Rules Based On Bad Science
Mr. John R. Thomas of St. Petersburg has written an editorial in today’s Gainesville Sun contradicting statements expressed by DEP secretary Herschel Vinyard in an article last week in the Sun. Gov. Rick Scott’s administration […]
OSFR President Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and John Jopling, President of Ichetucknee Alliance Interviewed by Sun
Gainesville Sun reporter Chris Curry interviewed John Jopling, president of the Ichetucknee Alliance, and Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, president of Our Santa Fe River, about the groups’ current challenges to the Ichetucknee MFLs and a large consumptive […]
Water management mismeasures
Suppose you didn’t know much about water management but you ran successfully for state office. How can you fake it when you have to talk about the need to improve water management? The same way that elected officials do for many other … Continue reading →
Ag water
State and federal gencies provide better information about farming than is available for other categories of water-associated activities. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives us an updated picture of Florida farms and water use in the newly-released 2012 Census of … Continue reading →
Implementing (key parts of) the “Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act”
Water management reform doesn’t have to wait for the Legislature. The “Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act” which passed the Florida Senate, but did not get even a hearing in the House, is an example. If Governor Rick Scott wanted to take … Continue reading →
The Ichetucknee Is One of Florida’s Crown Jewels
The Ichetucknee is a fascinating system. Located within the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) near Ft. White in Columbia County, the river meanders six miles through hammock and swamp before joining the Santa Fe River.
MFL update…
MFL update…
Photos from Robert Karl Hutchinson’s post in Ichetucknee Alliance
A few weeks ago, the Alachua County Commission authorized $100,000 to be spent on legal proceedings pertaining to the "Minimum Flows and Levels" rule proposed for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers. Our assumption was that the Water Management District would submit their proposed rule, and that it would be challenged by North Florida water utilities and agricultural interests. Alachua County would then intervene on the side of the SRWMD to support the rule, and more importantly, the "recovery plan." While we recognize that the rule is based on imperfect science, the recovery plan did have merit, such as a limiting consumptive use permits to five years in length. However, the utilities, behind closed doors , prevailed on the Florida "Department of Environmental Protection" to gut the MFL rule and recovery plan; for instance utilities can now get 20-year CUPs.
The dilemma the County faces is that we could mount an administrative challenge, but regardless of whether we win or lose, the end result will be the same: "Wait five years for a new groundwater model." During the time of the challenge, any benefits the MFL Rule might convey would be stayed.
I have suggested two other ways to spend the remaining funds (about $80K). The first is for Alachua County to get into the business of challenging many or all Consumptive Use Permits (both new applications and some existing permits). Being an official pest, especially a principled one, could have a significant impact on the size and speed of permits issued.
The second way we could use these funds is to become involved in the development of the "Georgia/North Florida Groundwater Model" which will become the basis for the next set of MFL rules. This is highly technical work and would require outside expertise if we wish to be effective. The interests who would over-exploit our groundwater will certainly be participating during this five-year process and they are likely to suggest more reasons to kick the can another five years into the future.
I'm interested to hear your suggestions about other ways Alachua County can spend the $80K to protect the public trust of our aquifer, springs, and rivers.
Thanks for reading, and for your suggestions.
Cheers,
Hutch
Get in on the Conversation