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North Florida Springs: Water Budget and Aquifer Sustainability

North Florida Springs: Water Budget and Aquifer Sustainability. Robert L. Knight, Ph.D. Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute. Presentation to: Florida League of Cities August 16, 2013. North Florida – “Land of a Thousand Springs”. Wakulla. Ichetucknee.

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North Florida Springs: Water Budget and Aquifer Sustainability

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  1. North Florida Springs:Water Budgetand Aquifer Sustainability Robert L. Knight, Ph.D. Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute Presentation to: Florida League of Cities August 16, 2013

  2. North Florida – “Land of a Thousand Springs” Wakulla Ichetucknee The Floridan Aquifer System supplies fresh water to Florida’s 1,000+ artesian springs – the largest springs concentration in the world Silver Wekiwa Weeki Wachee

  3. Florida’s Hydrologic CycleEvaporation = 71% of Rainfall Precipitation Evaporation

  4. Florida’s Hydrologic CycleRecharge = 6% of Rainfall Precipitation Evaporation Groundwater Recharge

  5. Florida’s Hydrologic CyclePumping = 30% of Recharge Precipitation Evaporation Groundwater Recharge Groundwater Pumping

  6. Groundwater is Our Most Valuable Natural Resource Cave Divers in the Floridan Aquifer

  7. Groundwater is Our Most Valuable Natural Resource • Groundwater is the sole water supply for springs and the baseflow for rivers

  8. Groundwater is Our Most Valuable Natural Resource • Groundwater is the sole water supply for North Florida springs and river baseflows • The aquifer is an underground reservoir that provides water storage during droughts

  9. Groundwater is Our Most Valuable Natural Resource • Groundwater is the sole water supply for springs and the baseflow for rivers • The aquifer is an underground reservoir that provides water storage during droughts • The aquifer is a regional distribution system that makes water widely available

  10. Groundwater is Our Most Valuable Natural Resource • Groundwater is the sole water supply for springs and the baseflow for rivers • The aquifer is an underground reservoir that provides water storage during droughts • The aquifer is a regional distribution system that makes water widely available • Groundwater is naturally filtered and requires minimal treatment costs

  11. The Floridan Aquifer is Over-Permitted • Existing Groundwater Consumptive Use Permits: • Total permits – 28,630 • Estimated 2010 pumping – 2,622 MGD = 30% of recharge • Total allocated groundwater use – 4,630 MGD = 50% of entire aquifer recharge! Water Management District data

  12. North Florida Groundwater Pumping (2010) • Pumping is concentrated in urban and industrial population centers: • Polk – 251 MGD • Orange – 249 MGD • Hillsborough – 151 MGD • Pasco – 94 MGD • Lake, Volusia, Osceola > 90 MGD each 2,622 MGD USGS Data

  13. We Are Pumping Groundwater Faster Than It Can Be Replenished (Grubbs 2011) Average decline about 0.2 feet per year ≈500 MGD

  14. Floridan Aquifer Levels are Falling • Decline in the water levels of the Floridan Aquifer: • Northeast FL: 20 to 60 ft Silver Springs Groundwater Basin Rainbow Springs Groundwater Basin Florida Geological Survey

  15. Floridan Aquifer Levels are Falling • Decline in the water levels of the Floridan Aquifer: • Northeast FL: 20 to 60 ft • Marion County: 4 to 20 ft Silver Springs Groundwater Basin Rainbow Springs Groundwater Basin Florida Geological Survey

  16. Floridan Aquifer Levels are Falling • Decline in the water levels of the Floridan Aquifer: • Northeast FL: 20 to 60 ft • Marion County: 4 to 20 ft • Orlando area: 10 to 34 ft Silver Springs Groundwater Basin Rainbow Springs Groundwater Basin Florida Geological Survey

  17. Floridan Aquifer Levels are Falling • Decline in the water levels of the Floridan Aquifer: • Northeast FL: 20 to 60 ft • Marion County: 4 to 20 ft • Orlando area: 10 to 34 ft • Southwest FL: 20 to >60 ft Silver Springs Groundwater Basin Rainbow Springs Groundwater Basin Florida Geological Survey

  18. Spring Flows are Declining Statewide Silver Springs Rainbow Springs Estimated Silver Springs Flow Decline is 160 MGD (32%) !

  19. Healthy Springs = Healthy Economy White Sulfur Springs on the Suwannee River 1920s

  20. White Springs on the Suwannee River 2011 A Non-Flowing Spring is a Sinkhole Declining flows since 1960s (John Moran photo)

  21. Healthy Springs = Healthy Economy?

  22. What Will Your City Do WithoutPlentiful Groundwater?

  23. A Water Sustainability Checklist for Local Governments • As individuals, we can conserve water at home and at work John Moran photo

  24. A Water Sustainability Checklist for Local Governments • As individuals, we can conserve water at home and at work • As municipal leaders, you can contact you legislators urging them to pass laws that better protect the Floridan Aquifer and our springs. John Moran photo

  25. A Water Sustainability Checklist for Local Governments • As individuals, we can conserve water at home and at work • As municipal leaders, you can contact you legislators urging them to pass laws that better protect the Floridan Aquifer and our springs. • As members of the League of Cities, you can urge your regional and state organizations to lobby lawmakers to insure a sustainable water future - “Springs Eternal – Florida’s Fragile Fountain of Youth” John Moran photo

  26. Florida Museum of Natural History Springs Eternal Exhibit John Moran photo

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