|
|
Article: Florida, Water Management in
- Article from:
- Water:Science and Issues
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Florida, Water Management in
In a sense, there are two Floridas: the north with hills, forests, lakes, and rivers; and peninsula Florida with flat expanses and large
wetlands
. Underlying the state is a system of
aquifers
. These natural storage facilities supply 90 percent of the state's drinking water and half its agricultural needs. The northern portion of the peninsula is dotted with the largest collection of
springs
in the United States. The south is dependent on rainfall to feed the wetlands and to refresh surface-water and groundwater reservoirs.
Florida's water management issues differ from those of other states. Where development is usually driven by the search for scarce ...