This publication is based on Florida water use information collected by the United States Geological Service. It expands on EDIS document FE797 that examined Florida water withdrawals data for 2005. In addition, in EDIS document FE757 (Florida’s Water Resources), the authors describe Florida’s abundant water resources—the state receives about 54 inches of rainfall per annum, compared to 30 inches nationwide, and it overlies prolific aquifers. Whether water is scarce or abundant, however, depends not only upon available supplies, but also upon patterns of water use. To gather this information, the United States Geological Survey employs several water-use categories to develop estimates of water withdrawals and water use. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Tatiana Borisova and Jenna Rogers, and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, May 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe943
Tag: Water Resource Management
How Are the Reservoirs in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Managed? (AE497)
Many uses of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river basin depend on how the US Army Corp of Engineers operates dam releases from the reservoirs when managing lake levels and downstream river flows and water levels. However, no single set of protocols equally suited to all uses and demands governs the reservoir releases. The purpose of this publication is to describe how the USACE manages reservoirs and dams in the ACF and how the waters in the basin are used. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Christopher J. Martinez, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, March 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae497
Watersheds of Florida: Understanding a Watershed Approach to Water Management (SL367/SS568)
Water is of primary importance to all life on earth. Freshwater is a finite resource, and managing freshwater requires an understanding of watersheds and a watershed approach. Both quantity and quality of water are important for balanced beneficial and efficient agricultural, industrial, rural, and urban uses. This 7-page fact sheet provides information on watersheds and introduces the watershed approach and management concept as practiced in the U.S., with a focus on Florida watersheds in particular. This document also provides information on the basins, basin groups, and hydrologic units of Florida used by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to implement watershed assessment, monitoring, and restoration programs. Written by Rao Mylavarapu, Kelley Hines, Thomas Obreza, and Greg Means, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss568
What is a Water Footprint?: An Overview and Applications in Agriculture (AE484)
Agriculture is by far the largest global consumer of freshwater. Comparing water footprints of different management practices in agriculture can help evaluate drought tolerance, water use efficiency, the effective use of rainfall, and the significance of irrigation. Scientists are thinking about ways to adapt agricultural systems to a changing climate, especially precipitation changes, so the water footprint is a useful measure to compare resilience of agricultural systems to droughts and dry spells. This 11-page fact sheet was written by Daniel R. Dourte and Clyde W. Fraisse, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae484
AE465 Seepage Meters for Measuring Groundwater–Surface Water Exchange
AE465, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Christopher J. Martinez, aids those who are engaged in surface water–groundwater exchange studies in cost-effective construction, installation, and use of seepage meters. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae465
AE454 Mini-piezometers for Measuring Groundwater to Surface Water Exchange
AE454, a 6-page illustrated fact sheet by Christopher J. Martinez, aids those who are engaged in surface water to groundwater exchange studies in cost-effective construction, installation and use of mini-piezometers. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, December 2009.
FE824 Water Quality Credit Trading: General Principles
FE824, an 8-page fact sheet by Tatiana Borisova and Fritz Roka, reviews the basic components of a water quality credit trading program and discusses opportunities and challenges associated with a water quality credit trading program design. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, December 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe824
FE811 Balancing Urban Water Demand and Supply in Florida: Overview of Tools Available to Water Managers
FE811, a 10-page fact sheet by Tatiana Borisova, Colin Rawls, and Damian Adams, discusses alternative strategies that can be used by water utility managers to balance water demand and supply in the residential sector. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, October 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FE811
FE797 Water Use in Florida
FE797, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Tatiana Borisova and Roy R. Carriker, summarizes the USGS estimates of Florida water withdrawals and water use in several categories: agricultural irrigation, public supply, power generation, commercial use, recreational irrigation, and domestic self-supplied. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, April 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FE797