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The Peculiar Hydrology of West-Central Florida’s Sandhill Wetlands, Ponds, and Lakes –Part 2: Hydrogeologic Controls

  • Wetland Hydrology and Geomorphology
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Abstract

This study investigates hydrogeologic controls on a peculiar, poorly studied type of geographically isolated wetland in west-central Florida, USA, locally referred to as “sandhill” (or “xeric”) wetlands. Their peculiarity lies in their connectivity to a large regional aquifer, which controls their hydrology. Evidence for this connectivity was presented in Part I of this two-part series, but the mechanisms of their connectivity and ecohydrologic expression were yet undocumented. To make these determinations, we used geophysical, lithologic, hydrologic, and ecological data to construct hydrogeologic configurations for five distinct sandhill wetland types. From these configurations, two conceptual models were derived. The first model depicts the mechanisms by which sandhill wetlands connect to the regional aquifer. Three types of connectivity are proposed, each a function of the degree and depth of aquifer confinement: 1) direct-due to wetland embedment directly in the unconfined regional aquifer; 2) indirect-due to embedment in a surficial aquifer, where groundwater exchange with the regional aquifer occurs through breaches in the semi-confining unit; and 3) none-due to embedment in a surficial aquifer where groundwater exchange with the regional aquifer does not occur because the semi-confining unit is too deep. The second model conceptualizes sandhill wetland ecohydrologic expression as a function of depression geomorphology and the range of the regional water table. These models provide the basis of understanding of sandhill wetland, pond, and lake ecohydrology and can improve how natural resource managers classify, assess, and preserve these unique features, regionally and wherever wetlands of similar hydrogeologic control are found.

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adapted from Miller 1986 and Arthur et al. 2008)

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adapted from Miller 1997)

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Availability of data and material

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Jerry Mallams, PG, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) who provided partial funding for this study. Additional thanks to Mark Morgan, PE, and the Hernando County Utilities Department (HCUD) who, by way of a subcontract from WSP USA, Inc., provided funding for the monitoring of wetlands in the northern part of the study area during this study. Monitoring of wetlands in the southern part of the study area was performed by Tampa Bay Water and the SWFWMD. Additional thanks to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Forest Service (Withlacoochee Forestry Center), Boy Scouts of America (Tampa Bay Area Council) and Pasco County Parks and Recreation for access to their properties to conduct this important study. Borehole data and early GPR data were collected by the Natural Resource Conservation Service for the SWFWMD. Dr. Sajad Jazayeri and Sanaz Esmaeili provided additional GPR and ER data collection, and Caroline Masek, PE, provided preliminary editorial review.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided in part by the SWFWMD. The HCUD, by way of a subcontract from WSP USA, Inc., provided funding for the monitoring of wetlands in the northern part of the study area during this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EcoHydyrologix LLC, PO BOX 3526, Spring Hill, FL, 34611-3526, USA

    ReNae S. Nowicki

  2. University of South Florida School of Geosciences, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, NES 107, Tampa, FL, 33620-5550, USA

    Mark C. Rains, Christine Downs & Sarah E. Kruse

  3. Southwest Florida Water Management District, 2379 Broad St, Brooksville, FL, 34604, USA

    Jason J. LaRoche

  4. Sandia National Laboratories Geomechanics Department, PO Box 5800, Alburquerque, NM, 87185-0750, USA

    Christine Downs

Authors
  1. ReNae S. Nowicki
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  4. Christine Downs
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  5. Sarah E. Kruse
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Contributions

MR and SK, supported by RN and CD, contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and field data collection was performed by CD, RN, and SK. GPR and ER image processing were performed by CD and SK. Image interpretation was performed by RN, JL, and SK. Data analysis and model development were performed by RN and JL, supported by MR. The first draft of the manuscript was written by RN, with support from JL and MR. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to ReNae S. Nowicki.

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Nowicki, R.S., Rains, M.C., LaRoche, J.J. et al. The Peculiar Hydrology of West-Central Florida’s Sandhill Wetlands, Ponds, and Lakes –Part 2: Hydrogeologic Controls. Wetlands 42, 43 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-022-01560-8

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