Results of the flowmeter-injection test in the Long Valley Exploratory Well (Phase II), Long Valley, California

Bayboro Harbor and the Port of St. Petersburg, Florida, form a manmade basin adjacent to Tampa Bay that may supply turbid water to the bay and subsequently affect light penetration in water in the bay. To address concerns about the nature and extent of this potential problem, resuspension of bottom sediments, sedimentation, and tributary storm discharge in the basin were studied. Study results indicated that tidal currents, wind waves, and seiche motions do not resuspend bottom sediments. The maneuvering of a cruise ship in the port resuspended bottom sediments, but these sediments settled within 2 hours. Tidal currents and wave action were not large enough o prevent the resuspended sediments from settling in the basin. Analysis of bathymetric surveys of the port made in 1981, 1986, 1987, and 1989 indicates that the cruise ship has deepened the port along its route and that the displaced sediment has been deposited elsewhere within the port. The storm discharge from two tributaries and the effect of tributary storm runoff on the water quality of the harbor were studied during a storm on November 9, 1989. Booker Creek, which drains an urban watershed, was stratified with a thin layer of turbid freshwater flowing into the harbor over a layer of less turbid saltwater. Salt Creek, which primarily drains Lake Maggiore, was only partially stratified and was less turbid. The turbid water from the creeks increased the turbidity only slightly in the harbor, probably because of mixing with less turbid water and particle settling. Thus, the basin provides mixing and settling, which diminish and eliminate the potentially adverse effect on Tampa Bay from tributary storm runoff and large vessel traffic in the basin.