High Resolution Bathymetric Mapping of South Florida Estuarine and Coastal Systems

Shell Point near mouth of Caloosahatchee Estuary. (Image from sfwmd.gov website.) [larger image]

Project Investigator: Mark Hansen Project Personnel: Gina Peery Proposals, Project Summaries and Work Plans Metadata

Summary

This project addresses the collection and interpretation of data necessary to develop the present day bathymetry of the lower portions of South Florida

High resolution, GPS based bathymetric surveying is a proven method to map river, lake, and ocean floor elevations. Several recent initiatives including the development Minimum Flows and Levels (MFL) and the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study (SWFFS) necessitate the development of hydrodynamic models of coastal waters in South Florida. One of the important data requirements for these models is the bathymetry. The information available at this time for most of South Florida is dated and needs to be upgraded with new surveys. This project supports several efforts including the Caloosahatchee, Loxahatchee, and St. Lucie MFL, the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study, and the S.W.I.M. designation of Charlotte Harbor.

Project Objectives and Strategy:

This project addresses the collection and interpretation of data necessary to develop the present day bathymetry of the lower portions of South Florida including: Estero Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, offshore regions of Sanibel and Captiva Islands and the Caloosahatchee, Loxahatchee, and St. Lucie Rivers. In addition, a need for an Estero Bay and Charlotte Harbor estuarine mixing model has been identified by the Southwest Florida Regional Restoration Coordination Team and the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study. In order to create an accurate numerical model, current bathymetric data must be obtained. Bathymetry data is also needed for the creation of a seagrass vision maps (an NEP effort) and to populate the species response models being created as assessment tools for several restoration programs. The strategy is to acquire bathymetric data for the aforementioned areas is to employ two methods which have been developed by the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA). The USGS method is an acoustic based system named System for Accurate Nearshore Depth Surveys (SANDS), and the NASA method is an airborne LIDAR system named Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL).

Project Summaries

• 2003

Workplans

• 2004

Metadata

• High Resolution Bathymetric Mapping of South Florida Estuarine and Coastal Systems