Florida Integrated Science Center

The mission of the Water Discipline, which supports the overall mission of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey, is to provide the hydrologic information and understanding needed for the best use and management of the Nation's water resources for the benefit of the people of the United States.

USGS Florida Science Highlights

Drier Forest Composition Associated with Hydrologic Change in the Apalachicola River, Florida

Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5062. Melanie R. Darst and Helen M. Light, 2008. Forests of the Apalachicola River floodplain had shorter flood durations, were drier in composition, and had 17 percent fewer trees in 2004 than in 1976. The change to drier forest composition is expected to continue for at least 80 more years. Floodplain drying was caused by large declines in river levels resulting from erosion of the river channel after 1954 and from decreased flows in spring and summer months since the 1970s. Water-level declines have been greatest at low and medium flows, which are the most common flows (occurring about 80 percent of the time). Water levels have remained relatively unchanged during large floods which continue to occur about three times per decade.

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Of Current Interest

Water-level Conditions in South Florida A 7-day running average of daily recorded water levels is compared to the statistical distribution of daily water levels for the site period of record for selected sites in southern Florida.

Hydrologic Data Web Portal The U. S. Geological Survey's Florida Integrated Science Center, located in Tampa, Florida, operates and maintains a comprehensive network of surface water, ground water and water quality monitoring stations throughout southwest Florida.

Recent Publications

Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5207 Reese, R.S., and Richardson, Emily, 2008, Synthesis of the Hydrogeologic Framework of the Floridan Aquifer System and Delineation of a Major Avon Park Permeable Zone in Central and Southern Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5207, 60 p., 4 pls., plus apps.

Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5277 Miller, R.L., and McPherson, B.F., 2008, Water Quality in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge—Trends and Spatial Characteristics of Selected Constituents, 1974-2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5277, 34 p.

Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5029 Jawitz, J.W., Muñoz-Carpena, Rafael, Muller, Stuart, Grace, K.A., and James A.I., 2008, Development, Testing, and Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analyses of a Transport and Reaction Simulation Engine (TaRSE) for Spatially Distributed Modeling of Phosphorus in South Florida Peat Marsh Wetlands: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5029, 109 p.

Data Series 322 Byrne, M.J., Patino, Eduardo, 2008, Estuarine River Data for the Ten Thousand Islands Area, Florida, Water Year 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 322, 10 p.

Scientific Investigations Map 2971 Reese, R.S., and Wacker, M.A., 2007, Hydrostratigraphic Framework and Selection and Correlation of Geophysical Log Markers in the Surficial Aquifer System, Palm Beach County, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 2971, 2 sheets.

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USGS Florida Science Highlights

Drier Forest Composition Associated with Hydrologic Change in the Apalachicola River, Florida

Of Current Interest

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