Verdantas supported the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) in reevaluating Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) for the Upper Peace River through development of a comprehensive HEC-RAS hydraulic model. Covering approximately 40 miles of river between Bartow and Zolfo Springs, the project required integration of extensive hydrologic, hydraulic, bathymetric, LiDAR, and GIS datasets. The effort included field reconnaissance and development of a georeferenced model featuring more than 200 cross sections, multiple stream gages, and key hydraulic structures throughout the watershed.
The Upper Peace River presents unique challenges due to its karst geology, streamflow losses, and complex groundwater-surface water interactions. Verdantas developed a hydraulic model that integrated tributary inflows, flow losses, and groundwater interactions, providing the foundation for flow-frequency analysis, inundation mapping, and evaluation of MFL criteria. Using long-term monitoring data, the model was refined to provide a reliable representation of flow conditions throughout the watershed.
The completed model was used to evaluate flow scenarios, assess floodplain connectivity, and support SWFWMD's reevaluation of Minimum Flows and Levels for the Upper Peace River. By improving understanding of how flow conditions influence river function and connectivity, the model provides a defensible tool for future water management and watershed planning decisions.
Verdantas also completed an Environmental Values Assessment to evaluate how changing flow conditions influence key ecological and functional metrics used in MFL development, including detrital transport, sediment movement, and navigation. Using outputs from the hydraulic model and long-term flow records, the team assessed how flow reductions affect the frequency and duration of these environmental values, helping inform future water management decisions across the Upper Peace River system.
