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Statement
to
The Public works mbcmittee
of the
Appropriations Omittee
of the
United Stetea Senate
April 13, 1960
in behalf of the
Bequest of the State of Florida
for a
Reconnaissance Study
of
Flood Control and. Hate:- Conservation Needs
of
The Rithlacoochee River, The Oklamha River,
The Peace River, The Hillsbomugh River, and
AdJaeent wtershede in west Central Florida
by
John N. Wakefield, Director
Florida Department of Water Resources
Tallahassee Florida
Kr. Chaimn:
The Florida Congressional Delegation through the Honorable Speasard L.
aolland, a member or this counittee, and the Honorable George A. anther-a,
members of the Senate of the United States from Florida, has already placed
before this Submittee a request for an appropriation of $100,000 to pay
for a study by the U. S. W Corps of Engineers of the need for, and the beat
means by which to accoaplieh, flood control, water conservation and other water
resource benefits in an area of West Central Florida.
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The tree in which the atudv in deaired is shown on Figure l of this
eteteeent. It encompasses an eras of none 10,823 square miles or approxi-
mately 20 percent of the surface area of the State of Florian. The aree
is defined by the drainage basins of the four mJor stream: stunning m
e comeon, interconnected. system of headwaters known locally es the Green
M. The major stream are the Withleooochee River, the Wench: Rivor,
the Billehoroueh River and the Peace Hirer. Lying between these major river
basin: and the shore of the Cult of lbxico are a umber of wall Itrelu
which have much the em flood and drought problem es their larger neighbor-e
and which experience prectically the cue veether conditions.
It is proposed, therefore, that the one of study shall be all of that
area of Florida lying vest and south of the eastern and norther houndriee of
the watershed: of the Ulthlacooehee and (klevahe Rivera on the north and the
tidal enters of the Gulf of nice and its tributariee on the vest. The
study area shall not include my 01 the lends presently in the pmJect me
of the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District.
Thin study hed been requested on the heeie of the need for VIth control
as demonstrated first by critical leke end strea- conditions experienced in
these areas during the drought years of 195L195? and secondly by revere
flood Mange experienced during the Vet year of 1958 end the unusually vet
year of 1959. Since that request was filed, however, as recently he lid-
bIrch 1960, e lei-3e pert of the proposed project area wee subjected to the
met severe flooding that has ever been recorded in thet ares.
Flood deluge in 1959 was eetimeted to have exeeeded $5,000,000. Theee
floods resulted from reinfadl which, for may stations in this me, exceeded
any other 12-month period in the more than 60 years of record. do under
tropical storm: occurred during 1959. Ming the min-perch Item of 1960,
the eree from Tampa Bey to the mouth or the Smnnee River and extending acrose
the etete was subjected to e rainfall of 9 to 15 inches in e three-day period.
Ground water reservoirs and lakes had previously been filled by modernto
heavy rainfall in February and early larch. The effects of the torrential
rains wre imediate and devastating. my lurch 22 the nillshorough River hsd
erected at e record high, overowing its banks over e wide tree. Thousands
of MI residents were forced to leave their home. The poorly drained
fletlende lying east of the 'llthlecoochee River, in an cm of new truck farm
and cattle ranges, were flooded firet by the heavy rainfall then by the over-
floving Hithlecooehee River.
lake Apoplus in west Orange County, a tributary of the W RiVer,
rose 1.3 feet in three level This wee within three inchee of the top of the
protective dike surrounding the rich Zellucod winter vegetable area. lakes
Minnelnhe, Barrie, Dore, auntie and Griffin also in the Oldeuahe River Basin,
rose to higher stages than any previously recorded. The Oklanha River ovar-
flowed its banks throughout its BO-nile length, ceasing millions of dollars
of damage to agriculture.
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Estimates of damage are only partially couplets, but it is already oh-
vious that they will exceed $60,000,000. The rm-al areas of Bacon and Sun-
ter counties have probably suffered the heaviest proportional damage to their
economy.
