MULTIPLE-USE CONFLICTS 



Dr. Andrew A. Dzurik 



Associate Professor 



Department of Urban and Regional Planning 



Florida State University 



Tallahassee, FL 32306 



INTRODUCTION 



Northwest Florida, consisting of seven coastal counties, is well known 

 for its beautiful sandy beaches, barrier islands, estuaries, and coastal wet- 

 lands. As the population continues to grow (Table 1), especially along the 

 coast, socioeconomic and environmental conflicts will become increasingly 

 troublesome because of the growing demands of urban, residential, industrial, 

 and recreational interests. 



In view of these conflicts, Florida's natural coastal resources must be 

 managed and protected through long-term planning to help minimize serious 

 conflicts, alterations, or losses. It is a paradox that the '^ery people 

 attracted to the region, partly because of its natural resources and environ- 

 mental characteristics, impose demands on water resources that could cause 

 excessive pollution, displacement, and other environmental damage. 



This paper focuses on conflicts that arise from competing uses for land 

 and water resources. It gives a brief history of land development in the State 

 and in Northwest Florida and discusses some of the current multiple-use con- 

 flicts. An overview of legal and institutional factors related to development 

 is given, and a major section is devoted to environmental and socioeconomic 

 conflicts on the Apalachicola River and Bay, Panama City Beaches, St. George 

 Island, and Escambia Bay. Also included is a discussion of potential con- 

 flicts related to offshore oil and gas development. 



Table 1. Population of the counties of Northwest Florida from 1950 to 1980 

 (Florida Statistical Abstract 1980). 



Popul ation 



221 



