Florida Waters

This comprehensive water resource manual was developed jointly by Florida's five water management districts using the writing and editing skills of Elizabeth D. Purdum, an editor of The Florida Water Resource Atlas.

Written for lay people, Florida Waters is readable and interesting. It uses the graphics and illustrations of the Atlas and treats many aspects of water in Florida.

For teachers, it has activities and projects tied to education requirements.

It includes six chapters, illustrative graphics, an extensive glossary and comprehensive index, combined with hands-on projects and activities correlated to Sunshine State Standards.

Chapter 1: The Human Framework examines water in social, legal, economic and political contexts.

Chapter 2: Water It's Magic explores the chemical and physical properties of water, the hydrologic cycle, climate, weather and the "magic" of water's cleansing, healing and renewing powers.

Chapter 3: Florida Water Resources examines groundwater and surface waters and the links between them. Watersheds, pollution and the interdependence of water resources are addressed.

Chapter 4: Water and Life: Natural Systems focuses on how the amount, distribution, timing and quality of water affects the soils, plants and animals. And, how human activities affect biological and economic sustainability.

Chapter 5: Water Supply and Water Quality examines sources of water and efforts to create alternate water sources as well as trends in water use; and, water quality, for drinking, ecology and recreation.

Chapter 6: Forward to the Past concludes that Florida's natural systems have been radically changed and fragmented and that Floridians have responded with aggressive actions in land acquisition and management, resource protection and ecosystem restoration. Along the way are interesting sidebars on... mud and sinkholes... wetlands and streamflow.

Available ONLY as a PDF. Get Florida Waters - [17MB PDF]