Florida Integrated Science Center

USGS Florida Science Highlights

Sea-Level Rise, Coastal Vulnerability, Key Issues for Climate Change in Southeast US

A report prepared by the US Global Change Research Program, "Southeast Regional Highlights from the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States" included research conducted by the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Team (Abby Sallenger and team-FISC St. Petersburg). USGS work is discussed in the context of sea-level rise and increased vulnerability of coastal communities as being among the most serious consequences of climate change for the region. USGS images and calculated land loss after Hurricane Katrina in the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana are used to illustrate potential impacts for other coastal communities throughout the southeast. Southeast Fact Sheet U.S. Global Change Research Program, Southeast Chapter

USGS Science Used to Address Water Quality Impacts in Wakulla Springs Basin

Like many springs throughout the state, nitrate concentrations in Wakulla Springs have been increasing since the late 1970's and are currently above proposed regulatory levels that are anticipated to be adopted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. A recently completed cooperative study between the USGS and the City of Tallahassee showed that nitrate in the City's treated wastewater effluent applied at the Southeast Farm sprayfield is a component of the nitrate discharged at Wakulla Springs. Find out more

FISC-Tallahassee Crews Track Suwannee River Flood Crest

North Florida rivers began to swell in April from the runoff of heavy storms in Georgia, culminating in a record gage height on the Withlacoochee River and a record volume of water discharging down the Alapaha River. As the flood waters of these Suwannee River tributaries flowed into the main channel of the Suwannee, the dry floodplain absorbed much of the excess water, and flood crest levels gradually attenuated. At Ellaville, just below where the Withlacoochee comes into the Suwannee, the peak flow was the 4th highest on record. Downstream in Branford, it was the 7th highest on record.

FISC-Tallahassee crews measured the volume of water and height of the river at the flood's peak or near-peak levels, providing critical daily updates to the National Weather Service, Southeast Region River Forecast Center, and Suwannee River Water Management District. USGS News Release

Understanding freshwater wetlands plays a pivotal role in managing Florida's water resources

A new USGS Professional Paper on freshwater wetlands in central Florida assesses their role in the ecological landscape of Florida. Collectively, these depressional wetland features occupy an area more than half the size of the Everglades providing critical habitat, recharging aquifers, and serving as headwaters for numerous streams. This report describes and compares the ecology, water quality, and hydrogeologic setting of these characteristic features of central Florida. The integrated approach compares environmental conditions of natural wetlands to those impacted by human activity. New methods describing wetland flooding, interactions between wetlands and ground water, and their influence on the overall ecosystem can be applied to future studies.

This research was cooperatively funded by Pinellas County, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Tampa Bay Water. Find out more

USGS Florida Science Highlights - 2009