watershed in Cincinnati started in 1962, showed

that stormwater was a "highly significant" pollutant. In the

conclusion, the authors state:

"Constituent loads...calculated both on an annual basis and cln the basis of daily discharges during storms, and compared with sanitary sewage production at a 9-person acre...population density, indicated that the ,3ounds (kg) of suspended solids discharged annually in the runoff equal 160 percent of those produced as sanitary sewage; COD, 33 per- cent; BOD, 7 percent; total hydrolyzable phosphate, 5 percent; and total nitrogen, 14 percent. During runoff; stormwater runoff constituent discharge rates, expressed as percentages of average raw sewage constituent production rates,..at the same population density mentioned aboire, are: suspended solids, 2,400 percent; COD, 520 percent; BOD, 110 percent; total hydrolyzable phosphate, 70 percent; and total nitrogen, 200 percent." (40) (Emphasis added)

2. Bacterial Contamination

Florida statutes governing the bacteriological criteria

for Class 111 waters state:

"Coliform group not to exceed 1,000 per 100 as a monthly average, (either MPN or 14F count.?: : nor to exceed this number in more than 20% of the samples examined during any month; nor exceed 2,400 per 100 m1 (MPN or MF count? on any day. This criteria shall apply only to waters used for body contact activities. " (4 7 )

Colifonn b a c t e r i a counts exceeded 460,000 per 100 m l 1:

i n 10 percent of the samples of the Cincinnat i s tudy and w e r e

i n excess of 2,900 per 100 m l i n 90 percent of t h e samples. The

presence of both f e c a l colifo- and f e c a l s t r ep tococc i demon-

. s t r a t e d microorganisms derived from warm-blooded animals,

e i t h e r ariimal o r man. (40)

In another s tudy, a s i n g l e stormwater sample y ie lded

Salmonella thompson (pathogenic t o man):

Tota l coliforms of 3,800,000 per 100 m l

Fecal col iforms of 450,000 per 100 m l

Fecal s t r ep tococc i of 370,000 per 100 m l

T e s t s showed t h a t ch lo r ina t ion with f r e e ch lo r ine is

no assurance t h a t v i r t u a l l y a l l col i form and pathogens w i l l

be el iminated. Despite high ch lo r ine t reatment , " t o t a l coliforms

experienced aftergrowth." (42 )

The i nves t i ga to r s s t a t e d t h a t such concentrat ions of

po l l u t an t s a r e no t acceptable t o n a t u r a l bodies of water, such

a s free-flowing r i v e r s and .3treams used f o r r ec r ea t i on o r higher

uses. I n s t agnan t canal waters which do no t have t h e bene f i t

of normal ae rob ic s t a b i l i z a t i o n , these po l l u t an t s accumulate and

decompose under anaerobic condi t ions , and their effect i s f a r

more severe than i n n a t u r a l waterways. (consensus)

B. Sep t ic Tanks

More than ha l f of F lo r ida ' s canal-type developments

u t i l i z e s e p t i c tanks f o r municipal sewage disposal . (Consensus)

I n many a r ea s , s o i l condi t ions o r population dens i ty reduce the

e f f i c i ency of s e p t i c tanks t o the po in t where unt rea ted eewage

is leached i n t o t h e waternay., y e t many count ies s t i l l permit

t h e i r i n s t a l l a t i o n i n new developmente. (Consensus)

A land-use planning study of the Flor ida Keys s t a t e s

t h a t none of the s o i l i n Monroe County is s u i t a b l e f o r s e p t i c

tanks. A high w a t e r table combined with extremely porous s o i l

n u l l i f i e s the f i l t e r i n g capacity and v i r t u a l l y raw, sewage is

leached i n t o t h e waterways. Approximately 90 percent of the

Keys u t i l i z e s e p t i c tanks, many of which d ra in i n t o canals . (43 ) \

The s o i l i n recharge areas of the Biscayne Aquifer i n

South Flor ida is described by the U. S. Geological Survey a s

"about a s porous a s loose graveln and the water t a b l e is so

high t h a t the re is a f r e e exchange between w a t e r i n the canals

and the aquifer . ( 4 4 ) Y e t over 50 percent of Dade and Broward

counties a r e on s e p t i c tanks and a federa l - s ta te po l lu t ion

conference i n December 1971, disclosed t h a t Dade comis s ione r s

continue t o permit s e p t i c tank i n s t a l l a t i o n s i n new develop-

ments. (45) Broward County is reported t o have approximately

80,000 s e p t i c tanks, many of them serving canal-front homes

and o ther buildings. The Stranahan High School, with 3,166

s tudents , u t i l i z e s s e p t i c tanks f o r sewage disposal , as .do

t h e Broward Education Departmen.\ building and the Pol ice Depart-

ment building, a l l of which aro adjacent t o the New River Canal

or its t r i b u t a r i e s . (33)

U. S. Geological Survey da t a showed t h a t s imi l a r porous

s o i l condit ions e x i s t i n many a reas of Flor ida , p a r t i c u l a r l y

along the coas t a l p l a in s where underground water t ab l e s are

usual ly very high. The consensus among exper ts contr ibut ing to

t h i s inves t iga t ion i s t h a t a subs t an t i a l proportion of the

po l lu t ion reaching canal waters can be a t t r i b u t e d t o s e p t i c

tank i n s t a l l a t i o n , (Consensus)

These opinions a r e subs tan t i a ted by o the r s t ud i e s .

W e L. Mallmann and W. N. Mack (1961) repor tedly showed t h a t

b a c t e r i a introduced i n t o a permeable s o i l by a s e p t i c tank

seepage f i e l d moved 10 f e e t i n 2 days, 20 f e e t i n 3 days, and

appeared i n a w e l l 30 f e e t away a f t e r 10 days. (21 )

D r . Leopold s t a t e s :

"The observat ions i nd i ca t e t h a t , f o r s o i l c leansing t o be e f f e c t i v e , contaminated water must move through unsaturated s o i l a t l e a s t 100 f ee t . . . . I t would s e e m prudent t h a t no s e p t i c tank should be a s c lo se t o a channel a s about 300 fee t , , i f p ro tec t ion of the stream water q u a l i t y i s t o be achieved.

"Even t h i s minimum setback does not prevent t h e d issolved mate r ia l s ( n i t r a t e s , phosphates, ch lo r ides ) from enriching t h e stream water and thus p o t e n t i a l l y encouraging t h e p ro l i f e r a - t i o n of a lgae and otherwise c r ea t i ng a b i o t i c imbalance." (21 )

An add i t i ona l hazazd from s e p t i c tanks i n a r ea s with

high underground w a t e r t a b l e s is the danger of overflow

dur ing per iods of t o r r e n t i a l r a ins . (43)

C. Sewage Treatment P l an t Ef f luen t

Canals provide a c o n ~ s n i e n t d i sposa l s i te f o r domestic

sewage e f f l u e n t , both t r e a t e d and unt rea ted , and a r e used widely

f o r t h i s purpose throughout Flor ida . (Consensus)

Due t o a lack of adequate publ ic sewage f a c i l i t i e s

provided by e i t h e r count ies o r c i t i e s , t h e t r end i n many newly

developed communities has h e n toward a p r o l i f e r a t i o n of small

privately-owned and operated treatment f a c i l i t i e s and t h e so-

c a l l e d "package" p l an t s . (45) These small systems, a s well:

as l a r g e r municipal systems, tend t o become overloaded a s com-

mun i t i e s expand, with t h e r e s u l t t h a t inadequately t r e a t e d

. . effluent is often discharged into canal systems. (Consensus)

The proper operation and maintenance of a aewage treatment - .

system requires a trained technician which small, privately-

owned plants rarely can afford to hire. The proliferation

of these plants makes adequate supervision by enforcement

agencies extremely difeicult. (Consensus) Enforcement

problems combined with a well-publicized lack of adequately - .

trained treatment plant operators are additional factors con-

tributing to the discharge of poorly-treated sewage into canals.

Chapter 17-3.04 of the Florida Administrative Code required

that all discharges from municipal and privately-owned domestic

waste plants receive 90% treatment (secondary) or better not

later than January 1, 1973. This law does not prohibit the

discharge of sewage effluent into any public body of water but

gives discretionary power to the regulatory agency to impose

more stringent standards of treatment where required in order

to maintain water quality standards. (47)

The "schoolbookn solution to abatement is to start from

the point of discharge and work back in order to determine the

required degree of treatment. For some of Florida's receiving

waters,this method would require 100% treatment. ( 4 5 )

Secondary treatment removes most of the organic material

and bacteria from domestic sewage but does not remove dissolved

contaminents such as phosphates, nitrates and other chemicals.

These are oxygen-demanding materials which, when discharged into

canals which are already oxygen deficient, contribute significantly

to the degradation of water quality. Teats show that bottom

sediments i n anaerobic finger canals contain many ti.aPs =re

phosphates, n i t r a t e s and similar nutrients than surrounding

bottom areas. (16,48)

The present trend by regulatory agencies i n new develop-

ren t s is toward pethods of containing sewage ef f luent ra thet than

discharging in to receiving waters. This is achieved by oxidation

ponds (spray i r r iga t ion) and evaporation-percolation ponds i n

which a combination of ground percolation and evaporation removes

a l l eff luent , leaving vi r tua l ly no discharge. Hawever, t h i s

is not a set policy but. is a discretionary judgnent of the

r e g u l a t ~ r y agencies based upon an evaluation of each individual

s i tuat ion, (45) Existing privately-owned doarestic w a s t e

treatPent plants w i l l continue t o discharge i n t o canals u n t i l

replaced by larger municipal f a c i l i t i e s - (45,46,75)

It is reasonablt! t o ass- t ha t under present policy and

laws, additional small, privately-owned sewage treatment

f a c i l i t i e s w i l l i n so- cases be authorized t o discharge ef f luent

i n to canal systems. It is a l so reasonable to expect continuing

problems from overloaded and inadequately treated sewage due t o

a lack of trained operators and enforcement problems.

Do Boats and Houseboats

In addition to the usual pollution problems associated

w i t h boats, such as discharges of gasoline, o i l , b i lge water,

garbage, refuse artd similar materials, arany of the larger canals

are u t i l i zed by l ive -Ward vessels which present problems of

sewage disposal. The usual practice fo r a l l boats is to discharge

sewage and other w a s t e s d i rec t ly i n to thr% rater, In coastal

areas, 1 i v e - m veaaela are frequently docked i n canals and

used as residences, especially during the winter tourist season,

and these contribute a significant quantity of pollutants to

canal waters. (28,29,49)

E. Ganal - Water Quality

Dr. Landon T. Ross, Regional Biologist, Florida Depart-

ment of Pollution Control, in a memorandum of July 1, 1971,

said :

"It has been hypothesized that up-land dead end canals will result in a future lowering of water quality because of 1) an increased amount of avail- able nutrients because of an increased residential density in the immediate area, and 2) an increased rate of flow of nutrients into the body of water because of the destruction of natural shoreline "nutrient traps" (i.e., mangroves and other near- shore vegetation). Because of a low rate of water exchange in dead end canals, these nutrients may be expected to accumulate until, eventually, an uncon- trolled amount of plant growth will occur. Such plant growth, in the form of algal blooms, will result in oxygen depletion and fish kills. .Dead fish cause additional strain on the available oxygen levels of the system, as we!-1 as providing higher nutrient levels. Once this stage .is reached, positive feed- back is operative, anti remedial measures seem to be either drastic or of little value.

"The situation descr~bed above can be immediately recognized as being equivalent to natural aging or eutrophication in any body of water. The - rate of eutrophication, howevez, seems to be much greater in dead end canals than in natural bodies of water. In a closed system, the rate of eutrophication can be more or less directly correlated with the ratio: nutrient input/water volume. If the body of water in question is surrounded by residential areas, nutrient input may be correlated with population density or with length of shoreline. Using the ratio shoreline

- length/water volume it may readily be seen why artificial canal systems are likely to have a rate of eutrophication several orders of magnitude higher than natural bodies of water." (77)

-34-

F. pH as an Indication of Water Quality

An example of the change in water quality in a single

canal may be determined by pH data. Tests taken of canals

by James W. Carr, Regional Biologist, Department of Pollution

Control, Jacksonville, showed that dead end finger canals

changed up to over 100-fold in hydrogen-ion concentration.

