Sylvia Willis UF/IFAS Suwannee County Agriculture Extension Agent
World Water Day was March 22! This year’s theme was valuing water. This is centered around what water means to people, its true value and how we can better protect this vital resource. Water’s value is more than just its price. Water is vital for our households, culture, health, education, agriculture and our environment. Water resources are all around us, especially here in Florida.
When we talk about water in the environment, we are referring to natural areas that depend on water such as wetlands, aquifers, watersheds, springs, lakes, rivers and streams. Wetlands are natural areas that provide wildlife habitat, flood protection and cleansing of surface water. Aquifers are natural underground reservoirs of water and provide drinking water for Floridians. Watersheds are areas of land where rainfall flows downhill into streams, rivers, lakes or bays. Surface water includes water bodies like springs, lakes, rivers and streams located on the surface of the land and provide recreation and wildlife habitats.
Florida has the second greatest mileage of shoreline (8,436 miles) according to the NOAA. Also, Florida is home to 7,700 lakes that are larger than 10 acres and has more than 100,000 smaller bodies of water. The state also has over 10,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 700 freshwater springs. From deep within the underground aquifer, eight billion gallons of water flow from Florida’s springs each day at a constant 72-degrees.
Water resources are also vital to Florida agriculture and many crops rely on water to survive. Agriculture uses a variety of water sources for irrigation including surface water, groundwater and reclaimed water. There is a complex relationship between agriculture and water resources. To grow crops more sustainably and use water more efficiently, producers are implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their farms to protect the many water resources found here in Florida.
We cannot overlook how vital water is to our world and how important it is to properly manage this irreplaceable resource. Water is important for our wellbeing, livelihood, culture and our local environment. Check out this link on how to protect water resources as a homeowner - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/florida-friendly-landscapes/floridas-water-resources.html.
For questions about Florida’s agriculture or ways to protect our water sources, contact Sylvia Willis at the UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Office, an Equal Opportunity Institution, at (386) 362-2771.