Florida Geological Survey's Mission
The mission of the Florida Geological Survey is two-fold.
-
To collect, interpret, disseminate,
store and maintain geologic data that is
used by governmental agencies, industry
and the public, thereby contributing to
the responsible use, understanding, and
conservation of Florida's natural
resources.
- To
conserve the state of Florida's oil
and gas resources and minimize
environmental impacts from
exploration and production
operations through regulation and
inspection activities.
This
statement reflects the Statutory directive
passed by the Florida Legislature. It also
is in direct support of the Department of
Environmental Protection Mission.
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The Survey’s Administrative and Geological Data Management Section includes the
Administrative Secretary to the State Geologist, an Administrative Assistant, the building
Custodian, the Survey Librarian, the FGS Computer System Manager, the Geological
Mapping and Analysis Staff, and the Environmental Geology and Educational Outreach staff.
This section is responsible for administration (budget, department and interagency liaison,
etc.) and personnel management (travel, leave, benefits, etc.), Gunter Building maintenance
and repair, computer system management and network administration, Internet and
Intranet web site design, development and
maintenance, and contract and grant
tracking. This group’s functions also include graphics design, geological mapping and map
interpretation through GIS and CAD analysis, geological research library services, publication
production and distribution, geological education and public outreach, and environmental
geology research.
The
Geologic Investigations Section
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The Geological Investigations Section of the Florida Geological Survey collects and
interprets surface and subsurface geologic data to provide an understanding of Florida's three-dimensional geologic framework. This knowledge is necessary to understand Florida's
ecosystems, watersheds, aquifer recharge and protection, and effective environmental
remediation. Research conducted by the Geologic Investigations section includes statewide
geologic mapping, reinterpretation of Florida's geomorphic features, aquifer-system
framework delineation, and research in stratigraphy, geochemistry, karst, hydrogeology, and
paleontology. Other functions of the section include maintenance of the statewide sinkhole
database (formerly managed by the Florida Sinkhole Research Institute), and coastal geology
research.
The Geological Investigations Section administers the FGS Geologic Data
Acquisition Program. This program acquires geological data and samples through auger and
core-drilling supporting existing FGS research, such as the statewide mapping program and
the research in the Everglades and Florida Bay. Several of these coring programs support
other DEP programs such as the Ambient Groundwater Monitoring program, Florida Parks,
and U.S. Geological Survey hydrogeology projects in southwest Florida and the Everglades
Ecosystem Restoration. Geological Investigations staff describe the cores and cuttings
archived in the FGS core repository. The descriptions are entered into the FGS lithologic
database, which presently contains approximately 5,000 entries. Cores, cuttings, lithologic
descriptions and geophysical logs are an invaluable asset to the earth science community.
This fundamental geologic data supports needs of more than one third of the programs in the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The Geological Investigations staff also act
as consultants or co-investigators to other local, state and federal agencies.
The Coastal Research
Program is a subsection
of the Geological Investigations Section that is partially funded by various Federal agencies including the U. S. Geological Survey, the
Minerals Management Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The CRG was formed in 1991 in recognition
of the need for geologic information to further our understanding of coastal processes, resources and fragile coastal ecosystems.
back to list The Hydrogeology Section is funded in part by Florida’s Water Management Districts and other state agencies.
The research focus includes aquifer-system framework delineation, karst hydrogeology, and
hydrochemistry of aquifer storage and recovery sites, surface water – groundwater
interaction, mineral-resource assessment and mapping, geological hazards and environmental
studies. The program is also involved at the national, state, and local level with groundwater
quality issues and research programs. In 2001, this program began a statewide model of
aquifer system contamination potential – the Florida Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment
(FAVA) model.
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The Oil & Gas Section regulates hydrocarbon exploration and production within the
state and state waters pursuant to Chapter 377, Florida Statutes, and implements Rules 62C-
25 through 62C-30, Florida Administrative Code. The Section’s primary responsibilities are
conservation of oil and gas resources, correlative rights protection, maintenance of health and
human safety, and environmental protection. These concerns are addressed when permit
applications are reviewed and, if necessary, special permit conditions are attached to
ensure
adequate protection. The Section’s main office is located in Tallahassee and field offices are
located near producing fields in Northwest (Jay) and Southwest (Ft. Myers) Florida. The
Section’s key activities include permitting geophysical, drilling, and transport operations,
inspecting field operations, tracking activities by the use of production and other reporting
forms, enforcing financial security requirements, and maintaining a database of
approximately 1,300 wells and 160 geophysical surveys.
The
State of Florida faces serious issues
concerning the availability and use of
land, water, energy, and mineral resources,
and the overall stewardship of the
environment. Continuing population growth
and associated development consumes natural
resources and puts constant pressure on
water resources conservation and land-use
or planning management schemes. How will we
provide an adequate supply of building
materials for our infrastructure and other
critical resources for the future? How can
we stem the tide of land clearance and
natural environment alteration as
development continues? How can we best
prepare for the natural hazards that will
continue to occur such as coastal erosion,
sinkholes, flood prone areas, swelling
clays, mercury or radon accumulation, etc.?
How do we respond to endangered species
concerns or ecosystem degradation if we
don't understand the basic building blocks
(namely the solid earth geologic framework)
of Florida's environments?
An
effective response to these questions and
similar concerns depends on continually
increasing our knowledge about the solid
earth structure, resources, and the
fundamental dynamics of the earth systems
that continually modify and change our
environments. As development pressures
increase, the need for detailed quality
data becomes more important. The Florida
Geological Survey provides scientific
information required to address these
issues. This information is essential for
public and government officials to make
informed decisions concerning the wise use
of our finite natural resources and for the
protection and conservation of our
environments. Our standard of living, our
state's economic future, indeed, even our
national security depends on our knowledge
of the earth.
Staff
of the FGS are in constant professional
contact with many government agencies
(federal, state, regional, and local),
industry, academia, the consulting
community, and the public. In this way,
research projects and programs can be
designed to provide data and
interpretations in a relevant and timely
manner. Routinely, other programs within the
Department of Environmental Protection are solicited to
provide their recommendations and issues of
concern to the FGS Chief. In addition, the
"Florida Geologic Mapping Advisory
Committee" meets periodically to
provide the FGS input regarding statewide
prioritization of geologic mapping needs.
With
the above guidance, geologic projects are
identified and designed to provide the
needed interpretations. Many of these
programs are joint efforts with various
levels of support from other agencies.
Hydrogeologic (mostly aquifer
characterization and properties
assessments), coastal and near-shore marine
geology, environmental geology, basic
stratigraphy and lithology correlation's,
economic geology and minerals production
information, and geologic education
projects are the dominant topical areas
covered. Other subordinate projects
include: selected deep stratigraphy and
petrology studies to better understand
Florida's oil and gas resources,
paleontology and paleoecology studies to
assist with the prehistorical understanding
of the Florida Platform and ecosystem
change dynamics, and the geochemistry of
Florida peats found within wetlands.
Another
basic program responsibility of the FGS is
the maintenance of a well-cuttings, core,
and outcrop sample repository. This
irreplaceable resource is used by industry,
consultants, and government scientists in
support of municipal water well placement,
well-head protection support, injection
well design, aquifer protection and
recharge assessment, landfill location and
design, infrastructure and building design
and siting, land zoning decisions, mineral
resource assessments, geologic hazards
mitigation, and many other needs when solid
earth information is required.
