The Springs and Rock Springs, Orange County Aquifer System of Florida Debra Segal, M.S. Volunteer for the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
Who Has Visited a Spring in Florida? Photos by John Moran
IchetuckneeSprings -Tubing
Kayaking at IchetuckneeSprings Photo by John Moran
Scuba Divers at Rainbow Springs Photo by John Moran
Three Sisters Springs -Manatees John Moran Photo
Silver Glen Spring Striped Bass John Moran Photo
North Florida: Land of a Thousand Springs Wakulla Ichetucknee The Floridan Aquifer supplies fresh water to Florida s 1,000+ artesian springs the largest springs concentration in the world Silver Wekiwa Weeki Wachee
Clean and Abundant Water is Essential for Healthy Springs Florida s springs provide habitat for a diverse and unique assemblage of plants and wildlife Steve Walsh, USGS
Springs Provide Economic Benefits The direct economic value of Florida s largest springs is estimated to be over $300 million per year, an endowment value of about $10 billion
Where Do Springs Get Their Water From? The Floridan Aquifer -the Life Blood of the Springs
ChasshowitzkaSprings Photo by John Moran
Where Does Our Drinking Water Come From?
Cave Divers in the Floridan Aquifer
Where Is The Floridan Aquifer?
Regional Extent of the Floridan Aquifer System (100,000 sq. mi.) http://fl.water.usgs.gov/faswam/
The Floridan Aquifer System
Water Budget Average Annual Rainfall: 50 60 per year Average Annual Recharge of Water into the Floridan Aquifer: 2 4 per year Average Annual Evapotranspiration(ET): 35-45 per year
Groundwater is Our Most Valuable Natural Resource Groundwater is the sole water supply for springs Springs flow into rivers, so groundwater is an important water supply for rivers Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water
What Makes a Healthy Spring? Devil s Eye Spring in 1985 and 2011; Photo by John Moran
Characteristics of a Healthy Spring 1. Abundant water (i.e., spring flow) 2. Clean water
1. Springs Need Abundant Fresh Water to Maintain Spring Flow Photo by Bruce Mozert
Springs Flow From the Top of the Aquifer A drop of less than 10 feet in the aquifer level can dry up a major spring!
Abundant Fresh Water = Healthy Springs White Sulfur Springs on the Suwannee River 1920s
White Springs on the Suwannee River 2011 A Non-Flowing Spring is a Sinkhole Declining flows since 1960s (John Moran photo)
High Groundwater Pumping = Declining Spring Flows Agriculture Residential Golf Course
Floridan Aquifer Levels are Falling Decline in the water levels of the Floridan Aquifer: Northeast FL: 20-60 ft Marion County: 4-20 ft Orlando area: 10-34 ft Southwest FL: 20 ->60 ft Rainbow Springs Groundwater Basin Silver Springs Groundwater Basin Florida Geological Survey
Excessive Groundwater Pumping Accelerates Sinkhole Formation 1. An underground cavity is full of water during normal water conditions 2. Excess GW pumping drains the underground cavity 3. Cavity collapses when water can t sustain it
Plant City, FL; Winter, 2010 To protect strawberries from freezing, farmers pumped enough water (~180 mgd) to drop the Floridan Aquifer by >60 ft. The results: >140 sinkholes opened up causing extensive damage >750 wells were damaged Property values dropped Property insurance rates increased
Groundwater Background on Hydrogeology
2. Springs Need CleanWater that is Not Contaminated with Nitrate-Nitrogen
Springs Problem Nitrate Pollution Springs are sensitive to elevated nitrate
Protecting Florida s Springs 1.20 Rising Nitrate Silver Springs NO 3 >2000% increase from 0.05 mg/l in 1907 1.00 0.80 Nitrate-N (mg/l) 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 1/1/1950 9/10/1963 5/19/1977 1/26/1991 10/4/2004 Wetland Solutions, Inc.
Sources of Nitrate-Nitrogen Wastewater Sprayfield Fertilizer Animal Waste
IchetuckneeSprings Springshed (Springshed extends 35 miles NE of the spring and encompasses 300 square miles)
Our Springs are in Trouble 1. Excessive groundwater pumping is lowering the Floridan Aquifer 2. Excessive nitrate-nitrogen is polluting the springs
Purpose Our Springs Are In Trouble
Our Groundwater is no Longer Clean GW pumping has depleted the Floridan Aquifer, causing spring flow to decline by about 30% Groundwater nitrate has increased by about 3,000% nor Abundant Photo by Bruce Mozert
How Do We Protect the Springs? 1. Ensure that the Floridan Aquifer produces abundantwater 2. Ensure that the Floridan Aquifer produces cleanwater
So What Can Be Done? L.V. Korhnak
Adopt A Water Ethic Be conscientious of all the water you use Use water sparingly *Do not water your lawn! Grow Florida Friendly plants that require no irrigation Encourage your family and friends to use less water Karst Productions, Inc.
Where To Start? Reduce outdoor water use Residential use was the single biggest water user in 2010 (3 BGD) and projected to rise by 700 MGD by 2025.
Reduce Your Water Footprint Florida residents use an average of 140 gallons of water per person per day. By learning to value and conserve water, and consequently developing a water ethic, we can significantly reduce our water use down to as low as 40 gallons per person per day. Reducing our water consumption will save money, protect the Floridan Aquifer, and protect the springs, rivers, and lakes that rely on the Floridan Aquifer.
What Can I do to Protect Water Quality? Use fertilizers sparingly and choose slow-release products Clean up any spills Don t fertilize before predicted rains Do not fertilize near water bodies. For more, see The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook. Source: Washington State Puget Sound Action Team
Clean and Abundant Water Will Likely be the Most Important Environmental Issue Affecting Your Future
Saving Springs for Future Generations
Cones of Depression Unconfined Aquifer Confined Aquifer Source SRWMD 2011
Home Water Use Survey Data Sheet Bath Tub ½ Full: 18 gallons Bath 1/3 Full: 12 gallons Bath ¼ Full: 9 gallons Shower (Low flow shower head): 2.5 gallons/min. Shower (Standard flow shower head): 8 gallons/min. Wash 1 Load of Clothes (Low flow washing machine): 18 gallons per load Wash 1 Load of Clothes (Standard washing machine): 48 gallons per load