The History of Water in Florida

Water Quality and Conservation
Teacher's Guide for Water Quality and Conservation

Background Information

Florida is rich with fresh and marine water. In addition to its abundant surface water resources, Florida also sits atop the most plentiful freshwater aquifers in the United States, which supply water to hundreds of springs and provide the base flow for many of Florida's rivers and streams. The state's surface and ground water resources are intimately connected and support drinking water supplies, agriculture, industry, wildlife habitat and a thriving recreation-based economy.

Diver and photographer at Cypress Gardens (1963)

Ginger Stanley and Merle Ivey posing underwater at Weeki Wachee Springs

Scuba diver examining mastodon bones at Wakulla Springs

Florida Beaches: Paradise in Peril (video)

Florida Tackle and Gun Club to the Hudson Pulp and Paper Corporation

Central Florida Anti Water Pollution Association

Executive director of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission

Some Useful Questions to Ask

• Summarize the concerns outlined in the Central Florida Anti Water Pollution Association’s letter, as well as the response they received from Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Executive Director Dr. O.E. Frye. How do Frye’s plans for Lake Apopka compare with what the Anti Water Pollution Association asked for?
• Who received copies of the letter from the Florida Tackle and Gun Club to the Hudson Pulp and Paper Corporation? Why might the Club choose to send the letter to all of these individuals?

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

• SS.4.A.1.1: Analyze primary and secondary resources to identify significant individuals and events throughout Florida history.
• SS.4.A.8.4: Explain how tourism affects Florida's economy and growth.
• SS.8.A.1.7: View historic events through the eyes of those who were there as shown in their art, writings, music, and artifacts.
• SS.912.A.6.15: Examine key events and peoples in Florida history as they relate to United States history.
  Examples are Mosquito Fleet, "Double V Campaign," construction of military bases and WWII training centers, 1959 Cuban coup and its impact on Florida, development of the space program and NASA.
• SS.912.A.7.17: Examine key events and key people in Florida history as they relate to United States history.
  Examples are selection of Central Florida as a location for Disney, growth of the citrus and cigar industries, construction of Interstates, Harry T. Moore, Pork Chop Gang, Claude Pepper, changes in the space program, use of DEET, Hurricane Andrew, the Election of 2000, migration and immigration, Sunbelt state.
  

Florida Standards

• LAFS.4.RI.1.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• LAFS.68.RH.1.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
• LAFS.68.RH.1.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
• LAFS.68.RH.2.6: Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author’s point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
• LAFS.68.RH.3.7: Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
• LAFS.910.RH.1.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
• LAFS.910.RH.1.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
• LAFS.1112.RH.1.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
• LAFS.1112.RH.1.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.