Carr explained the significance of this change in pH:

"Although a change in pH values of 0.162 appears insignificant, it is noteworthy to mention that even a small decrease or increase in pH values means a considerable rise or fall in hydrogen-ion concen- tration. For example, a rise or fall in pH value by 0.1 roughly means a 100% decrease or increase respectively in hydrogen-ion concentration. A change of one unit on the pH scale indicates a tenfold or 1000% change in hydrogen-ion concentration. The chemical reactions necessary for self purification by streams and the biochemical reactions of organisms only take place pt a certain pH value or within a narrow pH range, depending upon the specific reaction. Discharging of artificial canal waters increases the "buffer loads" on these natural waters slowly degrading the water quality, Organisms must be able to survive as much as a hundredfold hydrogen-ion change within distances of five hundred' feet.

"Increased nutrient.loading of the artificial canals by concentrating surface water run off and septic tank drainage combined with intense sunlight increasing photosynthesis can lead to alkaline conditions in a stream due to removal. of carbon dioxide by green plants. When the dissolved oxygen concentration approaches 150% of saturation, fish develop maxillary diseases and dropsy. With the development of 'algae blooms' the dissolved oxygen is utilized by the respiratory energy cycles producing an increased carbon dioxide levels above normal. At high concentrations of carbon dioxide the ability of fish to extract oxygen from the water is impaired. The accumulative effects of rapid pH changes, increased carbon dioxide concentrations, and decreased dissolved oxygen concentrations, 3.0 ppm or below, produce the fish kills so common in these artificial canals. " (66 )

IV* EFFECTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

The human heal th hazards associa ted with water po l lu t ion

i n Flor ida are normally judged by the number of col iform bac t e r i a

present. High d e n s i t i e s of coliforms are an ind ica t ion of f e c a l

contamination, e i t h e r human o r animal, which can cause se r ious

in fec t ions or diseases i n man. These diseases may be contracted

by ingest ing small amounts of pol lu ted water while swimming o r

bath'ing; or f r o m touching t h e mouth while hands are w e t with

contaminated w a t e r ; or from ingest ing food handled with w e t

hands. Infect ions may be caused from water i n open wounds or

body openings. Skin in fec t ions can a l s o be acquired from con-

tact with se r ious ly pol lu ted w a t e r .

Bacteria i n f i s h are usually destroyed by cooking.

However, in fec t ions can be incurred from handling o r cleaning

contaminated f i s h before they a r e cooked.

Florida Administrative Code 17-3.09 def ines C l a s s I11 waters a::,

"...waters t o be used f o r rec rea t iona l purposes, including such

body contact a c t i v i t i e s a s swimming and w a t e r sk i ing; and f o r

the maintenance of a well-balanced f i s h and w i l d l i f e population."

Most of F lor ida ' s inland w s r e r s , including a r t i f i c i a l waterf ront

canal systems, a r e designated a s Class 111, and thus coliform

- . bac te r ia counts t h a t exceed 2,400 per 100 m l on any day a r e i n

v io la t ion of federa l ly approved Flor ida S t a t u t e s as unsafe for r -

body contact . * "

Class I1 waters ( s h e l l f i s h harvest ing) under Flor ida

S t a t u t e s have m o r e s t r i n g e n t bac te r io log ica l criteria than I .

* " C l a s s 111, and coas t a l canals a f f e c t the w a t e r q u a l i t y of

L " e s t u a r i e s where s h e l l f i s h are normally harvested.

The consensus of sources contacted i n t h i s invest igat ion

waa t h a t the heavy pol lut ional load, inadequate c i rcu la t ion ,

and generally poor w a t e r qua l i ty which a r e cha rac te r i s t i c of

box-cut labyrinthine canal systems lead alraost inevi tably to

contamination from feca l bacteria.

Few reports a r e avai lable of complete bacterial s tudies

i n a r t i f i c i a l canal waters but ex is t ing da ta tend to ve r i fy t h a t

a - l a r g e percentage of canals a r e unsafe f o r body contact because

of feca l contamination.

A. South Florida Canals

Woodrow W. Smith, Broward County pol lut ion control . of f i ce r , s t a t e s t h a t prac t ica l ly every canal i n Me county w i l l

exceed state standards f o r coliform contamination and, therefore,

a r e unsafe f o r body contact. (28,54) Data show extreme

f luctuat ions i n coliform densi t ies i n samples taken a t the same

location over a period of t i m e . I n the Sunrise Canal, samples

taken i n February 1969 showed coliform counts of only 45 per

1 0 0 / m l . In June 1970, the game location had counts of 3,200

per 100 m l , and i n January 1971, counts w e r e 150,000 per 100/ml.

Sample s ta t ion? i n locat ion on other canals show a s imilar wide

fluctuation, ranging from less than 100 per 100/ml t o w e l l above

dange~ous leve ls of 5,000 t o 10,000 per 100/ml. (54)

Extensive da ta on Dade County canals show ser ious f eca l

contamination and heal th problems throughout the system and

f i e l d inspectors state t h a t secondary canals pose m j o r

problemos i n mintenace and pollution. (30,751

-37-

J i m C. Eggert of D a d e County Pollution Control stated:

"Health problems can be expected i n many of Dade's waterways. O u r records show high HPN counts i n many waterways. Several lakes have received much publ ic i ty because of eutrophication. With idea l conditions some of the blue-green algae can become toxic t o animals. So f a r , there have been no records of human deaths. Reports of skin rash have been noted....Botulism, type C, is conanon i n Dade County. Many birds have been k i l l e d by t h i s toxin. Health problems occur with the occur- rence of dead f i s h apd animals i n public waterways.... Fish taken from Dade's canals at times appear t o be undesirable f o r eating. Proper cooking should eliminate any danger involved, although the taste may be somewhat unpleasant (muddy)," (30)

(The complete repor t of M r . Eggert dated October 13 ,

1971 on the condition of Dade County canals is attached as

Appendix C,

The heal th hazards from the buildup of sewage sludge i n

Dade County canals is obvious. In addit ion t o the coliform

dens i t ies i n these areas which range as high a s 500,000 t o

1,000,000 per 1 0 0 / m l , many of these sludge p i l e s are so close

t o the surface that submerged sewage could be touched by persons

reaching from a boat. (31,32,55)

Additional heal th hazards a r e indicated i n a report by

C. Morrissey e t al. of the Dade County Pollution Control . -- on conditions i n the Oleta River.

This repor t s t a t e s t h a t over 4 0 0 ,000 gallons of sludge

? . have been deposited on t h e bottom of the r i v e r over a dis tance I ,

of 1/3 mile. Bacteria counts of 160,000 o r more per 100 m l < - . . w e r e found downstream from the o u t f a l l , The odor of sewage i

! r , and hydrogen su l f ide gas was pronounced. Fecal sludge deposits - rn

L 2 on bank and sewage pop-ups i n water c rea te a d e f i n i t e heal th .

hazard. (55)

i r

That s imi l a r condit ions e x i s t i n p r a c t i c a l l y a l l of

the South Flor ida canals is v e r i f i e d by a FWQA r epor t "Pollut ion

of t he Waters of Dade County, F lor idaw (1970) ( 7 5 ) and by a

U.S. Geological Survey r e p o r t "Chemical Qual i ty of Water of Broward

County, " (1968) . Also, Frank Kleeman s t a t e d t h a t the dredging

of a canal system usually r e s u l t s i n an ecological d i s a s t e r

because canals c o l l e c t a l l of t he po l lu t iona l loads imposed by

concentrat ions of people. What s t a r t s o u t as a d e l i g h t f u l a s s e t

tu rns ou t t o be a detriment i n t h a t it ul t imately tu rns i n t o an

open sewer. The lower oxygen l eve l s cannot support many spec ies

of f i s h o r o the r marine l i fe , and so f i s h k i l l s occur with

r e s u l t a n t odors. Some canals have coliform counts ranging from

ha l f mi l l ion t o a mi l l ion per 100 m l . ( 2 9 )

B. Other Canals

Few da ta a r e r ead i ly ava i lab le on the ex ten t of

bac te r io log ica l contamination of canals i n o the r a reas but t h e

samplings t h a t have been made ind ica te t h a t fecal contamination

is f a r more prevalent i n canals than i n na tu ra l open bodies of

water. Data provided by t h e W e s t Central Region of t he Depart-

ment of Pol lut ion Control show t h a t f inger canals bordered by

residences have considerably higher b a c t e r i a l counts than

adjacent lakes. (48) Some of the f inge r canals bordering ,-

Lake Lowery had MPN coliforms a s high a s 30,000 and 35,000

per 100/ml. A number of t h e canals bordering o the r lakes also

had coliform counts which made them unsafe f o r body contact . . . - << /

The water of lakes bordered by these canals had very low coliform -

dens i t i e s . (48) . ,

Reports from field agents in the Southwest Region of

the Department of Pollution Control state that many canals show

"serious fecal colifarm densities." This is supported by

bacteriological data in canals of Punta Gorda Isles, Inc. which

show a substantial number with MPN coliform counts above

2,400 per 100/ml. Densities of 2,400 per 100/ml on any day

make such waters unfit for body contact by Florida statute. (48,561

C. Bottom Sediments

In addition to the bacteriological criteria established

for Class I11 waters, Florida Administrative Code 17-3.02

defines the minimum conditions for all waters as:

"17-3.02 Minimum conditions of all waters; times and places.

"The following ninimum conditions are applicable to all waters, at all places and at all times. Within the territorial lin.its of this state all such waters I

shall be free from:

"(1) Settleable Su.2stances -- substances attributable to municipal, industrial, agricultural, or other discharges that will settle to form putrescent or otherwise objectionab:.e sludge deposits.

"(2) Floating Substances -- floating debris, oil, scum, and other flozling materials attributable to , municipal, industrial,. agricultural, or other discharge in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or deleterious.

" (3) Deleterious Substances -- materials attributable to municipal, industrial, agricultural or other discharges producing color, odor, or other conditions in such degree as to create a nuisance.

"(4) Toxic Substances -- substances attributable to municipal, industriai, agricultural, or other discharges in concentrations or combinations which are toxic or harmful to humans, animal, plant, or aquatic life."

Accumulations of organic detritus and anaerobic conditions

which are characteristic of box-cut labyrinthine canals present

the probability that bottom sediments contain concentrations of

t o x i c m a t e r i a l s and pathogenic organisms which pose a hazard t o

human h e a l t h . B a c t e r i o l o g i c a l d a t a w e r e woefully l a c k i n g on

t h e s e sediments and it was considered impera t ive t h a t an e f f o r t

be made t o determine t h e p o t e n t i a l of t h i s hazard.

1. Study of C. ( G a s gangrene anaerobes and r e l a t e d forms)

I n a s e p a r a t e s tudy, t h e Environmental Information Center

made arrangements wi th D r . John Betz, a u n i v e r s i t y of South F l o r i d a

mic rob io log i s t , t o analyze samples taken from c a n a l s i n t h e Tampa

Bay a rea .

The method used was t h a t d e t a i l e d by: Marshal l , Robert S. ,

J. Frank Steenbergen and L. S. McClung (19651, Rapid Technique

f o r t h e Enumeration of Clos t r id ium per f r ingens , Applied Micro-

biology - 13 ( 4 ) : 559-563.

Since t h i s i s n o t a s tandard method and may n o t be f a m i l i a r ,

t o a l l persons who rev- t h i s r e p o r t , it should be explained

t h a t t h e methods used i n t h i n test would g i v e conse rva t ive

r e s u l t s , and any over r id ing e x o r would l e a d t o a low e s t i m a t e - of t h e t r u e b a c t e r i a l number, not a high count. Also, t h e

r e s u l t s r epor ted were the - lowes t count j u s t i f i e d by t h e d a t a . -- Thus, a r e p o r t o f 1,000 gas gangrene anaerobes could be a s h igh

a s 9,999--or even 99,000 i f s i n g l e cells w e r e counted r a t h e r than

clumps of cells.

