Ground Water – Surface Water Interaction & Basin Assessment

 

Historically, Florida’s ground water monitoring activities focused almost entirely on protecting drinking water supplies. In addition to this focus, FDEP now also integrates ground water data into its watershed assessments to help in the evaluation of ground water impacts on surface water quality. This is especially important in Florida, where ground water discharges into streams, canals, lakes, and estuaries and can provide as much as 80 percent of the total flow to some surface waters. Because of this ground water–surface water interaction, it is important to assess ground water quality, identify potential pollutants, establish whether they are likely to be discharged to surface water, and identify any potential impacts that may already be expressed as surface water impairments.

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Contact

Richard Hicks, Professional Geologist Administrator
Basin Assessment
Phone: 850/245-8229
Fax: 850/245-8236
Email: Richard.W.Hicks@dep.state.fl.us