Heavy rains are pushing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural flow and degrading water clarity. New University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research shows these intrusions worsen existing issues like low oxygen and algae blooms.
A survey of 62 springs in the Suwannee River and Santa Fe River found widespread loss of aquatic vegetation, especially in areas frequently affected by flood-driven intrusions. While the research focuses on Florida, the takeaway reaches much further as heavier rain, stronger storms, and more unpredictable flooding are becoming more common trends.
To read more, visit UF News.
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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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