CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/29/17

UGA study to focus on the long-term economic sustainability of the Upper Floridan Aquifer

By Sandi Martin

As concerns grow over the ability of the Upper Floridan Aquifer to keep up with demands for water from residents, farms and forests, four universities are teaming up to look at the economic sustainability of agriculture and forestry in north Florida and south Georgia that rely on this water supply.

The Upper Floridan Aquifer supports agricultural activities worth more than $7.5 billion and provides drinking water to 10 million people, said Puneet Dwivedi, assistant professor of sustainability sciences at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “But it is facing significant threats to water quality and quantity, which could potentially harm food security, fiber production and vital ecosystem services,” he said.

The researchers will focus on developing new best management practices and increasing farmers' adoption of existing best practices, leading to reduced water use and improved water quality in the aquifer.

Researchers from the University of Georgia are collaborating with scientists from three other universities on the five-year, $5 million project. Led by the University of Florida Water Institute, UGA will partner with faculty from Auburn University and Albany State University on the study, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. UGA will receive $1.2 million of the total grant funding.

Dwivedi is leading the UGA team, which includes researchers from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: George Vellidis, professor of crop and soil sciences; Wes Porter, assistant professor of crop and soil sciences; Amanda Smith, public service associate in agricultural and applied economics; and Carrie Furman, anthropologist and assistant research scientist of crop and soil sciences.

Researchers from all four universities will conduct experiments to develop farming practices that reduce water use and fertilizer loss while still resulting in a profitable crop yield. Researchers from Florida and Auburn University will then create computer models that can predict the impacts of various land and water uses.

At UGA, Dwivedi will develop a model for understanding how the adoption of best management practices will change the current land use in the study area and the consequences of such changes on water quality and quantity. Vellidis will develop best management practices that will optimize the use of water and fertilizers for the region’s major crops. Porter will work with farmers to promote advanced irrigation scheduling methods for improving water use efficiency of crops, including the development of an irrigation app.

Smith will be responsible for the creation and revision of new and existing farm-level budgets to address how changes to best management practices affect costs at the farm level within the region. Furman will research and document learning and communication between farmers and project members.

Vellidis said it’s not just how much the aquifer is used that is affecting its health and sustainability. Farming activities may also be impacting water quality. In northern Florida, for example, nitrate levels have been increasing in the region’s springs, which are fed by the aquifer.

“Nitrate contamination can be caused by nitrogen fertilizers leaching through the soil to the aquifer, so some are attributing the increase in nitrates found in the springs to farming activities,” he said. “The aquifer spans four states and does not conform to political boundaries. Our project will attempt to provide solutions that can be applied across boundaries and address the aquifer as a whole.”

Porter said he expects that many farmers will already be early adopters of new irrigation scheduling methods, and he hopes that they can help him convince other producers to get on board with the best management practices.

“There are always issues and problems that can cause hindrance and reduction in adoption of these practices,” Porter said. “We will have to work with county agents and other farmers to build confidence in these best management practices and to build confidence for the producers who are skeptical about adopting these practices.”

Smith will work with farmers to see how their costs change with the implementation of these management practices.  

“A lot of farm-level decisions are based on what is projected to generate the most profit for the farm business,” she said. “In an industry where margins can be thin, monitoring costs and understanding the impacts to profitability are critical.”

Furman said that she is excited to be part of a project that brings community perspectives and knowledge into the research design and outcomes.

“The fact that we are engaging the community in this project is a key,” she said. “Their perspectives have the potential to truly make our work relevant to this region.”

This release is available online at https://news.uga.edu/releases/article/upper-floridan-aquifer/.

Sandi Martin is the public relations coordinator with the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Authors:
Sandi Martin
Experts/Sources:
George Vellidis
Amanda R Smith
Wesley Porter
Carrie Anne Furman
As concerns grow over the ability of the Upper Floridan Aquifer to keep up with demands for water from residents, farms and forests, four universities are teaming up to look at the economic sustainability of agriculture and forestry in north Florida and south Georgia that rely on this water supply.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
A groundbreaking ceremony for a green stormwater demonstration site was held on Nov. 22 at the UGA Research and Education Garden at UGA-Griffin. This site will allow visitors to get a firsthand look at the green infrastructure technology that can be used both in the green industry and in private homes. Pictured are (l-r): Rolando Orellana, urban water management state agent in the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture; Jeffrey Dean, Assistant Provost and Campus Director for UGA Griffin; Bethany Harris, Director of the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture, Joy Hinkle, Grants Unit Manager for Georgia EPD, and Martin Wunderly, UGA Northeast District Extension Area Water Agent. CAES News
UGA-Griffin breaks ground on green stormwater demonstration site 12/11/24 Ashley N Biles
Industry professionals, researchers and the public will soon have access to the latest in sustainable infrastructure technology with the construction of a green stormwater demonstration site at the University of Georgia Research and Education Garden on the UGA Griffin campus. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 22 with plans to complete several demonstration areas by the end of 2024.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.
Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock CAES News
Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy
Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.
Longtime faculty member George Vellidis was named the first permanent director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. IIPA was launched in 2022 and has grown to include more than 70 faculty members. (Photo by Paul Privette for UGA CAES) CAES News
Vellidis named director of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture 12/02/24 David Mitchell
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor George Vellidis has been named director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA). His term began on Nov. 1, and he will serve as the unit’s first permanent director. “Dr. Vellidis has been a vital member of our UGA faculty for years and played a key role in launching IIPA,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Whether it’s his impact as a first-class researcher and educator or the work he does behind the scenes to elevate our reputation in the field abroad, his presence has made UGA a hub for precision agriculture research.”
In Georgia alone, there are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, HFIM students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. CAES News
UGA redefines Southern hospitality through a thriving degree program 11/27/24 Claire S. Kinnard
There are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality in Georgia. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, University of Georgia hospitality and food industry management students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. This versatile experience — with its focus on quality curriculum, meaningful interaction with local and national business, and experiential learning — has already begun graduating the next generation of hospitality leaders.