In this section

Available positions and employment application

Frequently asked questions

Degreed positions and non-degreed positions

Engineering programs

Environmental programs

Hydrologic programs

Employment benefits package

Programs for hydrologists

Hydrologic careers at the St. Johns River Water Management District are devoted to water supply management. More than 90 percent of District residents obtain their drinking water from groundwater sources. Entry-level positions require a bachelor’s degree in hydrology, geology or related field. Higher-level positions require increasing amounts of related experience. Knowledge of geographical information systems, mapping techniques (GPS), statistics, and technical writing skills are beneficial in performing hydrologist duties. A hydrologist at the District may be involved in one of the following areas:

Water use regulatory

Hydrologists analyze data from consumptive use permit applications, apply rule criteria and recommend either issuance or denial of the permit. Hydrologists also work with the applicants to bring planned withdrawals of water into compliance with the rule criteria and develop site monitoring plans.

Theoretical research

To ensure maximum water resource protection, hydrologists must make educated predictions of future water needs and the sources to fulfill those needs. This information is obtained through groundwater modeling. Groundwater modeling has been used to forecast to the year 2010 for water use, population, and water levels and flows. Research is also being performed on lateral and upconing saltwater intrusion of the tributaries and waterways.

Applied research

As a water resource conservation effort, the Florida Legislature enacted the Water Quality Assurance Act of 1983. This Act requires the water management districts to plug all known abandoned artesian wells. Uncontrolled or improperly constructed artesian wells have a major effect on the quantity and quality of Florida’s groundwater resources. Millions of gallons of water are saved each year through the District’s Abandoned Artesian Well Plugging Program. Entry-level hydrologists are involved in the inspection of the wells for inventory purposes and the collection of water quality samples. Upper-level hydrologists are involved in the quality assurance and quality control of the data collected, and prioritize the well plugging activities based on the amount of adverse impact on water use and water quality.

The District Observation Well Network allows hydrologists to construct wells, collect and analyze water samples, and monitor and analyze water levels and water quality in various areas within the District’s boundaries. This data is used to make statistical and geostatistical impact determinations of water use and discharge regarding saltwaterintrusion into the Floridan aquifer.

Data collection

Information gathering is a necessary component of water supply management. A hydrologist obtains, researches, analyzes and interprets hydrologic and geologic data and prepares reports of findings to aid in future water supply management decisions. The data is obtained through geophysical logging, ground penetrating radar, water quality sampling, pump test data and mapping.