GPS map of the sample locations. A second sample was taken in the Indian River North while we were on the boat and saw a visible difference in the surface waters of the water coming out of the creek versus the water closer to the bank on ocean side. One sample was taken during an incoming flood tide in the Ponce Inlet, and the remaining four samples were taken during an outgoing ebb tide.
Upon data analysis I discovered that the Indian River Lagoon samples were likely impacted by the creek water, which is connected to the Halifax River through a system of creeks more inland. It is difficult to determine the direction of water flow on ebb tide, and therefore I cannot confidently or accurately report how the Indian River Lagoon samples contribute to the Ponce Inlet.
The dissolved oxygen for all of the samples taken were within the range for a healthy system, 6 mg/L and 8 mg/L. The Ponce Inlet flood tide contained the lowest amounts of dissolved oxygen, and the Indian River Lagoon 1 sample had the highest. The high value of the IRL 1 could have been due to the 21 mph winds over the water that day. 
The Total Nitrogen levels are within the acceptable threshold, although I cannot explain why there is such a great difference in the measurements from the Indian River Lagoon 1 and 2. The influx of water from the Rockhouse Creeks system could have impacted this measurement, causing the Indian River Lagoon 1 sample to contain more anthropological run off. 
Total Phosphorus was higher than the threshold in the Ponce Inlet (0.04 and 0.05 mg/L), which was likely caused by the high quantity of the phosphorus in the Halifax River (0.06 mg/L) flowing into the inlet with the
ebb tide. The two samples from the Indian River Lagoon measured below the threshold (0.01 and 0.02 mg/L).
The pH of freshwater tends to be more acidic, while ocean water has an average pH of 8.1. The Ponce Inlet directs more basic ocean water (pH 6.2) through the Indian River Lagoon (pH 6.7, 6.8) and less through the Halifax River (6.6).
The Ponce Inlet flood tide from the Atlantic Ocean contained the most amount of plastic fibers per mL, 0.162 while the Indian River Lagoon 2 only contained 0.08 plastic fibers per mL.
The Salinity of the Ponce Inlet flood tide is, as expected, the highest at 35 ppt, coming in from the ocean, the Halifax River had the lowest salinity, while still remaining a brackish system.
Questions
Jessy 101w Would you expect there to be big differences between the waters coming
in from the Halifax and Indian River Lagoon? What are the differences
between their sources of input like street runoff vs streams or rivers,
etc.?
I was not sure going into this experiment how big the differences would be between the two Rivers, or what they would be. I know that the Indian River Lagoon is quite polluted and experiencing an algae bloom farther south. The Indian River Lagoon also connects to the Atlantic Ocean through five inlets, which can add and remove nutrients from the water system.
The Halifax River runs from Ormond Beach to the Ponce Inlet, and although the river flows through several State Parks and Preserves, it also passes through residential and business areas and therefore receives runoff and pollution.
It looks fantastic; Do you believe there is much flow from Halifax River to the IRL? It looks complex what happens there at Rock-house creek when tides cycle?
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