Long term peace river characteristics as a measure of a phosphate slime spill impact

Selected stations on the Peace River, Florida were sampled following a spill of phosphate slime (3.8 × 10⁶1) into the river in 1972. Selected chemical analyses were repeated in 1974 to determine the long-term effect of the phosphate slime spill. Constituent fluxes were calculated (kg constituent/s) for each station, and percent deviations from calculated values for successive stations were also calculated. Short term effects of the spill were identified, and differences in the significant correlations also appeared. Deviations from calculated values were associated with dilution in 1972 for phosphorus, iron, and molybdenum; in 1974, the dilution effect seemed evident only for phosphorus. The implications in terms of the phosphate slime spill and the effect on red tide blooms near the mouth of the river are considered.