In the 1990s, lakes and wetlands dried up in Florida’s fast-growing Tampa Bay region. Some attributed the drastic change to drought; others to overpumping of an underground aquifer. A pitched legal battle, known as the Water Wars, played out. Some government-run utilities wanted to keep pumping from the aquifer; others wanted to look for new water sources. Eventually, they began to work together to find multiple sources of drinking water.

Guests:

• Randy and Mark Barthle, Barthle Brothers Ranch owners




• Honey Rand, Water Wars author




• Eileen Hart, Tampa Bay resident and water rights activist




• Ken Herd, Tampa Bay Water, chief science and technical officer




• Radhika Fox, US Water Alliance, chief executive officer

Photo: Courtesy of Tampa Bay Water