Alachua County is proud to announce that Greg Owen, a senior planner within the county’s Environmental Protection Department, was recently one of several authors published in the peer-reviewed journal of the Florida Academy of Science for research examining nitrogen levels in the Santa Fe River Basin.
The research article explains how, since the 1950s, development and land use have increased nitrogen in groundwater that feeds the Santa Fe River. A network of groundwater monitoring wells was established to monitor water quality trends. In 2008, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) declared the river impaired and set a goal to reduce nitrate levels to 0.35 milligrams per liter.
Working in partnership with Aquifer Watch and Florida Lake Watch, the county expanded groundwater monitoring and analyzed long-term data. The research found that nitrogen levels in the Lower Santa Fe Basin have declined since 2014. However, the decrease is largely attributed to higher rainfall diluting groundwater rather than major changes in land use.
The findings helped FDEP refine its monitoring approach to better understand how nitrogen moves through groundwater before reaching the river. The study also showed that trained volunteers can successfully collect reliable water-quality data, helping reduce monitoring costs while maintaining scientific standards.
The publication highlights Alachua County’s continued commitment to protecting water resources through science-based decision-making and community partnerships.
For more information, contact Greg Owen at 352-264-6800 or gowen@alachuacounty.us.
