Stewart, J. A., University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA, jas76@students.uwf.edu
Beutler, J. M., University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA, jbeutl2@uic.edu
Schwartz, M. C., University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA, mschwartz@uwf.edu

URBAN SUBMARINE GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE TO A PENSACOLA, FL, BAYOU: IMPLICATIONS FOR CONTAMINANT TRANSFER AND NUTRIENT-LOADING

Bayou Texar (Pensacola, FL) is an urban estuary that is located hydrogeologically downgradient from a region that includes both considerable residential development and the Escambia Treating Company Superfund site. While the residential development is known to have significant local effects on groundwater quality from infiltration of fertilizers and outdated septic systems, the Superfund site has been characterized as a known source of organic and inorganic groundwater contaminants, including naphthalenes, pentachlorophenol, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium. Our recent investigations of potential submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into the bayou revealed zones of water column excess radon-22 as high as 95 dpm L^-1. This ²²²Rn in the water column was not supported from radon emanation from sediments, which was measured concurrently. These results suggest a considerable SGD flux into Bayou Texar and, potentially, Carpenter’s Creek, its primary tributary. This urban SGD holds significant potential to transfer both dissolved inorganic nutrients (e.g., NO₃) associated with the residential development and the groundwater contaminants emanating from the Superfund site.

Poster presentation

Presentation is given by student: Yes
Session #:089
Date: 03-06-2008
Time: 17:30 - 19:30