Spatial and Temporal Chemical Variations in the Hillsborough River System

Author

Lori A. Pillsbury, University of South Florida

Graduation Year

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Granting Department

Marine Science

Major Professor

Byrne, Robert H.

Committee Member

Benjamin Flower, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Edward VanVleet, Ph.D.

Keywords

major ions, pH, carbonate, phosphate, seasonal cycles

Abstract

The Hillsborough River flows southwesterly through Pasco and Hillsborough counties in west central Florida. From its source at the Green Swamp to its mouth in Hillsborough Bay, the river is joined by many tributaries and man-made inputs. Spatial and temporal variations in the river's major ion and CO₂ system chemistry were examined in a two-year study between 1999 and 2001. At thirteen sampling stations along approximately 54 miles of the river, water samples were collected in surroundings that ranged from pristine to urban. Samples were collected monthly for the first year and periodically thereafter. Concentrations of major ions were lowest in the river's headwaters, showed only minor spatial variations in mid-river, and sharply increased in tidally influenced waters below a dam on the lower river. A major tributary, Blackwater Creek, exerts a strong influence on the river's phosphate concentrations, and Crystal Springs, upstream of Blackwater Creek, exerts a strong influence on nitrate concentrations in the river. Downstream of Crystal springs, NO₃- concentrations decreased steadily to levels that are more than an order of magnitude lower than levels in the upper river. Temporal ion concentration variations can be quite large. Low major ion concentrations were observed in the rainy season (June-September), while phosphate concentrations increased dramatically during extremely wet conditions. Seasonal variations were also observed in the river's CO₂ system. Riverwater pH decreased during periods of high precipitation along with CaCO₃ saturation state. CaCO₃ supersaturation was observed during the exceptionally dry periods of the study, and undersaturation was observed during periods of high rainfall.Overall, the chemistry of the Hillsborough River is greatly influenced by temporal and spatial variations in the river's tributaries, groundwater sources, and anthropogenic inputs.

Scholar Commons Citation

Pillsbury, Lori A., "Spatial and Temporal Chemical Variations in the Hillsborough River System" (2004). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/1197