The d a t a us ing t h e s e conse rva t ive methods and counts

show :

- 63% of a l l samples had co l i fo rm counts of 2,400 p e r 100/ml

o r g r e a t e r

- 45% of a l l samples had gangrene anaerobe counts over 1,000

pe r 100/ml

- 32% of a l l samples had both a co l i fo rm count o f over 2,400

per 100 m l and a gangrene anaerobe count o f over 1,000 p e r 100 m l .

I n s e v e r a l i n s t a n c e s , a number of samples w e r e taken from

d i f f e r e n t l o c a t i o n s i n t h e same c a n a l i n o r d e r t o compare cond i t ions

a t in land "dead ends" of c a n a l s with l o c a t i o n near t h e mouth.

When r e s u l t s a r e summarized on t h e basis of the number of

s e p a r a t e and d i s t i n c t bodies of water, a more meaningful

eva lua t ion of t h e degree of cana l p o l l u t i o n appears. On the

b a s i s of 4 1 s e p a r a t e c a n a l s and cana l systems, t h e r e s u l t s w e r e :

- A col i form count of 2,400 o r more i n 70% (29 of 4 1 )

- A gas gangrene count over 1,000 i n 56% (23 of 4 1 )

- High counts of both col i form and gangrene anaerobes i n 44% -

- E i t h e r high col i form o r a high gangrene anaerobe count i n -

2 . Conclusions

The p o t e n t i a l h e a l t h hazard posed by t h e g r o s s f e c a l

p o l l u t i o n i n bottom sediments shown i n t h i s test i s obvious.

Other b a c t e r i a p r e s e n t wi th t h e gangrene organism a r e

o f t e n o f equal v i ru lence . Gkngrene, t e t a n u s , s t r e p t o c o c c a l

o r s taphylococcal blood po?roning can be incur red from

un t rea ted c u t s . Gas t roen te r i - t i s (stomach and bowel upse t s )

can be caused by va r ious b a c t e r i a l t o x i n s such as from

Salmonella and Sh ige l l a . Ear and u r ina ry t ract i n f e c t i o n s can

be caused by Proteus , Pseudomonas and o t h e r s which are a complex

and l i t t l e understood specLrum of v i r u s d i s e a s e s . (57, Appendix C )

The cond i t ion of t h e cana l s which produced t h e s e r e s u l t s

is t y p i c a l of t h e o l d e r , box-cut canal systems throughout F l o r i d a ,

and it i s reasonable t o assume a similar s tudy of o t h e r c a n a l s

ad jo in ing expensive and o f t e n p r e s t i g i o u s proper ty would produce

similar r e s u l t s .

Data are n o t available on t h e inc idence of i n f e c t i o n and

i l l n e s s cau$ed from c o n t a c t with p o l l u t e d cana l waters . However,

a l o g i c a l assumption i s t h a t t h e uns igh t ly appearance and

o f fens ive odor of t h e s e waterways prevent people from u t i l i z i n g

them f o r body c o n t a c t a c t i v i t i e s . This i s supported by r e p o r t s

from f i e l d i n v e s t i g a t o r s t h a t i n many c a n a l s t h e boat docks and

landing f a c i l i t i e s are unused and i n d i s r e p a i r . Also, a number

of wa te r f ron t homes have even tua l ly e r e c t e d high walled fences

t o block t h e waters from view and to p r o t e c t c h i l d r e n and p e t s

from s t r a y i n g i n t o t h e wcter. (Consensus)

I t i s a l s o reasonable to assume t h a t t h e incidence of

i n f e c t i o n s and d i s e a s e s i s increased from c o n t a c t with con-

taminated w a t e r and d a t a provided through a coopera t ive program

w i t h t h e medical p ro fess ion would be use fu l .

V. EFFECT OF CANALS ON UNDERGROUND WATER SUPPLIES

The e f f e c t s of c a n a l s upon groundwater supp l i e s a r e w e l l

documented. The Governor's Conference on Water Management i n

South F lo r ida (1971) repor ted:

"There i s a water c r i s i s i n South F l o r i d a today. , . . The q u a n t i t y of water , though p o t e n t i a l l y adequate f o r today ' s demand, cannot now be managed e f f e c t i v e l y over wet/dry cyc les to a s s u r e a minimum adequate water supply i n extended drought per iods ."

The conference r e p o r t went on t o s t a t e :

"Water q u a l i t y i s a f a r graver problem i n t h e long run than i s water q u a n t i t y . The q u a l i t y of t h e water i n t h e South F l o r i d a water bas in is d e t e r i o r a t i n g . This d e t e r i o r a t i o n s t e m s from t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n i n t o t h e bas in of p e s t i c i d e s , herbicides. , animal and i n d u s t r i a l wastes , heavy m e t a l s , s a l t water , sewage and heated waters . Channel izat ion has contz ibuted s u b s t a n t i a l l y t o t h e process of d e t e r i o r a t i o n . " (Emphasis added)

One o f t h e recommendations o f t h e r e p o r t was:

"Consideration, a f t e r s tudy, of f i l l i n g i n c e r t a i n c a n a l s i n t h e South Dade County area t o improve ground water q u a l i t y .

The conference a l s o racommended t h a t t h e r e should be no

f u r t h e r d r a i n i n g of wetlands ;?or any purpose. ( 6 3 )

There i s no ques t ion t h a t p r i v a t e wa te r f ron t cana l systems

have had an e f f e c t on undergisund'water supp l i e s . The major i ty

o f these developments are loca ted on f lood p l a i n s ad jacen t to

r i v e r s and l a k e s o r on c o a s t a l lowlands where t h e ground water

t a b l e s are usua l ly very shallow. (Consensus) Often t h e primary

purpose o f t h e s e excavat ions i s t o o b t a i n inexpensive f i l l material

t o r a i s e t h e land above f l o o J l e v e l s and the cana l s become deep

i n c i s i o n s i n t o t h e shal low a q u i f e r , (consensus)

A United S t a t e s Geological Survey r e p o r t on t h e chemical

q u a l i t y o f waters of Broward County, by Rsdney G. Grantham and

C. B. Sherwood (1968), . i n d i c a t e s t h e e x t e n t t o which cana l s

a f f e c t ground water. They s t a t e t h a t t he re i s a f r e e exchange

of water between canals and the aqui fe r , and t h a t the f r e sh w a t e r

i n both f lood cont ro l canals and interconnected t r i b u t a r y canals

is ca l l ed a major na tu ra l resource.

"During the dry season inflow t o the canals is from inland areas where ground-water l e v e l s a r e higher than canal l eve l s , bu t i n coas t a l a reas con t ro l s a r e closed, canal l e v e l s a r e higher than ground-water l e v e l s and water general ly flows from the canals i n t o t h e aquifer . Thus the period when canals dre t h e primary supplemental source of replenishment t o ground-water suppl ies occurs when e f f l u e n t wastes in. the canals a r e m o s t concentrated." (Emphasis added)

"Water having pH values below 7 a r e ac id i c , and w a t e r having pH values above 7 a r e a lkal ine . . . .in unpolluted water, n i t r a t e usual ly does not exceed 10 ppm. ... Where both chlor ide and n i t r a t e concentrat ions are above normal f o r an a r ea t he p o s s i b i l i t y of contamination . by human or animal wastes should be investigated....Most people can detect a s a l t y t a s t e i n water when the chlor ide reaches 200-300 ppm. Water containing a s u l f a t e concentrat ion of about 250 ppm may have a l a x a t i v e e f f e c t on some people. "

Public w a t e r suppl ies i n Flor ida a r e required t o m e e t

U. S. Public Health Service standards f o r drinking w a t e r . However,

each publ ic water supply system provides i ts own water ana lys i s

t o t he Health Department. ( 4 4 ) . . -

Grantham and Sherwood reported t h a t ABS (detergents)

i n t he water of Broward County w e l l s was suspected of coming

from s e p t i c tanks i n t o t he canals. They a l so . reported t h a t

increas ing amounts of a r sen ic detected i n drinking water w e l l s

i n 1962 and 1965was suspected of o r ig ina t ing from.weed spraying

with herbic ides and/or from a q r i c u l t u r a l o r i n d u s t r i a l e f f l uen t s

- - released t o canals . High f luor ide concentrat ions w e r e found i n i . , t h e Pompano Canal, a high ch lor ide content i n the Hollywood . m a

. >

canal , and p e s t i c i d e s i n the P lan ta t ion and Snake Creek canals . ( 44 )

\ >

The investigators stated:

"The interchange between the aquifer and the canal system contributes to the contamination of the waters of Broward County. There has been, and will continue to be, problems of pollution and salt-water intrusion."

In view of the anaerobic conditions and generally poor

water quality characteristic of the box-cut canals, it is

reasonable to assume that similar problems wiU develop in all

areas where these systems are cut into fresh water aquifers.

A. Saltwater Intrusion

Saltwater intrusion into coastal water supplies is

caused by extensive drainage or pumping which lowers ground-

water levels. By lowering che freshwater head, a saltwater

wedge is permitted to move inland at depth in the aquifer. In

Dade County, saltwater encroachment has been most extensive

along canals. (64)

Less understood but equally important is that drainage

programs which lower inlafid warer tables can also cause salt-

water intrusion in coastal areas which are many miles away.

Cherry et al., in General Hydrology of the Middle Gulf Area -- of Florida, states:

"All streams, lakes, springs, sinks, and aquifers in the Middle Gulf are2 are part of a much larger complex hydrologic system.. ..Generally, factors that affect water levels in one of the components of the system will affect water levels in another component to some degree. . , " (18)

Many of F l o r i d a ' s r i v e r s and streams a r e f e d l a r g e l y by

ground water . An example i s C r y s t a l River which r e c e i v e s an

inf low of underground water . f rom a dra inage a r e a of 80 square

m i l e s . Seeps i n t h e many cana l s excavated i n t o l imestone

bedrock c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e flow of C r y s t a l River. Numerous

drainage cana l s and boat channels cons t ruc ted i n and near t h e

town of Homosassa Springs a r e a l s o c u t i n t o t h e a q u i f e r . Lakes

Hancock and Neff, connected t o t h e a q u i f e r by s inks,have been

g r e a t l y reduced i n s i z e and depth i n t h e l a s t few yea r s . ~ e f f

Lake has become e s s e n t i a l l y a w e t p r a i r i e . This i s due t o a

lowering of a q u i f e r water l e v e l s , e i t h e r from overpumping o r

dra inage by c a n a l s , o r both. (18)

Cherry e t a l . ( 1 9 7 0 ) s t a t e d : -- " I t can be foreseen t h a t , before many y e a r s have

passed, t h e c o a s t a l communities w i l l have outgrown t h e i r average annual l o c a l water crop and w i l l have t o look f o r o t h e r scurces , o r reuse t h e r e c y c l e (sic) e x i s t i n g s u p p l i e s on a v a s t s c a l e . " (18)

B, Deplet ion of Water Supp1:-es - The d e p l e t i o n of underground water s u p p l i e s by ex tens ive

c a n a l cons t ruc t ion i s s t r e s s e d i n repeated warnings by t h e

United S t a t e s Geological Survey and p r i v a t e hydro log i s t s and

g e o l o g i s t s . J. S. Rosenshein, S u b d i s t r i c t Chief , U.S.G.S.,

Tampa, F l o r i d a , s t a t e d ,

" I n t h e C r y s t a l River a r e a t h e l imestone a q u i f e r l ies c l o s e t o t h e land su r face and may be r e a d i l y breached during cons t ruc t ion of f i n g e r cana l s ; thereby, r e l e a s i n g s u b s t a n t i a l q u a n t i t i e s of w a t e r . . . .seeps occur i n many cana l s excavated i n t o t h e l imestone bedrock. 'I ( 5 8 )

A U. S. Geological Survey booklet, "~arge Springs of

Florida's Sun Coast (1970)," provides additional warnings. The

interdependence of underground and surface sources is indicated

by the fact that aquifer water levels fluctuate with the tide and

that the flow of springs is affected by tidal fluctuations. ( 5 9 )

Each foot of fresh water above sea level indica.tes 40 feet

of fresh water below sea level. Whenever fresh water levels at

the coast decline to or near sea level, sea water moves up

coastal streams and into the aquifer. Any set of conditions,

either natural or influenced by man, that markedly decreases

the level of fresh water, decreases the freshwater discharge

and permits sea water to move further inland. Extensive

drainage canals may permit saltwater intrusion and cause

springs to become more saline. (59)

There is no doubt thit waterfront development canals are

causing saltwater intrusion. (60,76) In Citrus County, developers

are cutting canals into underground springs, then advertising

"spring fed canals." The excavations relieve the pressure in

the artesian aquifer, underground water levels are lowered,

and salt water moves inland. (60,761

A number of field investigators report observing an

inflow of groundwater into dead-end canals.

