In this episode of Water for Fighting, Brett Cyphers sits down with Chuck Drake, a professional geologist whose career in Florida water resources spans more than four decades. Chuck reflects on his family’s deep roots in Central Florida, growing up hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors, and how an interest in geology eventually led him to hydrogeology and his first job with the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Chuck traces his career from the early days of consumptive use permitting to consulting for utilities and eventually serving two terms on the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board. He and Brett discuss the evolution of groundwater science and modeling, agricultural water use, and the challenge of balancing water supply with environmental protection. Chuck also discusses SWFWMD’s 5-3-1 impact rule, clarifying that the rule was applied at the owner’s property boundary, and reflects on what he learned about Florida’s water management system from both the technical and policy sides.
The conversation also covers water reuse, alternative water supplies, land management and restoration, as well as the continuing need for groundwater research and trained hydrogeologists in Florida. Chuck adds the importance of professional geologists continuing to advocate against efforts to deregulate the profession, an issue he says periodically resurfaces in the Florida Legislature. Now semi-retired, Chuck remains active as president of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and supports Breakthrough T1D (BreakthroughT1D.org), an organization focused on Type 1 diabetes research, through fundraising and awareness efforts.
This episode is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline.
Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast’s leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.
This episode is also brought to by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)
RES is the nation’s leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida’s natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us
Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews, as part of a new venture where we’re striving to become Florida’s first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state’s natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier.
You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you’d like to know more about.
Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.
And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.
