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Benjamin F. McPherson

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin F. McPherson.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1978

Quality of the water in Borrow Ponds near a major highway interchange, Dade County, Florida, October-November 1977

Water, bottom sediment, and aquatic plants were sampled from ponds near a major south Florida highway interchange to document concentrations of selected constituents in an aquatic environment near heavy vehicular traffic. Generally, concentrations of constituents were within the range expected in an uncontaminated environment in south Florida. However, concentrations did exceed south Florida background levels or Environmental Protection Agency criteria in a few cases. Two trace elements--chromium (20 micrograms per liter) in ponded surface water and lead (500 micrograms per gram) in bottom sediment--exceeded background levels. Concentrations of dieldrin (22 micrograms per kilogram) and polychlorinated biphenyls (53 micrograms per kilogram) also exceed background levels in bottom sediment. The concentration of phenol (23 micrograms per liter) in ground water exceeded Environmental Protection Agency quality criteria by 22 micrograms per liter, but was within the background range for south Florida. Ten metals were detected in the cattail or algal samples, but only iron, manganese, and zinc were in higher concentrations than those in the bottom sediment. (Woodard-USGS)

Florida↗
USGS1978

Limnology of Taylor Creek impoundment with reference to other water bodies in Upper St. Johns River Basin, Florida

Taylor Creek Impoundment was constructed on the western side of the upper St. Johns River basin as part of a plan for flood control and water regulation. The impoundment, which has a surface area of about 4,000 acres, was initially filled late in 1969. Water of relatively poor quality was observed in the impoundment during its first three years of its existence (1970-72). The depth of the impoundment is sufficient to allow thermal stratification, and a thermocline usually develops at depths of 8 to 10 feet. During 1970-72 the hypolimnion remained anaerobic for more than half the year. The hypolimnion also accumulated high concentrations of phosphorus, ammonia-nitrogen, carbon dioxide, ferrous iron, hydrogen sulfide and other substances. The poor water quality is attributed to the decomposition of flooded vegetation, decomposition of soil organic matter, and heavy growths of phytoplankton and duckweed stimulated by an abundant supply of nutrients. Flushing of the impoundment and depletion of leachable nutrients and soil organic matter have led to an improvement in water quality since 1972. During 1973 and 1974 the depth to the top of the anaerobic zone increased to more than 12 feet and by 1974 the period of anaerobiosis decreased to less than 2 months out of 12. Phosphorus concentration after the fall overturn decreased more than 50 percent between 1970 and 1974. The reduction in biochemical oxygen demand during this period suggests a decrease in primary productivity. Water released from the impoundment during the period 1969-75 was similar in quality to nearby Wolf Creek and Jane Green Creek. Of 21 physical, organic, and inorganic constituents, only ammonia-nitrogen was significantly higher in releases from the impoundment than it was in the natural streams. Dissolved oxygen was higher in water released from the impoundment than in the natural streams and dissolved solids concentration were lower. Large releases from the impoundment may, under certain conditions, produce velocities great enough to resuspend bottom sediments several miles downstream at a point where Taylor Creek flows into Lake Poinsett.

Florida↗
USGS1977

Limnological characteristics of Cypress Lake, Upper Kissimmee River Basin, Florida

Cypress Lake is in the upper Kissimmee River basin in Florida between Lake Tohopekaliga and Lake Hatchineha. It is remote from urban development and extensive agriculture. Nevertheless, most of the inflow to the lake, about 302,000 acre-ft per year, comes from 2 canals and a creek that drain the upper part of the basin which receives effluent from about 35 percent of the Orlando metropolitan area. With this inflow and a lake volume of 26,100 acre-ft, water in the lake is renewed about every 0.1 year. Cypress Lake has a surface area of 6.4 sq mi, a mean depth of 6.4 ft, an immediate overland drainage area of 29 sq mi and with Lake Hatchineha, receives drainage from 1,162 sq mi. From 1950 to 1964, before locks and dams at the outlets of Lakes Kissimmee and Tohopekaliga regulated water levels at Cypress Lake, water levels fluctuated from 57 ft msl to 48 ft msl, periodically flooding the surrounding area. After regulation from 1964 to 1975, the maximum water level at Cypress Lake was slightly more than 54 ft msl. Specific conductance of the water increased in Cypress Lake from an average of 76 micromho/cm in 1954-65 before regulations to 130 micromho/cm in 1964-75 after regulation. Cypress Lake is classified as a colored alkaline lake with an average color of 79 platinum cobalt units. Emergent marsh vegetation covers almost all the shoreline of the lake. (Woodard-USGS)