Bone knowledge of the geology of west Central Florida is helpml to an
understanding of the water problems of the area.
its western section of central Florida is underlain by several thousand
feet of limestonos, dolostites, earls, clays and sands deposited in the geologic
past when Florida to covered by the ocean. The rocks were origitu de-
posited as relatively at-lying beds, but auboequent diriersntial movement
of the earth's crust assisted by erosion has caused them to assume their pre-
sent rather couple): structure. The configuration or land surface throughout
west central Florida is controlled by the geology.
The bulk or the material underlying the area consists of the limestones
and dolomitea of the Floridan aquifer. These rocks, because of their soluble
nature, an extremely porous and pemeahle and are cries-crossed by solution
pita, caverns and holes ram: store and tranmit large amounts of water. So.
lution of these route has given rise to the amorous lakes and sinks or the
area, may of which have penseahle connection; with the underlying limestonea
and dolomitea. Water enters the Floridan aquifer in the topographically high
area Mall is centered in the Green swamp and extends into adaacent areas.
Upon entering the aquifer thmugh sinks, lake bottoms, pen-cable sands or di-
rectly where the limestonee and dolomite: are exposed at the sum, the water
moves down gradient under Mdrootatio head beneath impemeable beds, generally
clays. North and east or the Green Snap recharge area the lineatoues and
dolomites of the Floridan aquifer are relatively close to the surface and in
places are exposed in stress: banks and around lakes. toward the south, the
linestones and dolaaitea are covered by great thicknesses of impermeable clays
and clayey sands.
north of a line drawn roughly through Tampa Bay and the Green Sump,
streams flow, in part. in channels cut in the rocks of the Floridan aquifer.
and their low water rim: is maintained by discharge from that aquifer in the
form of springs and seeps. South of the line the stream channels are separated
{run the Floridan aquifer by varying thicknesses of impermeable clays and, ex-
cept for isolated instances lou stream flow: are maintained only by shallow
ground-water seepage from surface sands and mat-la.
A study of Green Swap will prove especially fruitful because of the no-
ique nature or the svaap and its relationship to the tour major stream and
the ground water of Central Florida. The swamp lies in a shallow slightly
titled bow-shaped area lying in south Lake County. north Polk County, east
Pasco county and south Buster Cmmty (gure 2). the drainage or the area
to affected by a series of parallel sand ridges. These ridges are remnants
of beaches, famed by the alternate rise and fall or the ocean during the past
geologic fomtion or peninsular Florida. The serial photographic morale in
Figure 3 show the light-colored beaches running in a north and south direc-
tion and separated by the dark- colored swampy runs.
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The area in which Green amp is located is not only the headwaters of
the four major surface streams, but is also the highest srtesian pressure area
in Smith Florida. The contours on the lover sketch up of Figure it show the
elevations to which vater will rise in a well cased through the overlyim
impervious strata into the highly pervious Florida: aquifer. This is defined
as the piesouetric surmce.
A trough in the piesoaetric surface across Florida north of Ocala pre-
vents the movement of ground water from north Florida into central Florida.
Accordingly, the southern half of Florida is dependent whom on local re-
charge to the Floridan aquifer to replace ground water lost to the sea or to
the surface through wells and springs. The points of major recharge are the
high points or mods in the artesian (piesonetric) pressure system. Since
the Green Sweep corresponds to the highest pressure mound in South Florida.
it follow that this is a major recharge area. Artesien pressure contour
lines are shown in gure 2 in greater detail for the Green Swamp area.
The Floridan aquifer from which most of the towns, cities, industries
and agricultural areas of Central Florida obtain their water, receives a
major portion of its water through recharge in the Green Swamp area. There
are case 200 aqmu-e miles of wetlands in the BOO-square mile Green Bump area.
It has served until now as a natural reservoir. within the past year sane
or this advantage has been lost by attempts to drain the wetlands. If this
reservoir can be restored under controlled conditions, both flood control and
water conservation benefits may be obtained.
