Alafia River Minimum Flows and Levels - Southwest Florida Water ...

when running two separate time series analyses. The first record used was for
Buckhorn Springs flow only. This record was created by taking the difference
between two gages, one just upstream and one just downstream of Buckhorn
Springs. The record was then corrected for reported withdrawals to create a
record of Buckhorn Spring discharges in the absence of withdrawals. Simulated
reductions in flow of more than 15% indicated that habitat availability for
largemouth bass adults and various life history stages and spawning activities of
spotted sunfish would be reduced by more that 15% (Figure 5-13, Table 5-5).
Habitat Gain/Loss for Largemouth Bass Adults evaluated for Buckhorn Springs
0%
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
-5%
-10%
Habitat Gain/Loss
-15%
-20%
-25%
10% Flow Reduction
20% Flow Reduction
30% Flow Reduction
40% Flow Reduction
-30%
-35%
-40%
Figure 5-13. Habitat Gain/Loss for adult largemouth bass associated with modeled flow
reductions of 10-40% in Buckhorn Creek, based on Buckhorn Spring flows, downstream of
Buckhorn Springs Main. Similar plots for other largemouth bass life history stages and
other species are included in Appendix PHABSIM.
5-22