Florida↗
USGS1977

The effect of the Faka Union Canal system on water levels in the Fakahatchee Strand, Collier County, Florida

The Faka Union Canal system, constructed in the western Big Cypress Swamp, Fla., in the early 1970's, lies about 3.5 miles west of the centerline of the Fakahatchee Strand, a forested water course which the State of Florida has designated as an Area of Critical State Concern in order to conserve natural resources. Between 1970 and 1975 the canal system annually discharged to the Gulf of Mexico from 143,200 to 275,600 acre-feet of freshwater. Discharge lowered ground-water levels as much as 4 feet near the eastern canal and created a water-level gradient that indicates water flowed from the Fakahatchee Strand west toward the canal during most of the year. In June 1975, water from early summer rains was impounded in the eastern canal upstream of the control structure at Janes Scenic Drive, and, as water levels rose in this reach, water flowed from the canal into the aquifer and around the control structure. The annual low-water level in the center of the Fakahatchee Strand declined from nearly 3 feet above mean sea level in 1972 to 1 foot above mean sea level in 1974. (Woodard-USGS)

Florida↗
USGS1976

Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in the Everglades Conservation Areas, Florida, with special reference to the effects of backpumping runoff

In much of the water pumped into the northern Everglades, Florida, concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus are relatively high. These nutrients are transported in the canals or into the peripheral marshes. Concentrations decrease sharply within 330 feet or less of the canals, whereas specific conductance remains essentially unchanged within this distance. The sharp decrease in inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus near the canal edge indicates net uptake in these shallow waters. Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus also decrease as water moves through the conservation areas in canals. This decrease is due partly to dilution by rainfall and runoff, and partly to net uptake in the canals and their peripheral marsh. The large canals of the northern and eastern parts of the conservation areas often have relatively low concentrations of dissolved oxygen which show little fluctuation within 24 hours. Backpumping 50 percent of the total annual canal runoff in southeast Florida would add from 990 to 6,160 tons of nitrogen and from 10 to 62 tons of phosphorus to the conservation areas. The bottom sediments of the Everglades are a sink for nitrogen and phosphorus. They can, however, be a source of these nutrients when anaerobic conditions exist at the water-sediment interface or when bottom material becomes resuspended. (Woodard-USGS)

Florida↗
USGS1972

Water quality at Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, 1971–72

The quality of water, sediment, and biota was determined at four sites in canals and drainage ditches at Miami International Airport (MIA) during high- and low-water periods and during summer and winter 1971–72. Concentrations of common ions, such as calcium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium, tended to be above average for fresh water because of periodic salt-water intrusion. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticides were in higher concentrations than typical for undisturbed areas of south Florida, but not higher than usual for the urban coastal area, so it is not known to what extent these chemicals are attributable to surrounding urbanization. Heavy metals, oil and grease, and PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) were the best indicators of the effects of MIA on water quality. Concentations of the above were quite variable, high values for each were recorded and were probably associated with recent discharges from industrial sources. Arsenic, lead, iron, and chromium all exceeded, in one or more samples, the U.S. Public Health Service's recommended upper limits for metals in water. Only iron normally exceeds these standards in the natural waters of south Florida. PCB's were detected in most samples and were in concentrations up to 1,000 micrograms per kilogram in fish. In addition to pesticides and PCB's, another group of persistant chlorinated compounds, PCN's (polychlorinated naphthalenes) were detected in water, sediment, and fish. This is the first known detection of these compounds in the environment.

Open-File Report↗