Focus Areas

Surface Water-Groundwater Program

• Physical Aquifer Characterization - Aquifer-system mapping (identify permeable zones and confining units), geophysical characterization of aquifer-system properties, identify relation between geologic units and aquifer systems through generation of cross sections and contour maps; maintain database of aquifer hydraulic properties; provide knowledge of the hydrogeologic framework to facilitate source-water protection and improved aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) and injection well site location, design and monitoring plans, data sources for vulnerability modeling.





• Surface Water-Groundwater Interaction – Investigate ground-water contribution to surface water via springs and seeps, including seepage of groundwater in coastal zones; support data collection and modeling efforts that address karst hydrogeologic settings; quantify interactions for regulatory purposes.




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• Geographic Information System Coverages and Databases Develop and provide hydrogeology coverages including aquifer framework data; facilitate access to the FGS_wells database, upgrade the lithologic database; develop digital geophysical log database; develop and maintain data in support of aquifer vulnerability mapping.





• Hydrogeologic Resources – Develop, model and disseminate hydrogeology coverages, develop interactive data access for aquifer framework data for use in ground-water modeling; conduct aquifer vulnerability mapping for application in land-use, resource management and conservation activities; geophysical characterization of karst features, sinkhole studies and mapping, archive cave maps, locate and characterize onshore and coastal fresh water submarine springs, evaluate submarine springs as potential public water supplies for coastal communities.





• Education and Communication – Facilitate communication among Florida’s hydrogeologists as well as those requiring hydrogeologic expertise through the organization or sponsorship of technical workshops; participate in FDEP committees and working groups, liaison with Water Management Districts, other local, state and federal agencies, non-profit scientific organizations; produce environmental/earth-science education resources and curricula; public communication; publish and disseminate maps and reports in a variety of media.

Geochemistry Program - The Geochemistry Program has focused on evaluating how surfacewater injection into our aquifers affects water chemistry. As an example, the program discovered that injection of surfacewater, under certain conditions, releases trace metals, in small quantities, from the aquifer matrix material into the groundwater. It is currently evaluating the sources and the fate of those metals. This research is critical to understanding Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) water-rock interaction and metals mobilization.  Additional recent and ongoing projects include Everglades Restoration research, Florida springs and aquifer system ambient geochemistry data collection and interpretation, and water-quality trends analysis.

Activities

• Selected current projects



• Evaluation of Temporal Trends in the Ground-Water Quality of Springs and Wells in Florida
• Evaluation of the Impacts of Land Use on the Water Quality of Fanning Springs
• Development of Cave Glossary
• Florida Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment (FAVA)
• Revision to Hydrogeological Units of Florida (FGS Special Publication 28)
• Wekiva Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment (WAVA)
• Southwest Florida Hydrogeologic Framework Mapping Project
• Sensitive Karst Areas (SKA) in the Florida Panhandle
• Aquifer Storage and Recovery Geochemical Studies
• Cooperative Activities