Relating Landuse Changes with Water Quality Parameters in the Alafia River Watershed, Florida.

Urban growth and resulting landuse changes have a direct impact on all aspects of natural ecosystems.  Increasing demand for urban landuses, particularly in Florida, is threatening the water quality in these environmentally sensitive watersheds.  To study the relationship of how landuse changes affect water quality parameters in the Alafia River Watershed (drainage area of 1094 km²), three decades (1977-2007) of water quality data (pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, metals, dissolved solids) was compared to various landuse categories (urban, agricultural, forested, wetlands) along with population statistics in the sub-basins of the watershed using the ArcGIS geographic information system.  A better understanding of linkages between landuse and water quality parameters leads to development of solutions to mitigate negative impacts resulting from landuse changes on water quality and will facilitate promoting sustainable landuse practices.