WASHINGTON, D.C.--The United States is using less water than during the peak years of 1975 and 1980, according to water use estimates for 2005. Despite a 30 percent population increase during the past 25 years, overall water use has remained fairly stable according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Anne Castle announced the report, Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005, as part of her keynote speech today at the Atlantic Water Summit in the National Press Club. The report shows that in 2005 Americans used 410 billion gallons per day, slightly less than in 2000. The declines are attributed to the increased use of more efficient irrigation systems and alternative technologies at power plants. Water withdrawals for public supply have increased steadily since 1950--when USGS began the series of five-year trend reports--along with the population that depends on these supplies.

http://www.hrwa-fl.org

This EPA notice announces the availability of an EPA decision identifying water quality limited waterbodies and associated pollutants in Florida to be listed pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Public comment is requested not later than October 23, 2009. A copy of the notice with contact information along with the list of water bodies to be added or removed from the impaired waters list can be found at the link below.

http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/tmdl/florida/index.html

The pace and scale of climate change may now be outstripping even the most sobering predictions of the last report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC). An analysis of the very latest, peer-reviewed science indicates that many predictions at the upper end of the IPCC's forecasts are becoming ever more likely. Meanwhile, the newly emerging science points to some events thought likely to occur in longer-term time horizons, as already happening or set to happen far sooner than had previously been thought.

Follow the link below to access the Climate Change & Florida Component. The report is the last in the list of links.

http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/education/#ClimateChange

The Museum of Florida Art will host a panel discussion, The St. Johns River: Yours, Mine and Ours, on September 22nd from 7-9 pm at the Museum of Floirda Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd,. DeLand FL . Seating will be in the Sands Theater. Free and open to the Public.

The volunteer lake monitoring results for water year 2008 is now available. Please follow the link below to view the report.

http://www.orange.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/2008%20AAL%20Report%20Final.pdf

A big thank you to all our Atlas partner's who made this year's meeting a great success. We hope you all enjoyed the multi-media presentation. If you didn't get enough Carnac, follow the link below for the complete presentation.

Thank you, the Florida Center

http://www.hillsborough.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/WaterAtlas_Advisory_Meeting_9-11-09.pptx

Have you ever been researching historic water quality data or historic water levels and needed more information than what is graphed on the web page? The data exists in Data Download, but it can be difficult to navigate to. The Atlas Programming Team has added a tool to the Water Quality and Water Levels components that, when selected, will PRE-LOAD your query for you! This pre-load will take you directly to the station selection where you can refine or continue the data request.



Awesome Work Programmers!

Sports fishermen take heed: A government test of fish pulled from nearly 300 streams in the USA found every one of them contaminated with some level of mercury. The U.S. Geological Survey's research marks its most comprehensive examination of mercury contamination in stream fish. The study found that 27% of the fish had mercury levels high enough to exceed what the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for the average fish eater, those who eat fish twice a week.

Please follow the link below for the complete article.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-08-19-fish-mercury_N.htm

World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. Signing up for World Water Monitoring Day is easy. Visit the web site linked below and click 'Participate' to learn how.

http://www.WorldWaterMonitoringDay.org

A new law signed by Gov. Charlie Crist promotes the installation of Florida-friendly landscaping. The law states that homeowners associations (HOAs) may not prohibit a homeowner from installing Florida-friendly landscaping on their property, or create any requirement or limitation in conflict with state law. To learn more about Florida-friendly landscaping, visit the link below.

http://www.FloridaYards.org