The Floridan Aquifer : The Principal Source Of Water Supply

Water scarcity is increasing worldwide and dramatically affecting first world nations such as Spain, Australia, and the United States. All nations are now starting to recognize that the world's water is a finite resource, and that resource is being drastically altered in both availability and quality by development, climate change and population growth. In the United States, the Colorado River is experiencing rapid declines in volume. Recent studies and data suggest that the changes in frequency, intensity, and timing of the availability of water will have substantial impact on the way we live our lives in the 21st century and beyond. As Letmathe Brakeck said, “I am confident that, under present

The Everglades, also known as the River of Grass, is one of South Florida's most treasured areas. It is an area still full of wonder and mystery. The Everglades is lined with a specific type of limestone bedrock formed by tiny organisms called byrozoans. These animals, though not related to coral, act like coral by extracting dissolved limestone from the sea water around them and using it to construct protective chambers in which to live. They then attach to various kinds of sea grasses on the ocean floor and coat them as well. Individual chambers combine together to form rock-like structures. Over thousands of years, when South Florida was completely submerged, a vast amount of this limestone

Webb (2003) conducted numerical analysis of source-water dynamics of stream-bounded alluvial aquifers, along the Ohio River in northern panhandle of West Virginia, with consideration of lateral infiltration of groundwater from bedrock aquifer. However, the author did not verify her model to the field data. On the other hand, Kozar and McCoy (2004) presented groundwater-surface water interaction and simulation of groundwater flow in the alluvial aquifers from the northern panhandle of West Virginia without considering recharge form adjacent bedrock and leakage from overlying tributary streams. Although, Bader et al., (1997) and Unthank (1999) independently identified that the alluvium along the Ohio River, West Virginia and Kentucky respectively is recharged by the following means: (1) precipitation on the flood plain, (2) inflow from fractures in the bedrock beneath and adjacent to the alluvium, (3) inflow from tributary streams through gravel deltas and bedding-plane partings, and (4) induced inflow from the river. Water flowing in tributary streams can percolate through the deltas to the gravel under the clay-silt layer (Grain, 1966). Unthank (2013) updated model and reran it which generated significant difference between measured water levels and model-computed water levels in the aquifer. The author concluded that more accurate and site-specific estimates of field parameters, refined model geometry, and additional numerical method improve

First and foremost, a main reason why the water supply to the everglades is having a bad effect, is because of all of the past draining. As stated in source 1 (The Florida Everglades) it says “From 1905-1910 , the settlers coverted the land… the Everglades were nearly drained entirely.” This shows that these new settlers wanted to get rid of the Everglades completely. As a result to their actions the Florida lost 50% of the wildlife’s population and diversity. This also included the subtropical wilderness of the Everglades. Which contained grassy marshes, hardwood hammocks, and mangrove forests. The draining of the Everglades was only one of the reasons why that the water supply on the park is bad.

A spring is a point where underground water emerges onto the Earth’s surface (Scott et al, 2004, p. 354). Florida springs are an important resource throughout the state: recreation, agricultural, public supply, and so forth. Indeed, many Florida springs have historical prominence in their respective regions. Florida’s karst topography is truly unique; the state’s bedrock is composed of limestone (and some dolostone), which formed over eons and is the remains of deceased sea creatures. This limestone is very susceptible to dissolution, and over time water has seeped through the bedrock to form underground aquifers. When parts of these aquifers reach the surface, a spring is formed. Anthropogenic activities can influence the health of Florida’s springs. For example, stormwater runoff can carry many harmful chemicals to springs. Florida’s springs are connected to the Floridan aquifer -- the underground drinking water source for much of the state’s residents. The importance of Florida’s springs goes beyond environmental processes. To further the scientific pool of knowledge, enhance public understanding, and clarify current gaps in the current state of knowledge related to Florida springs, it is important to analyze existing data; this paper aims to contribute to all of

The everglades is a place where nature is free in it’s paradise, besides the fact that there are hundreds of issues. The Everglades is home to many types of wildlife, and also provides for humans. The water supply has dramatically affected everyone, and everything, not all of it good. Water issues have affected the Everglades, and Florida by decreasing wildlife, droughts, and money issues.

