The Developing Water Crisis in Southeast Georgia & Northeast Florida and How to Avert It

Abstract

Groundwater levels in the Upper Floridan aquifer in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia have declined significantly from predevelopment conditions. Comparison of current levels to those of the U.S. Geological Survey’s 1936 groundwater level map indicate that the decline is in the range of 15 to 20 feet at the northeastern boundary of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) and Georgia. An extensive evaluation of available hydrologic data indicates that this decrease is apparently a result of groundwater withdrawals originating in the SRWMD and St. John’s River Water Management Districts (SJRWMD) in Florida and in numerous counties in southeast Georgia.