Regional, Passive Saline Encroachment in Major Springs of the Floridan
Aquifer System in Florida (1991 -2020)
Abstract
Due to the awareness of degrading groundwater quality in Florida’s
freshwater 7 springs and beginning in the early 1990s, the state’s water
management districts, the Florida 8 Department of Environmental
Protection, and the U.S. Geological Survey began efforts to 9 coordinate
monitoring of Florida’s first-and second-magnitude springs. This study
investigates 10 changes in spring discharge and the concentrations of
two saline indicators sodium (Na +) and 11 chloride (Cl-) from 1991
through 2020 (30 years) in the Floridan aquifer system (FAS). Data were
12 obtained from 32 major springs and three additional discharge gaging
stations. Spring discharge 13 was observed to decrease, while
concentrations of sodium and chloride increased. As a group, the 14 FAS
springs experienced passive saline encroachment. Not only did
encroachment occur along 15 Florida’s coasts, but also in the interior.
Median concentrations of sodium and chloride increased 16 by an
estimated range of 7 to 11% per decade. Evidence suggests the major
driver is decreasing 17 rainfall and subsequent declines in recharge to
the FAS, followed by sea-level rise. The sources 18 of the saline water
are from salt water near Florida’s coasts and relict sea water from the
deeper 19 portions of the FAS. The observed changes agree with those
predicted by the Ghyben-Herzberg 20 principle for coastal, carbonate
aquifers. 21