It appears to be possible, by means of multiple low-head dams and inter-
connecting channels, to store approximately 300,000 acre-feet or water in the
amp area. with suitable channels and controls this stored water can be re-
leased to one or all four of the major river basins. Similar measures in the
upper watersheds or downstream tributaries and on the main streams should
make it possible to prevent grossly overloading the capacity of the receiving
streams. This vill per-it increases in present capacity without danger of
overdrainsge.
The small coastal straw referred to earlier are limited in capacity
by flat slopes, meandering channels and heavy gmths of vegetation.
During tropical stoma they overflov to bring disastrous floods to the areas
through which they drain. They also are subject to overdrainage ii' improper
flood control seasons are attempted.
A reconnaissance survey would permit the detemionion oi the best sp-
prosch to a solution or the problems or the entire area. It may well save
large sums of money and much loss of tine which might otherwise be commd
in a series of studies on individual ones. It will certainly bring encourge-
xsent and hope to a thoroughly disheartened and confused segsent or an other-
wise progressive and rapidly growing state. Your consideration of these fac-
tors is solicited.
FDGURE I
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Dill-nu
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mun-n
luau
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FIGURE 3
Aenal Pho1oqmpheofLaho CouMy
Showing 1M Headwa'er Lake! of Me
Oklaucha River.
PRINCIPAL STDiAMS OF FLORIDA
PIEZOMETRIC SUPFACE OF IHE FLORIDAN AOUIFER
PAGE 1
Statemerit ta The Fab].ie 90ri:0 ilt:1,c--rel:ittee of the Appropriatier.s etmitee of the United Jtatu ser:ute April lb ] C16C tr. be].ali of 1de R!aguen of the State of :-'lorida for a RecDralelaSErice 5tudy of Plood Corttral and '-.'ater Conuervati-n [)eeds af "he ~21th' atoochcc B17er, TIte Okl.awaha River, Ttic ]'''ace [sivel", TIte Hillsagrobl6h ]liver, ardt Adjacent V,1 ertibcd:s 111 1:.'s M. Central .Elo'ida by Johr. K. Mkefield, i-:rector Florida Elepa r-.mertL of '-.lateW-scurres TaJ Inhassee Fiorld.is ].Ir. Chairlean: :'!te Flor Eda Car.gs'esslenal Delegat i on m.brough the Honoral:le Spetsard L. Holland n re:emher of this ecirlilit bec, ar:d the Harornole George A. ;:bathe rm men-ber.s of the Anat+-: of the Uc:lted irates front Fl.ortla, hus al medy placea before this a-maittee a regen ror an appropriation of Siceoco to pay for a 0Ludy by the U .3. Ar'ily Corps of -:r.--i.es t'r. of the neEd for .and the best r-Gura by 4:ach to acec%1110b, fined COrtE.rol, w-tter outi arvat inil Od etiler meer resource banerits in e.r. area of vess contesi riorida.