VI, EFFECT ON RECEIVING WATERS

Few studies have been made and few data exist

regarding the effect of upland private canals on adjacent

natural bodies of water. Anaerobic bottom sediments from

finger canals and borrow pits contribute significantly to the

massive fish kills which occur in Escambia Bay each year. (16)

Also, evidence exists that anaerobic sediments flushed into

Lake Okeechobee from Taylor Creek and muck farm canals by

heavy rains, cause massive fish kills. (61) The damage

to ecosystems in bays and estuaries from silt, sediments and

pollutants carried into them by flood control channels during

heavy rains is also well documented. (3,191

Siltation resulting from dredging of finger canals can

affect extensive areas beyond the immediate area of operation, I 7

and has been a matter of concern for many years.

The consensus of persons interviewed for this investigation

was that extensive private upland canal systems also cause

similar environmental degradati~n in receiving waters, and for

the same reasons attributed to major channels. It is believed

that stormwater runoff from torrential rains into canal systeins

causes a stirring and mixing of anaerobic bottom sediments.

Rain-caused circulation washes these into receiving waters in

concentrations which are often sufficient to cause fish kills

and other damage. In some cases, a, "slugn of anaerobic

sediments may be flushed into receiving waters

by torrential rains or tides. Under these conditions, the /

large quantities of toxic material accumulated in canals ovex - *

a period of years could be flushed inta receiving waters

adversely affecting the biota of an estuary. CConsensus)

VII. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CANAL-TYPE DEVELOPMENTS

Housing developments located on waterfront canal

systems have been often presented as local economic assets

which convert unused land into taxable property, broaden the

tax base and increase the value of surrounding property.

Additional benefits often cited are that high value homes

with convenient access to a navigable waterway attract affluent

people to Florida, which is beneficial to business and creates

more jobs.

The theory that "getting lands on the tax rolls" will

lower taxes generally, or provide more and better community

services, is apparently an illusion. If development were

invariably beneficial, highly-developed areas such as Miami

and Jacksonville would hav,? lower taxes than less-developed

communities. The present t-end of population is a movement

to rural areas to escape higA city taxes and general urban

deqradation. "Never in history has the addition of property

to the tax rolls reduced an individual's taxes. Always has the cost of *serving, and the investment required, gone 2 as an area grew, not down." - (John McQuigg, May 6, 19711 (11

Other studies verify that urban growth is more often a

tax liability than a benefit to existing communities.

"Speaking of one region in the country, an official of the Department of Housing and Urban Development said, 'A rule of thumb seems to be that any house under $40,000 won't pay for itself.' An analysis of suburban land uses in Barrington, Ill. found that 'the more typical, lower-priced suburban tract develop- ment, with an average of perhaps four bedrooms per unit and an average sales price of $35,000, would result in an expected annual deficit of about $1,150 per dwelling unit,' Even $60,000 homes wouldn't pay their own way, the study concluded.'' ("Who Pays for What," by Darwin G. Stuart and Robert B. Teska, Urban Land, March 1971) (87 )

Community services required by new developnrents

usually include schooling, roads, water supply, sewage and

waste collection and treatment, police protection, fire

protection, parks, and so on, the cost of which usually far

exceeds the revenue produced from new taxes.

Of these, schooling is one of the most expensive services

to be provided. In Virginia, for example, a housing development

on three-quarter acre lots contributed $572,765 in property

taxes, but the county spent $736,000 to educate that develop-

ment's children. (87)

A startling example of the effect of unplanned growth

upon a city's economic welfare occurred in San Jose, California.

Following a policy of annexation on the assumption that any

new development would brinq more taxpayers into the city and

thus reduce the tax rate, the city increased from 17 square miles

in 1950 to 137 square miles in 1970. This growth has caused

the city's tax rate and cost of utilities to rise, and per capita

bonded debt to double. (87)

These examples are prfmirily for single family residences.

In Florida's densely-populated coastal areas, the demand for

waterfront property is creating a trend toward high rise apart-

ments and condominiums which multiply the requirements for

services, with attendant increases in costs to taxpayers . "If 20 single famiijj units are replaced with a multiple

family apartment complex increasing po ulation to 270

a need for: 4 families on the same site, these famil em will generate

12 acres public land 3 acres service industry .

4 acres retail otores .

a1 more classrooms 408 nore cars 120,000 more gallons of water per day needed 100,000 more gallons effluent and wastes generated 2 more firemen + $8100 per year more equipment 12 more teachers + $75,000 per year to school budget 3 more policemen + $12,900 pet year for facilities 1600 more library books 2 miles improved streets in addition to: $39,000 for health services per year $4,160 for recreation per year $69,650 for other services per yearn (88)

Virtually all coastal states now recognize that water-

front property represents envir~mental and recreational values

which are far more impo~,tant to the public interest than the

claimed benefits from developing such land for increased taxes.

As a result, there is a definite trend for coastal states to

impose stronger controlc designed to reduce or-eliminate this

type of development. (8.:)

The long-term economic impact of waterfront canal develop-

ments must be judged on thc basis of the best public interest.

Evidence developed by this investigation shows that present *

methods of design and constr~ction create environmental problems

of such magnitude that many c1f these developments are a threat

to the public welfare. If the intangible costs of environmental

degradation are considered, these canals must realistically be

considered as long-range economic liabilities rather than asset.

as originally claimed.

- - A. Values of Natural Areas i 3

r - The chief victims of waterfront canal developments are * "

the shallow bays, estuaries, marshes and other lowlands which

are essential for the praduction of fish and other aquatic life,

I,

In assessing the economic impact of such developments, the

monetary, recreational and esthetic values of the self-

sustaining natural areas they are replacing should be considered.

Also, the maintenance costs for pollution control, aquatic weed

control and similar costs due to environmental degradation are

added charges borne by taxpayers.

HcQuigg [I) has calculated the value of these natural

lands at $22,210-30 per acre, based on biological ~roduct iv i ty

alone. He points out that Dr. C , P. Idyll, a marine biologist at

the University of Miami, states that 90% of sport fish are

estuary-dependent at some life stage. HcQuigg calculates the

total state income derived from sport fishing and shellfish

activities as $2,056,675,525.00. Each waterfront canal develop-

ment which replaces a portion of a bay, estuary, marsh or mangrove

swamp with buildings, el.;_minates some of the fish and aquatic

life and a portion of the income they produce.

Florida may be repeating the experience of other areas

w i t h networks of artificial canal systems. Venice,

California, once touted 3.5 the Venice of America because of i t s

extensive waterfront canal system, encountered financial

difficulties from degradation of water quality in the canals.

They became so ran3c from pollution that c&tizens, fearing an

epidemic, demanded that they be filled in. But the cost w a s

so great that the taxpayers of this small camunity could not

afford the project.

When the community voted on annexation to the city of

Los Angeles in the 1930'9, a major stipulation was that if

annexationwerr?approved, &os Angeles muid convert the polluted

waterways into streets.

The problems from the canals in Venice, Italy, are well-

publicized. Not only are the canals referred to as "open

sewers," but pollution-accelerated erosion and subsidence are

destroying historically invaluable canal-front buildings at

an alarming rate.

B. Importance of Natural Features on our ism

The importance of tourism is stated by Governor Reubin

O'D. Askew, in "Florida Tourist Study 1970,'' an annual report

issued by the Florida Department of Commerce.

"Tourism is our state's biggest economic activity and one of the nation's largest industries of any kind. In terms of gross annual income, it channeled 3.6 billion dollars into the coffers of Florida government and private enterprise in the 1970 calendar year." (62)

Table 16 of this study, "Things Looked Forward To,

1970," not surprisingly shows that activities which demand water

of highest quality are essential for supporting "our state's

biggest economic activity." (See Appendix D)

A 1970 Florida Department of Natural Resources' report,

from its Division of Recreation and Parks, indicated that

more than 78% of Florids's resident population participated in

outdoor recreational cctivities, ,and about one-half go swimming.

The number of tourists who enjoyed outdoor recreation in Florida

exoeeded the resident population.

In ESCAROSA, a stud-- of the Escambia and Santa Rosa County

areas by the Florida Coastal Coordinating Council, the following

statement appears:

*Out-of-state t o u r i s t s pa r t i c ipa t ed i n beach a c t i v i t i e s , sal t-water swimming, and salt-water f i sh ing as primary outdoor r ec rea t iona l a c t i v i t i e s . "

F lo r ida ' s major t o u r i s t f ea tu re s , such a s parks, f o r e s t s

and outdoor r ec rea t iona l a reas , na tu ra l scenery, camping, and

p a r t i c i p a n t spo r t s a l l r e l y heavily on water contact recreat ion.

Those p a r t s of s t a t e and na t iona l parks which a t t r a c t the

l a r g e s t concentra t ians of people a r e those containing water

s u i t a b l e f o r swimming, boating, f i sh ing o r nature observation.

The U. S. Fores t Service considers t h e i r pa s t p r ac t i ce of

developing campsites on spr ings , r i v e r banks, o r o the r "tender

areas" a mistake due t o overuse t h a t th rea tens na tu ra l values,

and they are proposing to withdraw camping from such sites,

leaving those a r eas f o r 8ay-use only. -

Flo r ida ' s foremost indust ry , tourism, i s heavily

dependent upon w a t e r and wz.ter s p o r t s which requ i re a pu r i t y

a t least equal to Class I11 standards. This inves t iga t ion d i s -

c lo ses t h a t t he w a t e r i n canal-type developments c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y

does no t m e e t these s tandards .

As a r ec rea t iona l a rea , Flor ida provides c i t i z e n s no t only

with a d e l i g h t f u l environment, bu t a l s o a v iab le economy.' A s

America's most popular playground, F lor ida is an a s s e t t o the ,

e n t i r e nat ion. Unres t r ic ted waterf ront development can destroy

Flor ida as a w a t e r spo r t s r ec rea t iona l a r ea and produce economic

problems s imi l a r t o those plaguing densely-populated northern . /

s t a t e s . I L -

VIII. SUI'lMARY

The practice of developing waterfront property by

excavating artificial canals causes serious environmental

degradation which reaches beyona the boundaries of the

immediately developed property and therefore affects the

public interest.

The almost universal characteristic of these deep,

narrow box-cut canals and dead-end configurations is sluggish

circulation and a lack of flushing action, compounded by

insufficient tidal exchange or a lack of adequate gravity

flow due to flat terr7i.n.

The lack of water exchange characteristic of these canals

leads to an accumulation of oxygen-demanding and toxic sediments

I : ~, and organic wastes, causing low dissolved oxygen, objectionable

odors, floating sludge, fish kills and anaerobic and septic

conditions . Eutrophication of limited-circulation canals is greatly

accelerated by a heavy pollutional load due to the increased

population density in relation to shoreline length. The sources

of pollution include urbar, runoff, septic tanks, sewage effluent

and live-aboard houseboats.

