Table 20. Florida Sea Grant College Program research and extension activities and projects 
concerning Florida Bay and the Florida Keys, and the greater South Florida area, 1972 - 1994 
(cont.). 
SECTION C: EXTENSION ACTIVITIES: 
Florida Sea Grant is the only academic or state or federal governmental organization to conduct a state 
wide program of outreach, information and technology transfer, extension and public service dealing with 
coastal issues. As part of its network of state wide specialists concerned with various technical subjects and 
12 professionals in coastal locations across the state, Florida Sea Grant has two marine extension agents 
working in southern Florida, in Dade and Monroe counties. 
The Monroe County Sea Grant Extension agent is based in Key West, and serves the entire Keys and 
Florida Bay area. The Dade County Sea Grant Extension agent is based in Miami, serving all of the county 
including the Biscayne Bay waterfront. Both conduct public information programs and work to provide 
objective, scientifically based information to user groups in marine industries, fishing, tourism, management, 
and others. 
9.1.7.1.2. Freshwater discharge to Florida Bay 
The primary channels carrying fresh water into Florida Bay were instrumented and dishcarge 
measurements made in order to obtain stage-discharge relations. These data are needed to 
understand the water budget and controls on salinity within the Bay, and to calibrate the 
hydrologic models prepared by the National Park Service and NOAA. Water samples were 
collected at the time discharge measurements were made, and in conjunction with other 
sampling programs. The flow and water quality data increased the understanding of nutrient 
transport mechanisms into the Bay. 
9.1.7.2. Modeling enhancements 
9.1.7.2.1. Model review 
Existing hydrologic models being used to simulate flow conditions that existed in South Florida 
prior to construction of canals, levees, and pumping stations cannot be verified because of a 
lack of historical data. This short-term limited scope project analyzed the sensitivity of the 
model to various parameters using statistical techniques to define model errors. Results were 
used to place confidence limits on the ability of the model to reasonably simulate various 
hydrologic conditions and alternatives. 
9.1.7.2.2. Vegetative resistance to flow 
Surface water models in the Everglades are highly sensitive to the surface roughness 
coefficient used in the flow equation. This project utilized laboratory flume experiments to 
provide resistance coefficients representing characteristic Everglades conditions. These data 
were used by the SFWMD to refine the hydrologic models relied on by all federal and state 
agencies to plan Everglades restoration. 
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