2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
6/08/2017 | 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM | SPATIAL TOOLS TO EVALUATE CATCHMENT-SCALE SEPTIC SYSTEM IMPACTS IN PERI-URBANIZING NORTHWEST FLORIDA | 306A
SPATIAL TOOLS TO EVALUATE CATCHMENT-SCALE SEPTIC SYSTEM IMPACTS IN PERI-URBANIZING NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Human development poses many threats to aquatic ecosystems and the services they provide. Nutrient and bacteria loading associated with residential septic systems are among the most significant threats to the health of stream and estuary ecosystems in northwest Florida, where residential developments have supplanted pine forests across the region. Funding is available from the state and utility providers to implement septic-to-sewer conversions, but the overwhelming abundance of septic systems across the region poses a challenge for prioritizing locations to maximize water quality benefit. For example, in tributaries to the Perdido River in northwest Florida, approximately 12,000 residences have septic systems over a 350 square mile area. GIS-based tools are critical for characterizing the cumulative effects of these spatially distributed stressors through the drainage network, and for describing the benefits of their removal. We developed a spatial model to characterize the cumulative effects of septic systems on Florida’s tributaries to the Perdido River. Results from our model indicate locations where a feasible number of septic-to-sewer conversions could benefit water quality, as well as locations where a limited number of conversions are unlikely to have measurable water quality benefit.
- C27 Landuse and Non-Point source Impacts
- S14 Stressors in linked aquatic-terrestrial ecosystems: New developments and solutions
- C27 Landuse and Non-Point source Impacts
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Presenters/Authors
Matthew Deitch
(), University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center, mdeitch@ufl.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Michele Sapundjieff
(), University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center, msapundjieff@ufl.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Shane Feirer
(), University of California Informatics and GIS Statewide Program, stfeirer@ucanr.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -