vicinity of Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County. The continuing encroachment 

 of these developments on steadily diminishing coastal wetlands and beaches has 

 generated much controversy. 



Water supply is gradually becoming an important concern in Northwest 

 Florida. Although water generally is still plentiful in the region, saltwater 

 intrusion is developing into a major threat. For example, cones of depression 

 have formed in the aquifer around Fort Walton Beach and in an area of south- 

 eastern Walton County as a result of heavy pumping for public water supply and 

 irrigation. Water supply sources and distribution in Escambia, Santa Rosa, 

 Okaloosa, and Walton Counties are the topic of a study currently being con- 

 ducted by the Northwest Florida Water Management District. 



Beach erosion is a natural process that is affecting much of the gulf 

 coast. It causes economic loss because of severe physical damage to residen- 

 tial and commercial structures, roads, and recreational beaches. Although 

 beach and shoreline erosion is a natural process, it has been accelerated by 

 residential and urban development. Erosion problems in Northwest Florida are 

 summarized in Table 2. 



Table 2. Miles of beach erosion in Northwest Florida (Florida Department of 

 Environmental Regulation 1980). 



^Critical erosion applies to developed shoreline areas where buildings and 

 public facilities may be threatened by beach erosion. 



Non- critical erosion applies to relatively undeveloped areas. 



The brief overview of current issues in this section highlights the more 

 pressing concerns currently being encountered in the region. Among other 

 issues that are beginning to emerge is the potential for drilling for natural 

 gas in East Bay near Pensacola, and significant port development for coal 

 shipments at Port St. Joe. New issues will continue to emerge even as old 

 ones are being debated and resolved. In an attempt to cope with these issues, 

 an extensive legal and institutional framework has developed at all levels of 

 government. 



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