12/08/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Page 14 Attachment B: Supporting Research November 24, 2020 Update 2 — Research Review Phase of IRL Plan o Requires FDEP to conduct a study on the bottle water industry in the state • Golf Courses o Requires FDEP to work with IFAS and regulated entities to consider the adoption by rule of BMPs for nutrient impacts from golf courses o Requires FDEP to complete rulemaking to implement several provisions and imposes numerous reporting requirements The County will continue to provide input to the FDEP during applicable rulemaking workshops in order to provide specific input in regard to protecting the County's resources and minimizing nutrient impacts from known nutrient sources. Continued communication with FDEP is necessary until a final BMAP allocation is determined to ensure the County is appropriately represented throughout the process. The County should also continue its active awareness and required changes necessary stemming from the passing of Senate Bill 712. While most of these changes impact organizations at the state -level, the County will still feel some impacts from these updates throughout various departments. While the County may not always have a large role in the creation or updates to the rules and regulations, the County should continue to have as much awareness and involvement as possible so that necessary inputs may be expressed as these rules and regulations are created and evolve. The County should also continually update its own rules and regulations in regard to Lagoon protection and the permitting process so that this resource is properly protected to the best extent possible from development and changes for future generations. 4. Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations are essential in the Lagoon in order to have a productive and diverse ecosystem. Organisms need these nutrients to survive in their habitats and are required for certain life processes, at the proper ratios. This ratio is known as Redfield's Ratio, which states that the ratio of carbon to nitrogen to phosphorus should be 106:16:1. These two nutrients receive a bad reputation in relation to the Lagoon because excess amounts of them can push the Lagoon system out of balance. These sources of nutrients stem from point sources and non -point sources and typically result from human development and expansion. Nitrogen is essential for plants and animals, but too much of it can damage aquatic environments. Excessive amounts of nitrogen in waterbodies can create algae blooms and result in low dissolved oxygen levels, and harm plants and other living organisms. Nitrogen in the water comes from a variety of sources, such as phytoplankton, bacteria, and fertilizer. Sewage, erosion, and stormwater runoff can also increase nitrogen levels in the water, especially in areas with high levels of development. As aquatic life decays, it can add nitrogen back into the system. Nitrogen in water is commonly reported as total nitrogen. Total nitrogen is the sum of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) and nitrate+ nitrite nitrogen (NOx-N). TKN is the sum of the organically bound nitrogen (such as amino acids) and ammonia nitrogen. Ammonia and nitrate are considered the forms available for direct biological uptake, and these are the forms of nitrogen that can be detrimental in high concentrations, leading to the formation of harmful algal blooms. Ammonia is one of the main sources of nitrogen that can be found in wastewater, but proper wastewater treatment methods remove the majority of ammonia concentrations before discharge. Various types of bacteria will 115