, . In freshwater canals, these adverse effects are corn-

$ , pounded by heavy infestations of aquatic weeds, the application

? %

of herbicides and the addition of decaying vegetation to the t d

accumulation of oxygen-demanding bottom sediments. , m

. - i i

These conditions produce waterways with a paucity, or 1 . .

a complete absence, of desirable fish and aquatic life and which

C - eventually become so contaminated they are unsafe for body

contact. This investigation shows that the water in most of

Florida's canals cannot meet federal and state water quality

standards, and canal characteristics may make it impossible

for these waterways ever to achieve these minimum legal standards.

Many of these canals are deep incisions into the aquifer

and threaten underground water supplies either by lowering the

water table through drainage, or by the flow of contaminated

canal water into the aquifer.

The contaminated condition of labyrinthine canal systems

presents a health hazard to both animals and humans, threatens

the quality of receiving waters, and creates costly problems in

maintenance for both individual property owners and public - .

agencies.

The consensus of contributors to tliis investigation is

that the present trend toward proliferation of canal-type

developments, if continued unabated, will lead to an environ-

mental disaster for Florida citizens.

References

1. McQuigg, J. L., "The Economic Value of Florida's Estuarine Areas," Lecture, Pine Jog Environ. ~ c i . Ctr., W. Palm Bch., May 1971.

2. Odum, W. E., "Pathways of Energy Flow in a South Florida Estuary," Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Miami, January 1970.

3. Marshall, A. R., "Population Impacts on Florida's Marine Resources," Speech, 4th FZa. Conserv. Week, U.S. Bur. Sport Fish. Wildl., Gainesville, March 1968.

4. Sykes, J. E,, "The Role of Research in the preservation of Estuaries," Trans. 32nd North Amer. WiZdZ. Nat. Res. Conf., March 13-15, 1967, pp. 150-160.

5. Bellinger, J. W., "Dredging, Filling, and the Inalienable Public Trust - The Future of Florida's Submerged Environment," 24th Ann. Conf., S.E. ASGOC. Game and Fish Comm., Atlanta, September 28-30, 1970.

6. Woodburn, K. D., "A Guide to the Conservation of Shorelines Submerged Bottoms and Saltwaters with a Special Reference to Bulkhead Lines, Dredging and Filling," Fla. Bd. of Conserv., Education BuZZ. 24, 1963.

. . 7. Taylor, J. L. and C. H. Saloman, "Some Effects of Hydraulic Dredging and Coastal Dev?lopment in Boca Ciega Bay, Florida,"

7 . Fishery BUZZ., 67:213-241, 1968.

8. Carr, W. E. S., An EcoiogicaZ Survey of portions of Boca Ciega Bay in the Vicinity 7f South Pasadena. A Study and

r - Report Prepared with Regar~' to the ~stabzishment of a Bulkhead

- d Line, Univ. of Fla., Gainesville, 1969.

, . 9. Towns, W. L., written comv. to C. S. Lorentzson, U.S. Dept of the Interior, Atlanta, May 1970.

4. i

10. The Florida ~aturaZist, TJol. 42, No. 2A, May 1969.

11. McNulty, J. K., "Effects of Abatement of Domestic Sewage Pollution on the Benthos, Volumes of Zooplankton, and the Fouling Organisms of Biscayne Bay, Florida," University of Miami Press, Coral Gables, 1970.

12. OIHara, J., Physiological Ecologist, Univ. of S. Carolina, pers. comm., August 16, 1971.

13. Ross, L. T,, "Water Quality in Interior Canal Systems, written comm., Fla. Dept. of Poll. Cont., Punta Gorda, Fla., October 14, 1971.

14. Doherty, P. J.! "Escambia-Perdid Basin, Escambia Subbasin, Mulatto Bayou," wrztten comm. to C. E. Mauriello, Fla. Dept. of Poll. Cont., October 1971.

1'5. Florida Coastal Coordinating Council, ESCAROSA - A Preliminary Study of problem^ and Opportunities in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida, Tallahassee, April 1971.

16. U.S. Dept, of the Interior, Effects of Pollution on Water Quality - Escambia River and Bay, Florida, Athens, Georgia, January 1970.

17. Bruun, P. and J. M. DeGrove, "Bay Fills and Bulkhead Line Problems - Engineering and Management Considerations," Public Admin. Clearing Serv., Univ. of Fla, Gainesville, Public Admin. No. 28, 1959.

18. Cherry, R. N. and J. A. Mann and J. W. Stewart, "General Hydrology of the Middle Gulf Area, Florida," U.S. Geol. Survey, Report of Investigation No. 56, 1970.

19. Voss, G., Marine Lab., Univ. of Miami, personat comma, October 1, October 6, 1971.

20. Quick, J., Biologist, Fla. Dept. of Nat. Resources, personat comm., December 1971.

21. Leopold, L. B., "Hydrology for Urban Land planning - A Guidebook on the Hydrologic Effects of Urban Lane use," ~eologicaZ Survey Circular No. 5 5 4 , 1968.

22. Betz, J., Microbiologist, Univ. of S. Fla., personal comm., October 7, 16, 20, 1971.

23. Young, W. T., Investiqation of ~nvironmental Conditions of Mulatto Bayou, Santa Rosa County, and Adjacent Waters Relative to Proposed Dredging, Fla. Dept. of Poll. Cont., Pensacola, February 1970.

24. Ross, L. T., Biologist, Fla. Dept. of Poll. Cont., Punta Gorda, personal comm, , Nccember 12, 1971. 25, Fla. Dept. of Air & Water Poll, Cont., ~nvestigation Reports of Fish Kills in Escambia Bay, Fla., September 28-29, 1970.

26. Young, W. T., Biologist, Fla. Dept. of ~ i r & Water Poll. Cont., Pensacola, Report of Investigation of Fish ill in Mulatto Bayou, October 25-26, 1969.

27. McNulty, J, K., Bur. of Comm. Fisheries, Tampa, Fla., personal comm., October 5 and November 4, 1971.

28. Smith, W, W. Poll. Cont. Officer, Broward Cty. Air and Water Poll, Cont. Brd,, written comm., November 2, 1971.

29. Kleeman, F,, Regional Mgr., S.E. Region, Fla. Dept. of Poll. Cont,, personat oomm., October 13, 1971.

30. Egger t , J. C . , "Summary o f Canals i n Dade County," Dade Cty. P o l l . Cont., M i a m i , w r i t t e n comm. t o Hans Schmitz, October 13 , 1971.

31. Egger t , J. C. and D. Von Windeguth, T a n a l B Survey," Dade Cty. P o l l . Cont. , M i a m i , w r i t t e n comm, t o Henry Schmitz, A p r i l 16 , 1970.

32. Egger t . J. C. and K. Cavis ton , "Sludge Survey o f Dressels Dairy Canal (Peps i C o l a C a n a l ) , " Dade Cty. P o l l . Cont., M i a m i , w r i t t e n comm. t o C. A. Morr issey, May.18, 1971.

33. Wil lcox, R. T., P r e s . , New River C i v i c Assoc., F t . ~ a u d e r d a l e , pe r sona l comm,, October 19 , 1971, and w r i t t e n comm., November 9 , 1971.

3 4 . Pa rke r , G . , Hydro log is t , S . W . F l a . Water Mgtmt. D i s t . , p e r sona l comm., October 4, 1971.

35. Ager, L. A. , "Annual Report , Lake Okeechobee P r o j e c t , 1970- 1971," Game and Fresh Water F i sh Comm., T a l l a h a s s e e , J u l y 1971.

36. Gofor th , D . , G a m e and Fresh Water F i s h Comm., Palm Beach County, p e r s o n a l comm., October 8 , 1971.

37. C la rk , E. E., Environmental Study f o r Punta Gorda I s l e s , I n c . , Connel l Associates, M i a i n i , August 26, September 17 and 24, 1971.

38. Young, N. , F i s h e r i e s B i o l o g i s t , G a m e and F re sh Water F i s h Comm., Lakeland, pe r sona i comm., November 12 , 1971, and w r i t t e n comm., November 23, 1971.

39. Buntz, J., Regional F i she ry B i o l o g i s t , Game and F re sh Water F i s h Comm., V e r o Beach, pepsonat comm., October 7 and November 12 , 1971.

40. Weibel, S. R . , R. B. =?eidner, A. G. C h r i s t i a n s o n , and R. J. Anderson, " C h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n , Treatment, and ~ i s p o a l of Urban Stormwater," 3 rd I n t e r n . Conf. W t r . P o l l . Research, Munich, Germany, Paper N o . 15 , 1966.

41. Burke, R. 111, "A Survey o f Ava i l ab l e In format ion Descr ib ing Expected C o n s t i t u e n t s i n Urban Sur face Runoff; w i t h S p e c i a l Emphasis on G a i n e s v i l l e , F l o r i d a , " Paper p repared f o r F l o r i d a Defenders of t h e Bnvironment, I nc . , June 1971.

42. ~ v a n s , F. L. 111, E. Z . Goldreich, S. R. Weibel, and G, G. Robeck, "Treatment o f Urban Storm-Water Runoff," Fed. Water P o l l . Cont. Admin., U.S. Dept. of t h e I n t e r i o r , C i n c i n n a t i , January 1967.

43 . Smith, Milo & Assoc ia t e s , Planning Consu l t an t s o f Tampa, F l a . and Hale & K u l l i g r e n , Inc . , Consul t ing Engineers , Akron, Ohio, "Environment and I d e n t i t y , a P l an f o r Development i n t h e F l o r i d a Keys," Land U s e P l an prepared f o r Monroe County Comm., Key West, June 1970.

44 . Grantham, R. G . and C. B. Sherwood, "Chemical Q u a l i t y of Waters o f Broward County, F l o r i d a , " U.S. Geologica l Survey, Report of I n v e s t i g a t i o n No. 52, June 1968.

45. Baker, R . , Admin., Waste Water s e c t i o n , Bur. o f s a n i t a r y Engr., ~ i v . o f Hea l th , J a c k s o n v i l l e , pe r sona l comm., December 9 , 1971.

46. Hu lbe r t , J . , Regional ~ i o l o g i s t , F l a . Dept. o f P o l l . Cont., Orlando, pe r sona l comm., October 1 and December 9, 1971, and w r i t t e n comm., December 20r, 1971.

47. Rules o f Dept. o f Air and Water P o l l . Cont., " ~ o l l u t i o n o f Waters." Chapter 17-3; ~ Z o r i d a S t a t u t e s , Supp. N o . 2, pp. 7-11.

48. P i e r c e , T. B:, "Dredge and F i l l , " F l a . Dept. o f P o l l . Cont., Winter Haven, wrz t t en comm. t o K. K , H u f f s t u t l e r , August 11, 1971.

49. Dept. o f P o l l . Cont., Ta l l ahas see , "Dredge and F i l l A c t i v i t i e s , " 2nd d r a f t , November 30, 1971.

50. Anthony, D. S. , Biochemist , Dept. of Botany, ~ n i v . o f F l a . , and P re s . F l a . Defenders o f t h e Environ. , Inc . , pe r sona l comm., OctoBer 15, 1971.

51. Holcomb, D . , G a m e a n d , F r e s h Water F i s h Comm., ~ u s t i s , F l a . , pe r sona l comm., September 30, 1971.

52. W e l l s , S. W . , Supe rv i so r , General Development Corp., w r i t t e n comm. t o A. P. Burkha l t e r , Aquat ic P l a n t Research and Cont. Coord ina tor , Dept. o f N a t * l r d l Resources, August 17 , 1971.

53. Sp inner , G. P., D i r e z t o r , ~ n v i r o n . Mgmt., The Del tona Corp., w r i t t e n comm., November 9 , 1971.

54. Smith, W . , P o l l . Cont. O f f i c e r , Broward County P o l l . Con t ro l Board, pe r sona l comm., October 4 , 1971.

55. Morr issey, C . , "Oleta River B o t t o m Survey,'' Survey conducted by C. Morr issey, J. Egger t and D. Von Windeguth, Dade County PoZZ. Cont. , M i a m i , J anu tzy 15-20, 1970.