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The area in ubleh the -tudy t o ;ieirmi a show art -:tgure 2 of 11-13 s'-tatement -It er;cceipas:!as an area of e-010: 1C, 3:3~j :-pare eilt ~M or afpredrar:airly 2Cpe ri:ent c C -ite Erf[ice amo a C -.he 7.0.1.----I F'lcada. i'iss area 3 6 defila'd by "-te draint.ge ilaa t ila 1-.1 T.2:rr Smin-a_',... i51. MI:n:li.rrillairg forg:n a comir;m, intereojiritomi, g:Ei tEm e i y-at-:rg. ers krmm local.ly se !.he Green 9''Wily. Tsje TJalcr EtreBlilt! are tht! 'MTh] scrorChee: River, t.he Calairahli jdver t.he Mille (30rD'astt River arid T jie P.-:&,.1: Ri-JE A iglr.g M1.'!ec-: t'llese: ma 07 r10r ~firai fi-A T be :htt-t: ei' Ehe Gali~ of Mrxi-:n are a naamler et' amall st.name MJilch riave r.ldl t be Barle Cloci alid ill'oggb1, pobierii; as 1-]9:1: arBer rMgh'Jora tind which e -;perience T.rac-, i.:elly the nere wast her ond i dans I,1 is yr-;poerl, rbe-ef' --e, that the area of si.-mig call be all C( t.but area of $107.1da lyi-gg 5:,3:t ar:d tioul-h E.f tto eM1:rar-and 00t'.kr t;CGridrieti of -.be etersheds of de l'i!:nlacocare ted cyk]s-.iaha F-lvers -m t|te 31ert a and tas f.ids] 41,tra of t he G'Jlf of Mexir'r r=ri;l ita t ribut.ertes en t-he mst -The f.1.ud-f Erga 05&.11 nri in,'l'.3a:: Gjig om -,he arids presser.-.ly i n 1: he prnje er. arr--a Of the CentrEI abd .kaithe rei 210rl-tu Flend Cr
PAGE 3
E-iti!||at!!s O f derjage' Gro 2-,17 phr'i ini17 emple-, ilW. 15 12 ain:Eiy obt''.Oliti rild t.htay wil ". E -;.''ead S't ,1:(~0 'E.1, r'he rural areaa of PE5 e Rfri AtEir errJrtits uno pobably suf "E re-d the b-e'3' -y. 1.31:2::.71:.103& siamage T. a 1.1/tr --C.:Gly. 3clara kalou1 2Mit Cf ".]Le geoly-| of B .Tr :y al.%] -y'] -_.ri ta ( B,:lpt-ul r:-an 4.9ermeding ei the vator pr-i-:lenie :.f me ara Th': Wah E'l tie :9 logi 0 l' 's-.T.rF,1 jricrilla ia -J11:aE-Er; i;1 |-,y 7,: .;f;rnt. No.jsa.'s:Smet rf "I{|iig -o-i.:ti, deig.m i-gr --.93.-10 atys ftr.d G4:Mis :]r/pe; L i:e.) in t}w geolog.lc PH"eler:; 71.-. rills-. WF.ti coverr!d la 7 'a ilP ceBra These :02|-.2 ue re C-ri g really de-. PO5ted 60 re] al: i 0,? ].y flEr -lyir.it 60-:[2 bu-. Zu"Ese:lijenr. 1.i flerehl.161 n:MEmer.t G:~ t.r-,E ealer.gi -a crut; L ggs iss!d i;y 7, -95 fori Lits eniJar:d T.jleri tro arc.2:-.9 0]1415 preEen rathe 7 :='.Nez Struct;1ri:, 'i'an mit P.uw a of led sur ~as thraigig til Uf-SL Curjural Floridn i E Uit-.['Ol1--:1 !?y th-EEn~ Ogy. TEEliltl.ra i L|ltnis'.E rlal -Jrigir-r] -r i;.g r.he Erf![L :C nists O f t be lijii{-titories arjl (101021"2 a l' tlie FLcri:irm alul to r. These ro-: 3. bet-nee e = m!!!e sol..fra gat :ae (:.re ey_1-rume:ly rOrrm F-off N m:M L-ud am r: e 1 rec -Mad W m-st 6-m PitE 91Ur&rl':li RBd jl'it:5 vbi:h at r;rr: fitta Israin it larrr, si;.g.. r.tt Elj' WAL .r. ct111-,1011 ef thlase Try!