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

the inflow may result in those same organisms moving upstream (or downstream
depending upon the taxa response) into the next segment.
5) The center of abundance is discussed on page 3-14 in the draft MFL report and the
regression results presented as Table 3-7. Unfortunately, the equation was not
identified in the Table 3-7 header. The header should have included the following line:
kmU = m*(lag flow) + b; where flow is expressed in cfs and km U is center of abundance
expressed as river kilometer.
With respect to HCEPC's question regarding future permitting and the effect of an MFL
on permitting, a permitted quantity cannot cause an MFL to be violated. Permits are
now written with this condition, and would require a re-evaluation of a permit should a
violation of an MFL result.
In response to TBEP recommendations made at the Sulphur Springs workshop relevant
to the TBC, Sulphur Springs and Lower Hillsborough River regarding the treatment of
these MFLs concurrently, we do not anticipate that a fourth document will be generated
requiring peer review. However, we do not intend to adopt MFLs until all three peer
reviews are complete. Once the peer review committee completes their evaluation of
the last MFL document (Lower Hillsborough River), we will seek their suggestions and
opinions regarding the appropriateness of addressing these systems collectively and, if
recommended, how this might be accomplished.
In closing, we hope the responses furnished provide some additional clarification to
questions raised by the TBEP and members of the Technical Advisory Committee. The
District would again like to thank the TBEP for its willingness to conduct workshops and
review work done on MFL determinations for rivers within the Tampa Bay watershed,
and look forward to your continued participation and review of ongoing MFL efforts. We
realize that this is a fairly detailed response, and would be happy to discuss further if
you have questions or comments. I can be reached directly at 352-796-7211, extension
4235.
Sincerely,
Martin H. Kelly
Manager, Ecologic Evaluation Section
Resource Conservation and Development Department
MHK/brm
cc: SWFWMD Governing Board members
David L. Moore, SWFWMD Executive Director
Deborah Getzhoff, TBEP Policy Board chair
Appendix D x