WASHINGTON, D.C.--The United States is using less water than during the peak years of 1975 and 1980, according to water use estimates for 2005. Despite a 30 percent population increase during the past 25 years, overall water use has remained fairly stable according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Anne Castle announced the report, Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005, as part of her keynote speech today at the Atlantic Water Summit in the National Press Club. The report shows that in 2005 Americans used 410 billion gallons per day, slightly less than in 2000. The declines are attributed to the increased use of more efficient irrigation systems and alternative technologies at power plants. Water withdrawals for public supply have increased steadily since 1950--when USGS began the series of five-year trend reports--along with the population that depends on these supplies.

http://www.hrwa-fl.org

Why are the water levels in the Clermont chain of lakes so low while other lakes in the County remain high? There are a number of factors that determine a lake’s water level. These include the geological/hydrological setting, rainfall, evaporation, recharge to ground water, seepage into lakes, other inflow and outflow, water use (from both surface and ground water) and the size of the lake’s drainage basin in relation to the lake’s size. There appear to be multiple natural factors causing the current situation. For a detailed primer on hydrology of lakes in this area please see Hydrology of Central Florida Lake - A Primer: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1137. This Primer and other publications on water levels plus many other subjects are available through the Library found on the Water Atlas. There have been some questions asking about a dam in Polk County that might be blocking the northward flow of water into our lakes. That issue was resolved years ago and it is no longer occurring.

Please follow the link below for the circular.

http://fl.water.usgs.gov/Abstracts/c1137_schiffer.html

This EPA notice announces the availability of an EPA decision identifying water quality limited waterbodies and associated pollutants in Florida to be listed pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Public comment is requested not later than October 23, 2009. A copy of the notice with contact information along with the list of water bodies to be added or removed from the impaired waters list can be found at the link below.

http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/tmdl/florida/index.html

The pace and scale of climate change may now be outstripping even the most sobering predictions of the last report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC). An analysis of the very latest, peer-reviewed science indicates that many predictions at the upper end of the IPCC's forecasts are becoming ever more likely. Meanwhile, the newly emerging science points to some events thought likely to occur in longer-term time horizons, as already happening or set to happen far sooner than had previously been thought.

Follow the link below for the full report.

http://www.unep.org/compendium2009/

Submit photos of your favorite "Adopted" lake for the 2010 Calendar contest. The top 13 photos will be featured in the 2010 Calendar. The picture with the highest number of votes will be featured on the cover of the calendar. Submit photos to cmcgwier@lakecountyfl.gov before Friday, October 23, 2009.

Contact

Cathie Catasus, Adopt-a-Lake Program Coordinator Lake County Department of Environmental Utilities, cmcgwier@lakecountyfl.gov
phone:352-253-1659.

Tallahassee — In order to better assist land owners, sellers, buyers and interested members of the public, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Division of State Lands recently launched a redesigned Web site that streamlines access to state lands resources. The improved Web site demonstrates the Department's commitment not just to the environment, but to customer service as well, offering clear and navigable information in a 'one stop shop.'

Check out the new site at the link below

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands

The Museum of Florida Art will host a panel discussion, The St. Johns River: Yours, Mine and Ours, on September 22nd from 7-9 pm at the Museum of Floirda Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd,. DeLand FL . Seating will be in the Sands Theater. Free and open to the Public.

A big thank you to all our Atlas partner's who made this year's meeting a great success. We hope you all enjoyed the multi-media presentation. If you didn't get enough Carnac, follow the link below for the complete presentation.

Thank you, the Florida Center

http://www.hillsborough.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/WaterAtlas_Advisory_Meeting_9-11-09.pptx

The USGS is pleased to provide a "one stop" USGS hurricane web site where the public can access important storm information such as flood levels near your home; pictures of the coastline before and after the storm; information on the timing, extent and magnitude of storm tide; and much more.

Check out the site at the link below!

http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/hurricanes/2009/

Have you ever been researching historic water quality data or historic water levels and needed more information than what is graphed on the web page? The data exists in Data Download, but it can be difficult to navigate to. The Atlas Programming Team has added a tool to the Water Quality and Water Levels components that, when selected, will PRE-LOAD your query for you! This pre-load will take you directly to the station selection where you can refine or continue the data request.



Awesome Work Programmers!