The Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with State, County, and other Federal agencies, obtains a large amount of data pertaining to the water resources of Florida each water year. These data, accumulated during many water years, constitute a valuable data base for developing an improved understanding of the water resources of the State. To make these data readily available to interested parties outside the Geological Survey, the data are published annually in this report series entitled "Water Resources Data - Florida, Volume 2A: South Florida Surface Water and Volume 2B: South Florida Ground Water."
This report series includes records of stage, discharge, ground-water levels, and water quality of streams, and stage, contents, and water quality of lakes, and ground-water wells. The data for south Florida include continuous or daily discharge for 75 streams, continuous or daily stage for 121 streams (includes stage published at discharge and stage only sites), continuous elevations for 1 lake; continuous ground-water levels for 210 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 215 wells; quality-of-water data for 25 surface-water sites and 117 wells.
This series of annual reports for Florida began with the 1961 water year with a report that contained only data relating to the quantities of surface water. For the 1964 water year, a similar report was introduced that contained only data relating to water quality. Beginning with the 1975 water year, the report format was changed to present, in one volume, data on quantities of surface water, quality of surface and ground water, and ground-water levels.
Prior to introduction of this series and for several water years concurrent with it, water-resources data for Florida were published in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers. Data on stream discharge and stage and on lake or reservoir contents and stage, through September 1960, were published annually under the title “Surface-Water Supply of the United States.” For the 1961 through 1970 water years, the data were published in two 5-year reports. Data on chemical quality, temperature, and suspended sediment for the 1941 through 1970 water years were published annually under the title “Quality of Surface Waters of the United States,” and water levels for the 1935 through 1974 water years were published under the title “Ground-Water Levels in the United States.” The above mentioned Water-Supply Papers may be consulted in the libraries of the principal cities of the United States and may be purchased from Distribution Branch, Text Products Section, U.S. Geological Survey, Books and Open-File Reports, Federal Center, Building 41, Box 25425, Denver, CO 80225.
Publications similar to this report are published annually by the Geological Survey for all States. These official Survey reports have an identification number consisting of the two-letter State abbreviation, the last two digits of the water year, and the volume number. For example, this volume is identified as “U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report FL-xx-2B”, where xx represents the current water year. For archiving and general distribution, the reports for 1971-74 water years also are identified as water-data reports. These water-data reports are for sale in paper copy or in microfiche by the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. Additional information, including current prices, for ordering specific reports may be obtained from the Office Chief at the address given on the back of the title page or by telephone (305) 717-5800.
