A FLORIDA PERSPECTIVE ON HYDROSTRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE CHALLENGES

Across the country aquifer classifications have evolved and names have become entrenched in scientific literature, rules and laws, making implementation of more appropriate unit names more difficult. Discrepancies in unit names and hierarchies are cause for confusion and become cumbersome and even costly when framework characterization, mapping and modeling are undertaken, especially across political boundaries.

In Florida, the challenging nomenclature issues center on scale and correlation. For example, at a sub-regional scale, a unit may be correctly identified as an aquifer; however, at a more regional scale the same unit may be readily identified as a component of an aquifer system because the unit is part of a more thick and complex hydrogeologic package. The same applies to low permeability units. Not only can this bring into question nomenclature hierarchy but it also is a challenge when lateral facies changes affect continuity of these units. Many case studies exist where this has led to inefficiencies in research and budgets as well as confusion in the geoscience community.

Lateral and vertical permeability changes in Florida’s hydrogeological framework give rise to a need for robust and specific nomenclature guidelines and definitions to foster consistent mapping and modeling. The guidelines need to be adaptable with a scalable hierarchy to meet the needs of geoscientists addressing local and regional water-resource issues. A national hydrostratigraphic nomenclature commission or series of networked commissions are needed at some geographic level (i.e., statewide or multistate) to promote use of the guidelines to ensure consistent naming assignments.