THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROSTRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE AND MAPPING METHODS IN FLORIDA AND A CALL FOR NATIONAL STANDARDS

In 1986 the Southeastern Geological Society generated the first set of guidelines for naming Florida's hydrostratigraphic units. The guidelines created a hierarchy for naming aquifers, aquifer systems, and confining units, but with an emphasis on the most productive aquifers of the state. These guidelines have served Florida for over 20 years. However, because of Florida's explosive growth, a need has risen to expand the usage of its water resources, including less productive aquifers not emphasized in 1986. Therefore, there is an increased need to identify and map sub-regional horizons within the major aquifer systems that confine or produce water. Refinement of hierarchical methods of aquifer and confining system naming and mapping is needed within Florida, as well as the nation.

The North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature developed a process for naming of lithostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic units in the early 1960s. Since 1961, naming and mapping conventions were developed for soils, igneous and metamorphic rocks, paleomagnetism, and faunal content. Unfortunately, no uniform hydrostratigraphic conventions have been published.

With this in mind, an ad hoc committee of hydrogeologists, through the Florida Geological Survey, is developing an updated set of guidelines for Florida. Unfortunately, without the oversight of a well respected national body, the guidelines currently used in Florida, will probably not be accepted nationally. In an effort to minimize the duplication of effort across political boundaries, it is believed that the development of a national, or North American, code is long overdue. A call for a national or international oversight committee is included in the guideline report.