56. Ross, L. T., B i o l o g i s t , Dept. of P o l l . Con t ro l , Punta Gorda, - . . +

"Dredge and F i l l - Southwest Regional Procedures ," w r i t t e n comm. to B. A. Barnes, August 9 , 1971.

57. Betz, J. V,, Microbiologist, Univ. of S. Fla., St. Peters- burg, Report of Bacterialogical Study of Central Gulf Coast Canals, written comm. , November 14, 1971.

58. Rosenshein, J. S., Subdistrict Chief, Water Resources Div,, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Tampa, written comm., October 22, 1971.

59. Mann, J. A , and R. N. Cherry, "Large springs of ~lorida's "Sun Coast," Citrus and Hernando ~ounties," U.S. Geological Survey, Tallahassee, Leaflet No. 9, 1969.

60. Deilgan, L., County Sanitarian, Citrus County Health Dept., Inverness, personal cornm., October 4, 1971.

61. Ager, L. A , , Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm., Okeechobee City, personal comm., October 6, 1971.

62. Florida Dept. of Commerce, Florida ~ourist Study 2970, Tallahassee, 1971.

63. Governor's Conf. on Water Mgmt. in S. Fla., A Statement to Reubin O'D. Askew, Governor, State of ~Zorida, Miami Beach, September 1971.

64. Stephens, J. C:, "Peat and Muck Drainage ~roblems," Journ. Irrigation and Draznage D-c'v., ASCE, 95:285-305, June 1969.

65. Heinen, E. T., Fisheries Biologist and Nat. Resources Mgr., Environ. Prot. Agency, statgment, December 15, 1971.

66. Carr, J. W., Regional Biologist, Dept. of poll. Cont., Jacksonville, written comm., December 3 , 1971.

67..Carr, J. W., Regional Biologist, Dept. of Poll. Cont., Jacksonville, "Application of Dr. Sagrans for Brevard County Fill of Submerged Lands in the Indian River," written comm. to C. G. Ilauriello, 1971.

68. Sykes, J. E. and J. R. Hall, "Comparative Distribution of Mollusks in Dredged and UnAredged Portions of an Estuary, with a Systematic List of Species," Bur. of Comm. Fisheries Biological Lab., St. Petersburg Bch., Fishery BUZZ., Vol. 68, No. 2, pp. 299-306, May 1970.

69. Smiley, N., Staff Writer, "The Fishing's Great--Until 'Progress' Comes," Miami ~e~aald, undated.

70. Moore, D. and L. Trent, "Setting, Growth and Mortality of Crassostrea Virginica in a Natural Marsh and a Marsh Altered by a Housing Development," U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Proceedings Nat. SheZZfisheries Assoc,, 61:51-58, June 1971.

71. C o r l i s s , J. and L. T r e n t , "Comparison o f Phytoplankton Produc t ion Between Na tu ra l and A l t e r e d A r e a s i n West Bay, Texas," F i shery B U Z Z . , 69:829-832, 1971.

72. Hammond, W . , S c i . Consu l t an t , School Board Annex, F t . Myers, P e r s p e c t i v e on t h e Role and p r o t e c t i o n of Mangrove Dominated E s t u a r i e s i n Southwest F l o r i d a , undated.

73. Resor, S. R . , Secy. of t h e Army, w r i t t e n comm. t o Gov. C . R. Ki rk , December 4 , 1969.

7 4 . U.S. Army Corps o f Engineers , "Court Rul ing Upholds Army Engineers P o l i c y on Ecology," U.S. Army Engineer D i s t , , J a c k s o n v i l l e , news r e l e a s e , J u l y 20, 1970.

75. U.S. Dept. o f t h e I n t e r i o r , PoZZution of t h e Waters of Dade County, F l o r i d a , Fed. W t r . Qual. Admin., S.E. W t r . Lab., F t . Lauderdale , 1970.

76. Col ledge , A. W . , w r < t t e n comm., October 6 , 1971.

77. Ross, L. T . , F l a . Dept. o f P o l l . Cont., Punta Gorda, "Pe rmi t t i ng Dredge & F i l l P r o j e c t s Genera l , " w r i t t e n comm. t o J. C. B a r n e t t , J u l y 1, 1971.

78. B a r n e t t , J. C . , F l a . Dept. o f P o l l . Cont., Punta Gorda, "Canal Systems i n F l o r i 3 a Pe r sona l Observa t ions , " w r i t t e n comm. t o L. T. R o s s , October 13 , 1971.

79. Hu t tne r , F. P., F l a . Dept. o f P o l l . Cont., Punta Gorda, "Canal Systems i n F l o r i d a Pe r sona l Observa t ions , " w r i t t e n comm. t o L. T. R o s s , October 1 4 , 1971.

80. Hays, C. H. , F l a . Dept , o f P o l l . Cont., Punta Gorda, "Canal Systems i n F l o r i d a Fe r sona l Observa t ions , " w r i t t e n comm. t o L. T. Ross, October 14 , 1971.

81. Sims, H . , "Boca Ciega Bay Sto ry , " The F l o r i d a Na tu raZ i s t , Vol. 42, No. 3A, Aug.-Sept. 1969.

82 . H a r t w e l l , J. H . , ~ y d r o l o g i s t , Univ. of M i a m i , The ~ Z u s h i n g of TidaZ Canals , undated.

L -

83. Taylor , J. L . , "Coas ta l Development i n Tampa Bay, F l o r i d a , " Marine PoZZ. B U Z Z . , Vol. 1, No. 10 , October 1970.

*

84. McNulty, J. K . , N a t t l . Marine F i s h e r i e s Serv . , U.S. Dept. of Comm., S t . P e t e r s b u r g Bch., w r i t t e n comm., November 30, 1971. - -

. - L ,

85. C a r r o l l , J. D. , Bur. of S p o r t F i s h e r i e s and W i l d l i f e , V e r o . -

Beach, w r i t t e n comm., December 6 , 1971. - < - - -

86. Woods, J. W . , F l a , Game and Fresh Water F i s h Comm,, T a l l a h a s s e e , ,. w r i t t e n comm. and e n c l o s u r e s , December 8 , 1971.

87. Conservation Foundation, Washington, D. C., CF Letter, August 1971, 8-71.

88. Veri, A. R:, "Density as an ~nvironmental Issue," written comm., University of Miami, April 22, 1971.

89. U . S . Army Corps of Engineers, "~ational Shoreline Study," U.S. Army Engineer Div., Atlanta, Ga., August 1971.

APPENDIX A

.<a SOL9 \,nrv#& +

&)<-,

3 '6 U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A

q." *$ Ivlih 1-AMPA S T . PE'TERSBI.IHC;

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY TAMPA, FLORIDA 33620

81 3. 974-2668

$Ire W 3 . l U a n H. Partington, Mrector EnviromerUeal fnforaurtion Center 935 orange Avenue Winter Psrk, Flodda, 32789

Dear Mr. Fkrtington:

T h i s letker and the appended material8 are aqy report to you on the survey of water p U t y fn the canals and other amn-de channeb on the coast of west, csestraL F b r i d a which we performed at your request.

I. a U n g +ce-$yrr Methods Used and Their Evaluation. --- On Sattmhy, Oct, 16, Wn, approximately 30 volunteer samplers

met with ge at the Univers5ty of South Florida. They included msrnbers of diving c lub, the Auduban SocMg, Suncoast AcfSve VoMeers for Ecology ( s~ ,v .E . ) student8 and/or $&culfy from U.S.P., St. hots College, Tamp& Us, and prfvate citizens. The projeet was explained to them and each wrrs given detailed instractiorarr on how to obtain 8sU.d and useful tzamples, and t W d e r i l 0 ample b&tlao for esch SaTUpling statiorsi. Ih iassiPnsnp sa3aplhg 8tatfo938, I had the 3mralnclble assfstance of Nr. Roger S t m a r t , the Director of the fT.iflftb0- C o d y PoUution Control C o m d s s h ~ , wha Imam the water quarXBy problsms of the Tampa B&y Area as few others do.

On the following a t e , W . 23, 19n, the volunteers dispersed t o their preassigned areas and collected samples as directed. The first sample was taken at ?:SO AH and the last at =:SO R4. The last sanple to be received at the univers5ty was processed before 6200 Rul, Thus the errtbe opematian of smpling and processing was accql i shed in about 20 hours.

'fwo samples were taken at each locat5cm: a.) A sample of the uncllstWtmd water column, near the surface; b.) A 88mple of the

of the buttma, i.e., a beathie sample of tb seckbncmts which coiilected on the bottoea of the tJaferuay.

The aurf'ace water sansple was subjected to a p m m i o s colifom snalysis using the Mnltiple Fezl~enkf ion Tube method whfch has been the Standard for mrs, It was carried out as described in the Ameflcan Public Health Associatim~s %andard M8-tihodt PJ for the Bamhation of Water and 9&~8%€1wa%81?~, U th editiapi, 3971, a* 100. he &st ~robsble Number ( MR? ) of coUfonn organism per 100 ml was calculated using Table 407(2). For masons of etc- of materials, we perfomd the test in sacb a way t&% it would e~ltmrerate a maxbum of 2h,000 colifoms as srr MBN/~OO dl. S W e tibia irr 10 times the nraxfannn lhit for body ccmtact, it was coxmidred t o be as high as necessarg t o kave signincance under &ate U w , IIt 28 about 300 t-a higher than the mxbtuu for waters f r u n which shellfish may be harvested.

The benthic o r sediment ssmpjn, was subjected t o a quantitaive bacteriolaglcal a9a3yaj.s f o r -- Clost;rmum - - ~~3rfringens~ the most comon3y encountered causative organism in gas gangrene, It is also k n m as I C, welchii -3 5s always found in high numbers J9 human fecal material and sewage, and is used in some European countries as an indicator organi~ms of aewage pollutian much as we uee colifonn organisms in this country, some colifonns, it is present naturally in so i l s and s e d h m t s in small numbers, but its occurrence in f i r g e r numbers is invariably indicatin of sewage or fecal pollution, It is verg c~mm~nJy encourrtered in sanitary bacteriology- although m a q ~ partialw trained technicians do not seen t o realize this. It grows well in the p reempt ib lactose broth colif'orm t e s t and Uke the coWomsl produces copious gas. Is is so common in th sade situatims as orre collforms, that fa the f e a l and confirmed tssts f o r c o l i f o r ~ ~ ~ , special pmvisiom must be made to inhibit its gmwth so that coJlform~ may be positively identified. In the BGBL broth wed f o r the Confimed Tea and the EC brnth used f o r the Fecal Test, B i l e sal%s are added t o the mdia t o suppress c. BI the EKB plate method for the C o n f f rmsB T e s t , i 4s2%!%%f?wt;h* by incubation on an ow- exposed surface- go perfringam is a, &ri& aaaerob. S h c e it producers re&&- endospores, it can aUFOfve longer in n a t ~ ~ ~ , But when it is found in hi@ numbers, 3.t 5s an excellent indicator no% only of sewage pollution but of highly anaerobic or reducing cont%.tions: it can thrive d y in %he abscence of molecultm oxygen, mder conditions in *ich noma1 anha2 life irs impossible.

