Water Quality for the EAASR and STA 3/4

 The water quality of the EAASR and STA 3/4 were separated into the inflow

water quality and uptake parameters. The inflow water quality and each uptake rate

parameter are detailed in this section.

Inflow Water Quality

 Inflow to the EAASR and STA3 /4 occurred from four external sources. A mean

concentration for each source was calculated from historical data. Pumping Stations S2

and S3 are used to control the water entering and leaving Lake Okeechobee through the

NNR and Miami Canals. The water passing through pump stations S2 (NNR Canal) and

S3 (Miami Canal) was divided into two types: to LOK from the EAA (back pumping),

and from LOK to the EAA. These were designated as Basin and LOKcanal, respectively

and correspond to the external inflows in the water quantity section. The mean,

coefficient of variation (standard deviation divided by mean), and count of data for each

parameter are presented in Tables 4-8 through 4-11. The data included measurements

from 1973 to 2004, which were taken at different frequencies depending on the

parameter.

 In both the NNR and Miami Canals, water quality exiting LOK was of higher

quality than water entering LOK. The mean water quality coming to LOK from the EAA

was higher quality in the Miami Canal than in the NNR Canal. The coefficients of

variation for concentrations to LOK were similar, with the exception of iron, turbidity

and dissolved oxygen. The reverse is true for flows from LOK to the EAA, where S2 had

better water quality than S3, with the exception of iron and phosphorus, as TP. The

coefficients of variation for the flows from LOK are similar with the exception of

sodium.