LAKE WALES RIDGE GROUND-WATER MONITORING STUDY

Partnered research focused on
agricultural chemicals in the surficial
aquifer underlying citrus groves
in central Florida.

The Lake Wales Ridge regional monitoring study focuses on evaluating the spatial and temporal variability of agricultural chemicals in ground water underlying citrus groves in the Ridge citrus region of central Florida. This region is among the most vulnerable in Florida, and perhaps the nation, with respect to transport of chemicals into the ground-water system. The study also provides important information regarding short-term (quarterly) variability of pesticide and degradate concentrations in ground water on a regional scale across an area of relatively uniform soils and land use under field conditions.

This study is one of several studies, supported by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to assess and minimize agricultural impacts on Florida’s water resources.

The objectives of the study are to provide early warning of agrichemicals leaching into the ground water system, to describe temporal trends, and to delineate factors influencing the transport and fate of agricultural chemicals in the subsurface. The well network is envisioned to be monitored long-term (20 or more years), and is supported through a cooperative effort (U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Program) between the U.S. Geological Survey, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Bureau of Pesticides, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

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Project Contact
Anne Choquette (achoq@usgs.gov)