Beef, Dairy, and Poultry
Livestock industries play a key role in the economy of Florida. However, millions of animals require a substantial amount of water for feeding, and the facilities that house them require even more water for cleaning. Wastewater from livestock carries high levels of nitrates that, when carried to nearby waterbodies through surfacewater runoff, can impact the quality of a waterbody and accelerate eutrophication.

Farming
Crop industries include popular items such as citrus, sugarcane and vegetables. Produce grown in Florida is shipped all over the world. In southern Florida, surface water for irrigation is conveyed through a complex system of canals. In northern Florida, farmers obtain freshwater by tapping the aquifer. The demand for freshwater may reduce water levels during times of drought. In addition, pesticides and fertilizers used during cultivation can leach into waterbodies and affect water quality and accelerate eutrophication.
For more information about farming and ranching in Florida, go to this page of this web site.

---

Aquaculture
Underwater agriculture is a $100 million dollar industry in Florida. Ours is the only state in the nation where large amounts of aquatic plants, fish, and animals are commercially farmed. However, a majority of the crops farmed underwater in Florida are not traditional food species. Specialty items such as tropical fish and ornamental aquatic plants comprise the bulk of the aquaculture industry.
For more information about aquaculture in Florida, go to this page of this web site.

Industries often require an abundance of freshwater to operate cooling systems and to produce hydroelectric power. Power generation plants use freshwater for coolant (however, nuclear plants use salt water); as a result, waterways can experience an increase in water temperature which can alter the natural habitat and change the behavior of important species such as the manatee. Similarly, dams and other industrial structures used to generate power distort the natural aquatic environment and raise environmental concerns. The aquatic region surrounding an industrial plant must be free and clear of vegetation that may clog water intakes. The mechanical requirements of an industrial facility sometimes contradicts the needs and desires of other users who prefer an unaltered natural environment.
For more information about industry in Florida, go to this page of this web site.

Excessive flooding has caused tragic casualties and devastating economic losses throughout Florida's history. To facilitate drainage and to protect property and lives, environmental engineers have devised a complex system of levees, canals, dams and other water control structures as a means to manage freshwater in Florida. Such devices are also used to facilitate irrigation for Florida's wide range of agricultural crops, industries, and rapidly increasing residential populations. However, hasty construction in the past has led to negative environmental effects in the present. Today, the employment of water control structures remains a controversial topic in Florida as conservationists clash with developers. In addition to altering habitats, water control devices must be clear of vegetation in order to function properly. The need to consistently control vegetation in canalways can conflict with the desires of anglers and waterfront property owners who may prefer the aesthetic value of lush plant communities. Poorly designed water control systems can also lead to low dissolved oxygen levels, fish kills, and unhealthy plant communities.
For more information about flood control in Florida, go to this page of this web site.

South Florida, with 80% of the state's population and vast water-using sugarcane and tomato farms, may soon not have enough water to meet its needs. Some south Florida leaders have proposed piping water from north Florida's spring-fed rivers. Will we build a 350-mile pipeline to divert the Suwannee River to Miami, or will we build desalinization plants as they do in desert countries around the world? Or will we limit population growth in the south?
For more information about freshwater consumption in Florida, go to this page of this web site.

The ideal means for managing, restoring, or conserving aquatic plant ecosystems is seldom agreed upon by biologists and conservationists, except that all agree that invasive non-native plants are an unacceptable alternative to a diverse community of native plants. The methods employed to restore an ecosystem to near its original state may have secondary impacts on the wildlife that have adjusted to the altered conditions. Wildlife advocates and those who want to restore an ecosystem may have divergent ideas on the best management practices for a particular ecosystem. For example, some individuals may oppose the removal of hydrilla from a waterbody because it is a food source for the endangered manatee and for overwintering waterfowl. Yet others recognize how the plant crowds out native plant species and clogs water flow and insist that it be controlled to the lowest feasible level (maintenance control).

Homeowners

As the residential population in Florida increases, so does the number of people looking to settle along Florida's waterbodies. Yet the state's aquatic environments are a shared resource and sometimes the line between private and public property is not apparent. Use and management of waterbodies directly affects the people living on the shores, and people living on the shores directly affect all the users of the systems.

Plant management

When developing plant management programs, plant managers face the challenge of considering the multiple perspectives, needs, desires, and impacts upon all of the different user groups. Resource managers have learned that although an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it can lead to a ton of headaches: therefore the best means to avoiding user conflicts is to involve all stakeholders in the development of management plans. By understanding the many demands of Florida’s waters, the stresses from invasive plants and the management options available, informed citizens can better assist government officials in developing management plans that consider all of the uses and users of Florida’s public waters. In all cases, plant managers working in public waterbodies want to develop integrated plant management approaches that seek to reduce user conflicts, while accomplishing statutory requirements of aquatic plant management.

For more information on how you can become more involved in the management of plants in your favorite waterway, contact your DEP Regional Biologist or the water management district or local government in charge.