Just like Shenandoah the Iapetus ocean started to open separating land masses Laurentia and Gondwana as Florida’s basement rock comes from the Gondwana region. Within the Neoproterozoic there is granitoids and igneous rocks that are found in central and northeastern part of Florida as evidence of Florida being part of Gondwana(M.C. Smith, written communication, 2017). In Figure 2, Findings of minerals such as schists and quartz

To lead off, the water supply can be ‘polluted’ by rain and storms. The repercussions can be huge, and Floridians would not have access to clean water. According to the text, in Source 2, paragraph 4, it states, “One reason the water in the Everglades faces these issues is because the sugarcane crop grows so well there.” As said in the text, more land is needed for planting, plants need water, and sugar cane is affecting the water supply. On page 116, the text states, “A Supreme Court decision made in 2004 implemented an $8.4 billion project to re-establish the natural flow of the water to the Everglades…” As states, the Supreme Court is funding the Everglades to help restore its natural flow. The water supply can be ‘trashed’ or ‘polluted’

The Everglades, also known as the river of Grass, is one of South Florida’s most treasured areas. This wetland is home to many animals like alligators, crocodiles and the Florida panther. The everglades also acts as a giant filter. The Everglades provides the residents of South Florida with water, jobs and tourist attractions. Unfortunately, we are just now realizing the importance of this ecosystem.

What if all of the water in Florida was poisonous and polluted? There are nearly 7 million people that live in Florida and many that rely on the Everglades for drinking and bathing water. The Everglades’ water supply is affecting wildlife and people but we are determined to find a way to fix this issue.

Groundwater is the largest and most available usable source of drinking water in the state. There is a vast and mysterious system of caves and natural springs in North Central Florida. The cave system within the aquifer is one of the most amazing parts. The caves are remarkable in many ways. They are among the deepest and longest in the world, let alone the U.S. Another amazing aspect of the system is the purity of the water. The springs collectively produce billions of gallons of crystal clear water per day. The whole system stems from the Florida Aquifer that rests under the entire state. When most people think of Florida, they think of the weather and the beaches, but its the springs and the whole water

As the water supply decreases, humans and animals don’t have as much to drink, and it kills many plants that are evolved to living in and around the water. When the water is poisoned, it kills many species that live there by making the water undrinkable. Then it gets into our water supply, as mentioned in source 1, (Past and Present: The Florida Everglades), paragraph 1, “The Everglades have always existed in a delicate balance - even the smallest change can have a large impact.” This basically proves that if you throw one small factor into the delicate ecosystem, (such as harmful chemicals or a lack of water), it can have big changes and cause many problems, (such as killing thousands of species and shrinking a beautiful national park). The beauty that was once expressed in this diverse terrain is now crippled due to human activity, and despite acts to preserve it, the Florida Everglades will most likely never be the same. Also, since water is everywhere and is what the Everglades survive on, the park has shrunk 50%, (according to source 1), and continues to shrink because of a lack of the income of fresh

When the settlers came they decided to drain the land for farming. “The U.S. Army corps of Engineers and government officals authorized the digging of canals, the creation of water storage facilities, and regulation of the flow of water.” as stated in source 1 the Florida Everglades. Because of this the Everglades is nearly drained compleatly. ALso to add to the problem almost all the remaining water was and still is runied by the sugarcane farmers. When the crop is harvisted the fertilizer used on the plants to make them grow better poisons the water with chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus damiging the water supply (source 2 can we fix the water supply?). This makes the water imposible to drink and is killing off alot of the Everglades natural

This paper is going to focus on the current environmental state of the Florida Everglades. It will look into how humans have impacted and effected the Everglades, from pollutants to drainage to invasive species. I’ll also discuss how we are now trying to remedy what has happened and preserve and restore them to prevent further damage, and if conservationists are having any kind of success or not.

This spring, record breaking floodwaters along the Mississippi River caused massive damage in nine states, totaling over $25 billion dollars in damage (Watts, 2011). In most areas the floodwaters have receded, however there is concern that even a little rain could cause more flooding due to the already saturated land. As cities and towns are beginning the restoration process, one thing caused by the flooding waters cannot be restored. Pollutants’ such as nitrogen from fertilizer, due to this area being primarily composed of farming land, is making its way toward the Gulf of Mexico. Every year pollutants traveling in the Mississippi River enter the Gulf and contribute to the Coastal Dead Zone; however, this year the Dead Zone in the Gulf