=,ui has .;1ten riai. tc tile olntrt-so 161-03 arl-5 3-.11!. Ei of -. he: Dr n ELily d v}t1-:ll itave p-m:-r:st "is oisig :1 igna -,;11): -.|Pr :JLylr-dy trig limeEtc-m-s 6:Ld dc2.:. -. Er -.--21-;,111 22am':ls are separated L r:.nl '..hc F~ 3 r idis -, m.i:sj.fer to:.' 36:: -:lng -.111.::( r.r.1::-:12 ci 1-lip.--r-.r-Kr,1.: :: "_:-.) i. c --d a r-T 1'::.1' itlolla.1 fr.:33: ar :ra -19-:-.T. ?!.r,1:: 1---_:w -. !,rr rie 1.11: a L;-:e -,n_y by cond-Wr=r.stre---:3iirt: fr.-2 SJr~rie'34:!1.13 .il!d -':rse'l. A al :ad:: of -~-r-'en 3vij:-ip vi il p:-r.:-re esper LE~ ly : --'s i ir'aj rusa.re of : he r.3.lut lji' 'I ce of .l ie siis|1tp -:tren i!: 5 pry l 5:5. j1..lajl i e t-. !l": SJr amic ? ee.r-.:ra; : i i Egr.: ure-i -,'y !:n L' ''cli'..r:il 1-:,r 1 -jc .'i'' /sigr-J|it i 19-, 1: i :1 sh!xJ I/:-v :s I -gli! y .43 'J-.) bre.;-:::iep: d are ]yi:.:/ i ri 3|-....g|1 j_-./Jray. r/:'-*a 2/11R MJi:5.7, --0.1 Pil -N. '.~9ejr-y aid Sculu ~:ri'.e-r Ecur:.y (Figr:2 '' ). Tig! dr---.i r:Ese of 21: aren is afft':sted by a 3.-ries :-: peral.~1rl ranii ridep:2 '~'r!Es l'j dges are re-ntraat r. r 1G:W:3:0 scr-T:'l t-y thr: 0 -.=: : 1:a:.r: 1-imie-rA fdl of the encar. d-ar i:g ': im I:.ej r. ..op.ie fenlar, : -'ri ef p'-ni::llular TJ orida .Th:rarial r:'y;3.mTaph ':: 01641:: a r. bon ::e ligh-.-ce:lood i-:c-nal-Aa ritroIng; tr: a :1.:rth crisi asirei aire st i:n er.d separa-. ed t:y ':|w as r-.: -co'1are:ij 'RS.-.py r's;.
PAGE 4
9tE al'''E 1r. t'liich Grer:r. .Na".p is 10raT.rre i:] n.::e Ortly I he headiJater? ...t" -.bE f'aur lath!or tiurface i;I''e::9 | 1:1 1.1 rila :. t-ne a g.r:e r.r a-IstilWJ pressttre arEu in =cuth Flod is. The ceniaire er: :,iis low-r ois I.,jt :ap c C i;:igiare .. air::w ; i,-. e 101:3ivilij t el Which wat.er vfil rhji: i. u 1.elj raced T.hmag: r 12 oorlylra 1::pere io-Je sit ra-.a ir.to '.he h ighi7 pc-re i ns Floridar: mgf-er. %1 -la efiiled as r.he piezometrisietece, A l''DEFb "+l! 1010 jole:-.-.-liretric =;113'3~aC0 ECTEIG ?] r.r idu 2101'i.~r, ci Ocelrt pren'tit S r.he rrjveme:-,t r: C rNilnd .iter from r:Der.R Floridt: 17.ta central Flo:'ida. A-.::St'Magly, t he so-Js hP yrj M11of N -rida i s dr-ptirli:ril. Wholly Ort ] Ocal :7-ejiat-g: te. I he J. Dridri uguj for ..o re sine.. geund wate lem. to the Gr:n or -;Git' G-arfum tat'nligli Wlla B-.d tipririrgi. 'l'he p---l-Jt "I of mujr1r re.itrg rsrt'. t-e i-il 6h ]::liral. S er m--:urids 1:1 T.hs riric 3 icin (pig -.rgr,]et t'i i: ) [ireGEurrJ syritt:.ll. JI rica the Gmart fue:i:1p Errespmids T.r -.