Land use--Florida--Palm Beach County

Protection of groundwater resources in southeastern Florida is essential because of increasing demands on water quality and supply. Because water is furnished to public and private water systems from production wells that tap the non-artesian surficial aquifer, contamination of groundwater from leaking petroleum storage tanks must be curtailed. In the study, a series of land use maps is developed based on aerial photographs (1970, 1984, and 1991) for a 40 square mile area in southeastern Palm Beach County, Florida. The locations of petroleum storage tank systems and contaminated sites are mapped. The point biserial correlation coefficient is used to examine the strength of the relationships between historical land use, storage tank system capacity, and the presence of petroleum. contamination. The results indicate no correlation between the intensity of urbanization (historical land use) and petroleum contamination and positive correlation between petroleum storage system capacity and petroleum contamination.

This study evaluates the influence that several geographic factors have
upon the public acquisition of beachfront lands. It demonstrates that
they have a continuing and very important impact upon efforts to establish
public beaches. Factors were analyzed to reveal differing aspects of
their influence upon such acquisition, and particularly how they differ in
various locations. The analyses illustrate spatial interrelationships that
exist among geographic factors relating to the beach lands: physiography,
patterns of settlement, political fragmentation, ownership, access, coastal
economics, groups and individuals, and governmental roles. The influence
of geographic principles are also illustrated by the study. It is demonstrated
that awareness of the geographic influences involved in a public
beach acquisition program could permit a more knowledgeable analysis of a
beach area; thereby contributing to the possibilities for a better program
and increased success in acquiring public beaches.