The method wed wse that detailed b$:

Harshall, Robe& S., J.k9nk Steenbergen and L.S .McClung, 1965, Rapid Technique for- the Enmerat fan of Clostriditnn &ens. Appliea ~ c m b i o b g y 2 (4) : 559 - 563. This rpethod was developed t o detect C. perf r 3 e n s in f ooda since

M c C 3 m . g and others have sham tha t it ~d'ee 8 food p b & g more eseoese thwgh somo~hat less f mquent than Salmonella o r ~phy1ococcus . Thmethod was smcff ical ly deaianed t o e l b i n a t e jnterference in

ens a n;;nrber of organism presnent in spoiled merfere with its boh%5.cn f m m ma* sed:bisr~i;s,

These ~lc lu&d several other mssophiXc Clo8tridia3 several sulfide- producfng %lmon~l?e and Proteus species, and t?-rn shz~:?3.ns cc.P f"?.?,;;l ---- s t re~-bococci . T.es113f o~~i l7r i .o s~ec5 .e~ do not gruw at the elevated

-_.-I - - incubation te~@&kit'we used, and g, grows too slowly, 3f at all, at the incubatian

The method uses a conbination of physiological and cultural properties unique@ possessed by - C. ~ e r f r h g e n s -.. . - t o identif'y and enuxuerate this organitnu,

1, Colonies mutrt develop under obligate3y anaerobic conditions,

2. Colonies must be black, i,e, , show hydrogen auJfide production,

3. Colonies mst develop at 4.6'~ (about l l 5 ' ~ cr 16.4% above body temperature- a t t h i s teaperatwe the gas gangrene organism has a doubling time of about 12 minutes).

4. Colonies must develop in the presence of two potent antibiotics: polylngnrin B sulfate a t a concentration af 20 micrograms/ml and n e q c i n at a concentration af 30 micrograms/n3-.

5. Colonies must be clearly visible within 24 hrs. incubation time, ,

Cell concentrations were calculated from the number of colonies which developed frcan a given diultion af sample. A number of colonies checked microscopically, a t random, had cel ls with the general morphology, staining reactions and endospore position characteristic of C. perfringens, There i s every indication that the method worked - i n an entirely satisfactory nay.

Since t h i s is not a lfStandard Method" however, and since the results may be criticized by individuals responsible f o r the situatj-cns encourrtered, it i s prudent t o interpret ard t o report results in the m o s t conservative manner consistent with substantial honesty. In t h i s regard, it i s essential t o understand that the source af error which overrides a l l others with a method of th i s type leads t o a estimate of t h e t rue number, not a high count. Bacteria i n water samples and especially i n sedimepts exist i n clwnps or attached t o detritus. Thus the colony count does not reflect single ce l l s but clumps of cel ls , The true number of organisms might thus be approximated by multiplying the colony count obtained by a factor of, at least, ten. We have not done this, of course, in the absence of further experiments t o determine the magnitude of the factor. Nor is the i r any need t o i n th i s assay, It is important t o recognize clearly, however, that the counts given are quite trustworthy as rock-bottom minim.

Ide have also chosen t o report our results as the larest count justified b y the data, thus:

V ,

Calculated No. of Reported h e r Utnit of C. perfriwens per 100 ml. - Gangrene l ike anaerobes per 100 ml.

none N.D. ( none detected ) I - 99 few 100 - 999 100 1000 - 9,999 1000 l0,OOO - 99,999 10,000 100,000 + 100,000

In summary, we have great confidence in both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of our results. We have detected 2. perfringens specifically in the presence of many other potentially similar organisms and our statement of t he i r concentrations is a significant thoagh

c . very conservative minimum defensible against any reasonable doubt.

- -

muse ill No. 2127 ( Chapter 67 - SO& ) 3.t~ *An A c t creating and eatabIltabbg the Hillsborough county po33xticm control coEPiasiaaim and ruthoricing thst ctonrmJsaion t o o&abli& amlean, i.e., standtrrdu and cri tsr l . for a i r aad water quality. I% ia the pollntian b w with which I am mod f a r , but has language which is mrq~ s w r or identical t o tbat of tks State A i r and Wkter Pallutim Control faw, those of the

or 80 other countbs which boo low eurt;i-poXlrrtion laws, and the rule6 which these agencus pmmlgpte.

H.B. 2127, Ssc. 3 !Definition8n, (a) Water Pollutian" sberll man the introdacf- in any snribce or tolbrground water, or t i d a l salt water, of any organic o r jnorganic matter or deleterious substance in such qumtitiee, proportiom or a c c e t i m which arc injurfoua to human, plant, an-1, fish and ~qcnrtic Ufe, or property, or which unreaamably interferes .with the conforkbb enjoyment of Ilia or pmperty, or the conchct af bas3mssew

Section a of the sane lart apeclfically prohibitrs and declares unlawful any discharge cawing or tenddng t o cause water po3lution as &finad 3n Seco 3.

Wer H.B. 2127, the H i l l 8 . Co. Poll. Can%. Coma. bas the rim t o errtab- %tibw@ wNch may M be less stzbgegt than similar state rules, and are asusUy identical with then. The following are f ra the %UIBS of the HUl~bo- County Pollution Control CamrmisrsiaN.

wsfers, at all G c e e an8 a t alf. ~~IMWJ. w i t h i n the W t e of thLs cotrnty a l l such wabrs a b l l be fies franr:

"1. Ssttlsabls Substances - snbsrtancslr attributable t o municipal, in--, agrlcdttu'ar, or other discharges that wiU settle t o fonn ptrtresc& or otherwise objectionable sludge depolsits.

"3. Delateriow Substances - ~~kterlala attributable to mwicipal, indust*&, a g r i ~ u l t t ~ g Z or &her discharges producing color, odor, o r other c6n,d~tions in such degree as t o create a nuisance. -

( Sec. 32 defines a nuisance in part, as nths commission of any a&, tht cause or nr-4 contribnts to.... intrrfere(nce) with the BsaIth,rspoae, or safety of any considemable number of pars- or the pub=@, .. .... PLolaZion(of this)act which becosa detx4scatal t o heam or thmatsns h g e r t o the &sty of persons or properby, . . . . . or prevents the rearsoaabb and comfortable w e and enjoyment of pmpe&y bg. aqy comiderabb number of the pubUcen

"he Toxic Subdances - substances attributable t o ~ c i p a l , indust-1, agr%cultural or other discharyes in concenJit r?.?.%ions or ccanbitlatiom which are toxic or harrnfU t o humans, a n M 3 pJm% or aquattc Uics."

Chapter 1 - ff.08 gims -the mialnnrm bacferLolog5cal standards for Cbsr 111 waters, for b w coartscf, a6 not to exceed an MPN of 2h00 coliform~ on q dry, nor exceed s mCpytb3y average of 1000 coliforms, nor exceed 3200 colif o m i n more than 2% of the sample8 elesPtfnsd during ugr math.

The results of our tes t s should be interpreted in the context of these Ir#s and rules.

II. RsstiBs - W&ter cobm sampba were received from 80 d i f f e m t locations. These

are numbered on the appended Tabls runaing mug* North t o South, and w i l l be referred to in the tabla and i n thin djncussion by their %p kmberf) the number shuwing t he i r looation on the C.O.S. Chart 1257 and the other n~~p erccongmyhg this le t ter . On the Table of results, a Wnple Hum-, assigned to the sa~nples as they were received f o r processbg, is also given with the Plap No, Also included .amt a set of dup7dcd%e sampling casde which bear the B p No., the Sample No,, the name, address m d talephone 05 the volunteer sampler, and his descrd.ptica of the exact location of the mapla place and tlma. Volxwbeers have agreed t o gwtde us psraonaUy back t o the sample location shciuld any need f o r a check arise.

bnthic samples were received from a U locatiom excpt #35, and were processed fox a U the 0th- exceptt # lh and # 7%.

~ ~ p l s . aers gotten Prom as f a r north as the Week5 Wachee River in Hemando Co. t o ras lfar south as Fun* Go* i n Charlotte Co, Eorrl;, 64 of 80, were collected in the T- Bey Area, w def-d bg C B chart; 3257, which Jnc-s the b c b t e River In Tarpan Springs on the Norkh t o the Maestee ELver at Braaerrtcol in the South, as w e l l as the whole of Tampa Bay evnd its t~~Lbufx~rles, Boa C i t e Bay, St. Josephts Sound and the ent- Qulf Coast of Piml3.a~ Cody. E%gM samples were taken north of these boundaries and 8eve.x t o the south, We bad hoped t o have a much more &ensive ampUllg of Saasota Wy, but an unfortunate accident t o +tihe equipment of the profess &ma1 &mrs who kin- vo~unteered t o cover this area prevented that.

In sumarhing the significanss of our msultt~, we chose t o give s clal attiw.$,ioaa t o those samples which gave a colifonn cotmrt of 2 E" 00 per 100 ml or a m , s b c s this b a Is@ 3.hi.F; fo r bo&y contact safety, In lieu of a &gal ~rtamkd, wa choose t o give mecial ~ignif%ca31ce t o a Cbmgmme anarerobe count of per UX) nil. because, at? explained above, these are very cnnsemtive estitoa.tea, the other bacterfa present wftb %he gangrene organism (but not cotmted) are o S e n of equal virdmca, and because this concentration would be quite sufficient t~ bsure corrt;ac$ of the organ58m with tha skin of a personta; haride, feet etc., i n thmm sediments, i;e the individual waded S11 or handled them wtthotTt protection,

(h.1 a br9gh-t sunny Saturday in October, W71, a person contacting the waters 5n canals or other man made cl2annela up and down the suncoast of Florida would have found that:

In 63% of a l l samples, 50 of 80, the coliform count was 2400 o r over.

In 45% of a l l samples, 35 of 77, the Gangrene anasrobe count was over 1000.

In almost 1/3 of a l l sanplee, 25 of 77 or 32%, both the colifom count was over 2400 - and the Gangrene anaerobe c*s over l.000.

In many localities, more than one sample was taken fram a given canal sptem, or encLosed body of water t o attempt t o establish the pattern of distribution of impurities, A clear-cut example would be the counts a t Apollo Beach, No. 1s 69, 70 and 71 on the mp, Near the mouth af the canals t o the open bay, #69, the colifarm count is low and there are no G,A. 1s; a t R O , halfway up the canals, the colifom count i s higher and anaerobes are detectable if few, A t the deadend of the canal system, # 71, the colifonn count skyrockets t o 9180 and the anaerobes pass 100.

In many places, then, samples of a given body of water were collected a t points expected t o be relatively clean t o establish a t other places i n the same bod. of water or canal system, If we summarize results on the basis of the number of dist inct bodies af water, i.e. canals, canal systems, channelized creeks, dredged and filled bayous, etc,, a somewhat d i f f e m t picture emerges.

Our sampling covered 41 dist inct bodies of water- 41 separate canal systems ( e.g, , Apollo Beach, Davis Islands, Baycrest, each count a s I), or impounded bayous ( e,g., Coffee Pot Bayou, Smacks Bayou, count as 1 each) or separate creeks or channels ( e.g,, Allants Creek, Stevensonrs Creek, Sweetwater Creek and Bear Creek each count as 1).

A citizen ur tour is t wading, swimming, skiing in any one of these 41 spots along the Florida Suncast from Weeki Wacl~ee t o P e a Gorda on a s m Saturday in October 1971, might have encountered somewhere i n each:

A coliform count af 2400 or more in 70% ( 29 of 41 10

A gas ganrene count w e r 1000 i n 56% ( 23 of 41 ).

Both it colif arm count over 2400 a gangrene anaerobe count - over 1OOO i n W,$ (18 of 41 ).

Either a colifarm oount aver 2400 a gangrene anaerobe count - aver 1000 in 83% (34 of 41 ).

There a r e then, sanitary water conditions which constitute gross violations d pollution corrtrol standards in 4 out nf 5 situations along the suncoast of Florida which we sampled,

These results should not be cause for hysteria or panic, These corditions must have existed f o r some time, and yet people apparently do not frequently catch gas gangrene i n this area af Flori da,

This does not mean t h a t these situations do not present a potentA.al health hazard. If the people were t o swim or wade in these waters, they might get gangrene, tetanus, streptococcal or staphylococcal blood poisoning from untreated cuts, They m y get gastroenteritis, stomach or bowel upsets, from various bacterial toxins, from aho on el la and ~hi.gel&, ear and urinary t rac t infections from Proteus, Pseudononas and others, a complex and l i t t l e understood spectrum of virus diseases, from swimmina i n or ingesting small amounts of these waters, ?hey m y ,g.et a h o s t any of these.types of diseases fran eating clams or oysters taken

f r a t these waters. Iastly, they ma,y transfer many of these organisms t o foods by hand contact where they may cause various types of food poinsoning, especially a f te r cleaning ca. handling f i sh caught i n these waters then transferring the microbes on the slime on the surface of the f i sh t o other foods.

