Hydrology of the Citrus Park Quadrangle, Hillsborough County, Florida

Rapid increases in population and development in the Citrus Park quadrangle northwest of Tampa have increased the demand for water from the surficial and Upper Floridan aquifers, while at the same time decreasing the amount of wetlands and agricultural or forested lands that formerly provided recharge to these aquifers. Because the study area is underlain by soluble deposits, sinkholes and small closed depressions are common surface features. Some of the lakes in the area are remnants of ancient sinkholes. Four streams drain the area. Two of the streams have been channelized to reduce the risk of local flooding. Pumping from three municipal well fields within the study area and from three nearby well fields has lowered the potentiometric surface of the Upper Floridan aquifer. The pumping also lowers the water table levels by inducing recharge from the surficial aquifer to the Upper Floridan aquifer. Heavy pumpage may prompt sinkhole activity, or in areas near the coast , induce saltwater intrusion. Water quality of streams and groundwater is generally good except in the vicinity of landfills and where saltwater encroachment into the principal water bearing unit has occurred along the coast. (USGS)