Florida Geological Survey

Florida Geological Survey
A white circle encapsulates a scene depicting a natural environment at sunset. The surrouding text denotes the agency and the green ribbons atop and below the main emblem state the agency division.
The logo of the Florida Geological Survey
Agency overview
Formed1907
JurisdictionFlorida
Headquarters
Agency executive
  • Guy H. "Harley" Means, Director and State Geologist
Parent department
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Websitefloridadep.gov/fgs

The Florida Geological Survey (FGS) is the geological survey of the U.S. state of Florida, part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Created by the Florida Legislature in 1907, it collects, interprets, archives and distributes information on Florida's geology, including its water, mineral resources, and hazards such as sinkholes. It is headed by the State Geologist, who by law must be a registered professional geologist. The survey maintains the state's central repository of well cuttings and rock cores and a public research library which publishes reports on the state's geology, and designates State Geological Sites, seven of which are state parks.

History

Founding

Before 1907, Florida had state geologists only in name. Francis L. Dancy held the title of "State Engineer and Geologist" from 1852 to 1855 but had no staff. The physician John Kost wrote geologic reports for the state in 1883 and 1886, but was never designated state geologist. In June 1907 the legislature funded a permanent state geological survey. Governor Napoleon B. Broward appointed Elias H. Sellards, a professor of geology and zoology at the University of Florida, as the first State Geologist.

Sellards began the agency in an unused committee room in the state capitol, and later moved it to a two-room office shared with the state chemist. By 1908 he had hired Herman Gunter as his assistant, started the survey's library and museum collections, and attended the first meeting of the Association of American State Geologists. The botanist Roland McMillan Harper worked for the survey from 1908 to 1931. During his tenure, Sellards published 12 annual reports, two bulletins, a geologic map and many articles, mostly on the basic geology and mineral resources of Florida. He also took a strong interest in fossil vertebrates and early humans. Human remains found alongside extinct Pleistocene animals at Vero, now Vero Beach, led to a 1916 conference of scientists at the site and a long-running controversy over the age of "Vero Man". Sellards left Florida to join the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.

Responsibilities

Florida law directs DEP to maintain the geological survey under a State Geologist, who must be a full-time professional geologist registered in the state. The survey is required to study the state's rocks, minerals, landforms and groundwater, with special attention to their practical value to Floridians, and to give technical help to the public, government agencies and industry. Its other duties are:

State geological sites

State law authorizes the State Geologist to designate "state geological sites" and "state invertebrate paleontological sites." These designations are defined as places of great and continuing significance to the scientific study and public understanding of Florida's geologic history. A privately owned site can be designated only with its owners' written consent. Once a site is designated, no one may carry out geological or paleontological fieldwork there without the survey's permission. As of 2026, nine State Geological Sites have been designated:

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The Association of American State Geologists' centennial history gives Sellards's departure as April 1919. A biography published by the University of Texas's Jackson School of Geosciences gives 1918.

Bibliography

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Rupert 2008, p. 425.
  2. ↑ FGS About.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Florida Legislature.
  4. 1 2 FGS Sites.
  5. 1 2 Cobb 2008, p. 480.
  6. ↑ Cobb 2008, cover photograph caption.
  7. 1 2 3 Rupert 2008, p. 426.
  8. 1 2 JSG.