How much these situations contrLbute to various non-lethal, sometimes undiagnos ed, but annoying, debilitating, expensive illnesses is not k n m , Far the sake of argument, we may assume that these conditons do not, i n real i ty, cause any increase in human illness, ,while also agreeing that , in theory, they could do a l l the things l i s t ed above.

A very apparent reason why more diseases are not attributed t o contact with these waters is tha t the average American, when he encounters these places, is repelled by the sight and odor, and instinctively avoids contact w i t h them. The people on Davis Islands or Baycrest Canals or those l ike them simply do not use t h e i r canals. In the older, more obvious situations of this type, people who buil t or bought expensive homes on the water do not wade, or ski, or swim, or take q s t e r s fromthelr canals, When the canals were new, residents buil t docks and diving boards. In f ive t o ten years, these are i n disrepair and fences are erected t o stop children or pets from fa lung in. In 15 t o 20 years, many build opaque wood fenees in order t o screen the canal frcun sight.

These situations are the result d three interacting causes:

First, the creation of canals, channels, and impoundments which cannot get proper t i d a l flushing.

Second, the destruction i n th i s process of the natural biological water purification mechanisms- the clams, oysters, and twms on the natural bottoms and the effective water quality regulation complex which i s a mangrove stand ar Spartina marsh.

Third, the supply of organic and inorganic pollutants and af excessive in tes t inal organisms by the untreated or inadequate treatment of the sewage of the people who reside in these develop- m e n t s .

In m y opinion, simi3ar conditions would be found i n most parts of Flarida where canals mist wbich ''appear polluted, ' 1

~ L W S , ~ , &p ohn V. Betz, Ph,D.

u ~ s s o c i a t e Rof essor of Microb%logy

APPENDIX B

M E M O R A N D U M 107.07- 17 A

T O Mr. Hans Schmitz, Chief Planning and Evaluation

F R O M Jim C . Eggert

DATE October 13, 1971

SUBJECT Summary of Canals in Dade County

Inspector I

Most Dade County canals and waterways have long been a problem with regards to pollution.

6

Special efforts should be given to the hundreds of miles of small branch canals. These waterways have a history of algae, over- growth of weeds and trash problems. Odors and health problems are not uncommon.

The canal maintenance program should be revised. The State and County sometimes have conflicts concerning canal jurisdiction. Florida Flood Control maintains most of the main canal systems. The County maintains most secondary canals. Often the State will clear out a main waterway leaving small branch canals for the County. These canals are often dead end and become clogged with material from the main canal, The junk and aquatic growth pre- sents a constant complaint from the public. Bank weed control as well as aquatic growth control is usually done by spraying with herbicides. The type herbicide is important but of more impor- tance is how it is applied. Many miles of canals are sprayed regularly. Dead organic matter, causes water quality damage,

The primary function of canals and waterways in Dade is or was drainage of flood waters. We find many canal systems are de- veloped coincidentally by highway construction. Run-off from roads and highways, entering our canals, cause poor water quality many miles downstream. Drainage canals are being used inten- tionally and unintentionally to transport waste away from resi- dential, commercial, industrial and agricultural areas. With increased development, the quality of water in the canals will deteriorate.

Salt water intrusion also plays an important role in ~ade's canals and waterways. The present system of salinity dams is barely holding its own. Construction of weirs in the canals would permit discharge of flood waters only. This would step levels up from lower elevations at the coast to high elevations in the interior. This is a State problem.

M r . Hans Schmitz - 2 - October 13, 1971

The depth of most canals i s usually constant. With the exception of several natural waterways a l l canals are dug t o a uniform depth. Several canal systems surveyed by our o f f i ce showed an average of 1 0 t o 1 2 f ee t . Many small canals a re not a s deep; some are much deeper. Several canals have heavy deposits of s i l t o r sludge on the bottom. The flow r a t e i n most canals is very low. Even during times of flood waters, l i t t l e flushing action i s noted. When flow decreases, we have l e s s d i lu t ion of any pollutants reaching the canals, Pollutants such as s i l t and mud from construction a c t i v i t i e s , pesticides and herbicides from agricul tural areas and private homes, and storm drain runoff ( o i l , s i l t , so l id waste) a l l contribute t o t h i s problem.

Health problems can be expected i n many of Dade's waterways. Our records show high MPN counts i n many waterways. Several Lakes have received much publ ic i ty because of eutrophication. With ideal conditions some of the blue-green algae can become toxic t o animals. So f a r , there have been no records of human deaths, Reports of skin rash have been noted. Swimming i s not recom- mended i n any Dade Waterway t h a t i s not tes ted regularly by the Health Dept,

Botulism, type C, is common i n Dade County. Many b i rds have been k i l l e d by t h i s toxin. Health problems occur with the occur- rence of dead f i s h and animals i n public waterways. Fish k i l l s have reached a new peak t h i s past month (Nov.) i n South Florida. With the exceptions of one o r two main canals most f i s h k i l l s were associated with small o r secondary canals,

Recreation, boating, swimming and f ishing a re an important par t of South Florida l i f e . Unfortunately, most of our canals of fer l i t t l e fo r water sports . Some waterways i n the f a r south and western portions of Dade a re exceptions. It is of i n t e r e s t t o note many of our (rock p i t s ) and lakes have remained i n very good condition fo r many years.

Boat t r a f f i c i n most Dade canals is l imited t o small portable- type boats. Only the M i a m i River has any regular movement of large boats. Sa l in i ty dams i n a l l bu t the Oleta River prevent any boat t r a f f i c from the bay inland. Coral Gables waterway provides boat access inland t o U.S. I. (Sal t Water).

M r . Hans Schmitz - 3 - October 13, 1971

Fish taken from Dade's c a n a l s a t t imes appear t o be undes i rable f o r e a t i n g . Proper cooking should e l imina te any danger involved, although t h e t a s t e may be somewhat unpleasant (muddy).

Some recommendations could be: f i l l i n g i n some o f t h e smal ler d i t c h type cana l s such a s Coral Way, new c a n a l s should be regu- l a t e d with regards t o road, commercial, r e s i d e n t i a l , i n d u s t r i a l and a g r i c u l t u r a l runoff .

Ex i s t ing s p o i l a r e a s and banks of cana l s should be cleaned and p lan ted t o reduce eros ion problems, Waste t reatment f a c i l i t i e s should no t be permit ted t o e n t e r any canal . Those e f f l u e n t s now e n t e r i n g cana l s should have advanced l e v e l s of t rea tment , inc luding n u t r i e n t removal,

Many cana l s should be cleaned, inc luding bottom m a t e r i a l s , and maintained on a % r e g u l a r b a s i s . Methods of sludge removal depend on condi t ions .

Canals and waterways wi th a h i s t o r y of problems a re :

F la . C i ty Canal - MPN high M i l i t a r y Canal - Fish k i l l s , MPN high , low DO C-103 - MPN h igh , f i s h k i l l s Goulds Canal - Overgrown aqua t i c cond i t ions S .W. 87 Ave. Canal - f i s h k i l l s Black Creek - f i s h k i l l s Be1 Aire c a n a l s - s i l t , f i s h k i l l s , a lgae , duck k i l l s . C-100 A - f i s h k i l l s , duck k i l l s Snapper Creek - Fish k i l l s , MPN high , low DO Ludlam Canal - Fish k i l l s , a lgae M i l l e r Canal - F i s h k i l l s , a l g a e , duck k i l l s B i rd Rd, cana l - s i l t , low DO Vi l lage Green Canal - a l g a e , low DO Cen t ra l Canal - f i s h k i l l s , a lgae l low DO, duck k i l l s . Coral Gables Canal - f i s h k i l l s , a lgae , low DO Coral Way Canal - overgrowth, t r a s h N.W. 117 Ave.,Canal - f i s h K i l l s Comfort Canal - f i s h k i l l s , low DO, a lgae Wagner Creek, MPN h igh , f i s h k i l l s , s i l t , e t c . FEC Canal - F i s h k i l l s

M r . Hans Schmitz October 13 , 1971

" FEC B o r r o w Canal - F i s h k i l l s 58 S t . Canal - F i s h k i l l , overgrowth Okeechobee (Miami) Canal - F i s h k i l l s , s i l t Russian Colony Canal - Fish k i l l s , s i l t N.W. 138 S t . Canal - f i s h k i l l s , l o w DO Gratigny Canal - Fish k i l l s , l o w DO L i t t l e River Canal - Fish k i l l s , l o w D.O. Biscayne Canal - Fish k i l l s , l o w DO, duck k i l l s Carol C i t y Canal - Fish k i l l s , l o w DO, Red Rd. cAnal - Fish k i l l s , l o w DO Snake Creek - f i s h k i l l s , l o w DO O l e t a River - Fish k i l l s , l o w DO

Many more c a n a l s can be included on t h i s l i s t , mostly those s m a l l , one o r two b locks long.

JCE : l k r

GENERAL CONDITION OF DADE COUNTY CANALS

Most cana l s i n Dade County a r e i n very poor condition: A few cana l s i n t h e southern end of t h e county a r e i n good shape; c l e a r , c l e a n and f r e e o f any problems. These c a n a l s a r e i n a very spa r se ly populated a r e a and have been i n ex- i s t e n c e only a few yea r s .

A wee& c o n t r o l (both aqua t i c and bank) program of spraying with he rb ic ides is used by b o t h t h e County and S t a t e . P lan t s which a r e sprayed and k i l l e d remain i n t h e water , decaying and reducing i t s q u a l i t y . Many mi les of cana l s a r e sprayed a t one t i m e , sometimes with l i t t l e rega rd t o c a r e f u l o r acceptable methods.

Severa l surveys made by our o f f i c e show a very d e l i c a t e b a l - ance i n d isso lved Oxygen i n most Dade Canals. I f t h e D.O. , u sua l ly q u i t e low, h a s a s l i g h t drop t h e r e s u l t s a r e d is - a s t r o u s t o aqua t i c l i f e . W e found when t h e D.O. is i n a low range near t h e s u r f a c e , it drops f a s t with depth and i s usua l ly zero a t t h e bottom.

Many cana l s i n Dade have a h i s t o r y of "unnatural" sludge on t h e bottom. This can be from sewage o r i n d u s t r i a l waste. A "na tu ra l " s ludge is p resen t i n many c a n a l s , u sua l ly organ- ic m a t e r i a l s e t t l e d on t h e bottom. Any dis turbance of t h e s e sludge d e p o s i t s cause a d r a s t i c change i n water q u a l i t y . Many f i s h k i l l s have occurred a f t e r heavy r a i n s stir up these bad c a n a l s , reducing oxygen.

L i t t l e o r no flow c o n t r i b u t e s g r e a t l y t o our problems i n Dade. Canals f i l l w i th a l g a e , duck week and tons of junk. Clean-- o u t e f f o r t s must be stepped up during these "no flow" times.

Conditions have improved w i t h b a c t e r i o l o g i c a l condi t ions i n m o s t c a n a l s , b u t o t h e r problems such as Oxygen and Phosphates have become worse i n many canals .

Submitted by,

J E : l k r

%

J i m ~ ~ ~ e r t Inspector I P o l l u t i o n Control

APPENDIX C

APPENDIX D

Floridr'r buch+r. the vacation rtmorp)mr, and w r h r rporta contrnuod to rwrk highW Irktho al#dlvstk+n d ow- ", towlate. Tablo 18 shorn In drtlll whot tourish rxpwWd to enjoy, whllo T.#. 17 krdlcrt.r tho rMpormt o f tho : wtgoino towl6ta 08 to whrt.th.y had 0njOy.d.

It i8.krtsnuting to note that bokrcher and nrtural scemly w n r the only twb rp.cRkdH#rk lM hpwrlaywt Wtq :. , . .

than had beon mnticlpatod..