Lesson 14: Water Management in Florida

In 1972, the Florida Legislature recognized the need for active involvement in protecting and preserving the state’s water resources. The Legislature developed a plan that would conserve and fully manage state waters. This concern resulted in Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, also referred to as the Florida Water Resources Act of 1972. For more information on the history of water management in Florida, download Chapter 1 of Florida Waters, a publication of the St. Johns River Water Management District, at http://www.sjrwmd.com/floridawaters/.

Today, this legislation provides for the management of water and water-related land resources. It promotes the conservation, development and proper utilization of ground and surface water as covered in this text.

The act created five major regions within the state, based on hydrologic boundaries rather than on county lines. This act helps ensure that wise decisions are based on hydrologic needs rather than on political ones.

This lesson explains some of the responsibilities of the various agencies that manage water in Florida.

Special note: This lesson does not have a quiz. After completing this lesson, students will take the WaterWays post-test.

1. Have students read parts 1 and 2.

2. Ask discussion questions:

(part 1)

• What is meant by the term “water management”?
• Why do we need agencies to manage water in Florida?
• Which of the five water management districts is responsible for the area in which we live?

(part 2)

• What are some of the things the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) does to protect our water supply?
• What is one of the main goals of SJRWMD?
• What are some of the ways SJRWMD can achieve its goals?

3. Have students look at the illustration in part 1 and discuss what this student is thinking about.

4. Have students look at the map in part 2 and locate their town or city.

5. Have students read parts 3 and 4 to find out about careers in water management.

6. Ask the following discussion questions:

(part 3)

• What kinds of jobs are part of water management?

(part 4)

• Name three other agencies that help to manage Florida’s water resources.

7. Have students look at the illustrations in part 3 and try to identify what each person may be doing. (From top to bottom, SJRWMD staff are testing water clarity, conducting water sampling, entering data into a computer and taking part in grass planting to restore a shoreline.)

FCAT-style questions based on the content of Lesson 14 have been prepared to assist students in preparing for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

• Lesson 14 FCAT-Style Questions
• FCAT Reading Rubric
• Sample Responses

1. Have students select one of the careers mentioned in this lesson. Each student is to pretend he or she has a job at SJRWMD. Each student is to write a paper answering the following questions:

• Why did you choose this career?
• How does it relate to water management?
• What types of tasks do you perform each day?
• Why is this job important?

Have volunteers read their papers to the class. Students may draw illustrations to match their daily activities. Display illustrations on a bulletin board.

2. FCAT-Style Questions, Lesson 14 post-test online test or Lesson 14 post-test worksheets may be used.*

1. Have students navigate to the Lesson 14 Experiment, “Be a manager.”

2. Divide class into cooperative groups and have them read “What you will learn,” “What you will need” and “Here is what you do.”

3. Have students do the activity “Is there enough?” and answer the questions in “What do you think?”

4. Have students read and discuss “Make a difference!” Provide names and addresses of local officials students may wish to contact.

5. Have students read and discuss “How would you manage it?” Provide a list of leaders for students to assess. Allow time for students to answer the question in class or assign as homework.

Answers for the FCAT-style questions and the online and offline quizzes can be downloaded at answers.html. The quiz answer keys are password-protected. You can obtain the password by registering via a short form.