|tr: htt;:1est p rescure 's:onr.d in Routh F~ crien. it i'-l'tove tjira -Jtis j a a n'a er r's::harge urem Ar'-.esien pre-titi:Ar' corter 1Illr:s ur-1she-al-, :, E. FLSure 2 17, 1: rettil=0' 0--+. all ro" -.be lj r-Er:11 &gilip seem 'i'be E'l Orbutri 63'J1 fe-." fr.m -,ttch r:;Dr-t of the r.r:vr::3 e it ten i liga rie i ErJi llaTrieu]i a ral arePof l's:r.-ral F.; r:1'idit eat 2:lr t|1ej r -Ja-;# r receitres a r/Agur por':.|Dri --. i --.5 v:v-r i krough rs|tage 131 r,;_i: Green ,:|ag greg at.rg. are firy NJU arittar--:li].eti ryf 'JE. r ler:ds it, t]ic OCOT a:0JarE: ti le Ort-er! d-KJ|tp niva E. 2305 se '"Jed :arit i i rmit da a r.!it:Jrnl IT50 r-1-,17, 'lith-tr: th& gaat ycur sc-ne of t his adva->t.Me Jia ikar: tr,.:1. 137 at r s'ilir ti T o :frain de vr-ti as]5, I f th La resrascitcan ras reg'ored 's!rkr 35!. Eciled CO;id -tunG, Oc t.h f lor d r!Okt N1 and lle".E cor:te: r'Jus imi heic-j-0.es may oo obt.s--d I-. Ep}'enr.. O tie pass in tr', D:.' r.ealm :-.0 Ir.'-l i: i pl e acv-ilead daris and a r.ne r. L-:Jr.raimJ -:6 c.|tnelnel?. r % tirore gpre;::_igils.-.a17 gill: ,'%acre-freer M para a me -vai-';p ares .9 ~.th sukaisi-:cinnael 5 and reit 1-cl 3 ';hls E torr=ii vs.te r cun De releand T.C olie or -li four -/' t.itri Inader rkt r basi r. .iS100{tr J1te83-J rt'E i rl i oupper glaterslieri r. of tic'e-trr.u:r -. "i~Eti -ar mi (=n-1 .x .be main s':rsair.s sjiou.t:-11rk. It 9:333 tio --.o pa =.au-, (:rces 17 ever-, t.u, purity gi, he yet., i,1 stas-1.:". -jliti ad l pc ---11-i :, yrett._.r: -! in pre 3r-fr, or rte it:: me.ho'Je dung.er uiGo:1-drteirtupc 736 :it;a ll coilst a t 21r tEmi-:. r-j "C ired t': enr2 3 E :are a l::l iNd in -:npel: D.y by ''lar s~ioper) :11ea-.derly :'tanile 1:t rm:1 !!:nry gr5ths 01vr-e n'. Lar.. ti!s'iltrI rcpital ::tcylis T.bn;; -,r:rflair 2 is cir:g d 18RT. ry.is floods tc: 1:00 Brd:3 ".h-oagh whi--31 -.boy :l:-airt. "'Acy a1:0 are siltjeet-o a-rdrailige If tmproper f3::-Jd eart".rol -a:esure-, .rt a1.cmpted, -a carjaad.:Inri's 4-urvr:7 w-rJ M por|r. Lt. r.ki: g.ge-|rdr.ut as egf -_a a to g. pr---ar:12 a n echt!. iort of -11-E p1'ois '.el:: 01' the r'nt ire area. 11. iiiuy a-31 w;e .arse at:ma ei Irtit-y and radi loss ---i r.Irw illi te rig -heri: is;e e e--Jr3u--d 1:1 a 7-ries of 3-.udes cri inr) : -: Ullml nriyn3. It wi il .:s: -'tal:;ly bring asi:ycige mera ar;:1 as/Jnt '..c a Umrnu,?.bly d l slts'admied artd -c.fand I.sy:r:nr. of ar: Othe rEritPI'--isit's -L'/9 E:1's ['Epidly rroleir.g :IT al.e .YC:.ar c::Imi idernt Lori Of -he C.rM -2-. tera 10 ::-ulicibed,
PAGE 7
* ~a
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I E2 M T IC =. PF C [ [I!I I R DA N A l'
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