Physical Environment Geology Soil and the underlying deposits have a direct effect on the chemical composition river systems in Florida. One of the most widely utilized categorization system for rivers and streams is based partly on the geology of the river. Sand-bottomed streams, the most common type in Florida, are characterized by swift currents, slightly acidic, with a sand bottom. Calcareous streams usually originate from springs, are cold, alkaline, and usually crystal clear. Larger rivers are named because of there enormous size which results in large amounts of suspended silt and clay.
Canals are very variable with characteristics depending on the attached water bodies.
In addition to directly affecting the hydrology, climatic factors such as temperature and pollution caused by stormwater runoff can drastically impact a river system. For example, temperature differences between river systems often determines which organisms can survive and large amounts of rainfall can cause pollution events from stormwater runoff or leakage of pollutants from industrial storage ponds. The amount of surface water runoff in an area is dependent on the ratio of rainfall to evapotranspiration, as well as the extent to which water percolates to the aquifer or emerges from the aquifer as a spring. Seasonally, surface flow is greatest during winter and spring in the panhandle and northern Florida, but during the summer and fall in the peninsula. Biotic Environment Flora Most of the attention paid to aquatic vegetation related to invasive species.