Our World

florida's need for water

"In water-starved Florida, the Suwannee River is a treasure more precious than gold."
Without any dams, it is the only undisturbed major river system in the southeastern United States. But Florida's major population growth, and the need for water that comes with it, has some wondering how long the Suwannee can keep flowing at its current levels. "It's kind of an oasis that's now surrounded by extensive development on all sides," said Brian Katz, a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Tallahassee. According to Kirk Webster, the deputy director of the Suwannee River Water Management District in Live Oak, the local population is expected to increase by nearly 65 percent, from 282,000 in 2000 to 462,000 in 2020. The region's water problem has also recently been effected by drought, which "prompted officials last week to issue a water shortage advisory for the Suwannee." Water managers are calling on all users, from homeowners to farmers, to reduce their water consumption immediately.

This article was interesting for me to read not only because of how immense the population growth is expected to be, but it also brings into reality how our natural resources will be affected by it. Its a scary thought to know that water is a limited supply.

posted by Anonymous @ 11/24/2006 07:25:00 PM