Alachua County Planner Published in Peer-Reviewed Journal

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Alachua County's Environmental Protection Department senior planner, Greg Owen, was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal of the Florida Academy of Science. The research article examines how development and land use have increased nitrogen levels in the groundwater that feeds the Santa Fe River since the 1950s.

Why it matters

The findings from this study help the Florida Department of Environmental Protection refine its monitoring approach to better understand how nitrogen moves through groundwater before reaching the river. It also demonstrates how trained volunteers can successfully collect reliable water-quality data, helping reduce monitoring costs while maintaining scientific standards.

The details

A network of groundwater monitoring wells was established to monitor water quality trends. In 2008, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) declared the river impaired and set a goal to reduce nitrate levels to 0.35 milligrams per liter. Working in partnership with Aquifer Watch and Florida Lake Watch, the County expanded groundwater monitoring and analyzed long-term data. The research found that nitrogen levels in the Lower Santa Fe Basin have declined since 2014, but the decrease is largely attributed to higher rainfall diluting groundwater rather than major changes in land use.

• Since the 1950s, development and land use have increased nitrogen in groundwater that feeds the Santa Fe River.
• In 2008, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) declared the river impaired and set a goal to reduce nitrate levels.
• Since 2014, nitrogen levels in the Lower Santa Fe Basin have declined.