The Suwannee River Water Management District has sent the following press release, listing environmentally beneficial projects recently funded.
Not to be misunderstood, we heartily approve of these projects. However, it is to be noted that these offend no major polluters, as is the custom.
Also, the eight thousand pounds of nutrients and the 1.44 million gallons of water saved, is an infinitesimal amount compared to what is needed to restore the quantity and quality of water in our rivers and springs. On a pie chart, it would not even register.
“Since 2013, the District has funded 88 projects through the RIVER program, which has reduced an estimated 8,000 pounds of nutrients, conserved 1.44 million gallons of water,…”
Fact: the State of Florida is not seriously trying to restore our springs and rivers.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Communications Office | Suwannee River Water Management District |
386.362.1001 or 800.226.1066 (FL) | SRWMDCommunications@SRWMD.org | www.MySuwanneeRiver.com
SRWMD Governing Board approves more than $744,000 in local water resource projects
LIVE OAK, FLA., SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 – The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) Governing Board on Tuesday approved approximately $744,907 in local projects designed to enhance or address water resources in the region.
The two projects approved were part of the Regional Initiative Valuing Environmental Resources (RIVER) program that focuses on water supply, water quality, flood protection, and/or natural systems core missions.
Since 2013, the District has funded 88 projects through the RIVER program, which has reduced an estimated 8,000 pounds of nutrients, conserved 1.44 million gallons of water, protected more than 50,000 acres from flooding impacts, and restored five acres of natural systems.
“The District’s RIVER program helps local governments obtain cost-share funding for projects that align with our core mission objectives,” said Hugh Thomas, executive director of the District. “We understand how important this funding can be to some of our communities and are excited to make it available to them. These projects are great examples of how RIVER funding can support protection and restoration of our water resources.”
The approved projects include:
- Little River Springs Erosion Control – Suwannee County – $387,793 – This project, in coordination with Suwannee County Parks and Recreation, will construct bank stabilization on the northwest side of Little River Springs. This is to assist with recent erosion caused by flooding and storm damage.
- White Wing Dove Drainage Improvement –Madison County – $357,114 – This project will improve flood protection and address erosion through the addition of an erosion armoring system and culvert replacement at White Wing Dove Road in Madison County.
More information on District funding opportunities can be found here.
The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties.
For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
###
There was just a SRWMD meeting this week with Nutrien White Springs’ 50mgd water permit approved without public discussion through the consent agenda. With over a week’s notice with the meeting agenda posted a day earlier than usual, for a meeting always held on the same second Tuesday of the month every month, not a single local water or environmental organization spoke in public comment to ask for an open presentation on the permit renewal, or for the item to be removed from consent. If letters were submitted to the board ahead of time, they were not read publicly at the meeting and no one heard or saw them. No organizations called for public comment until Suwannee Riverkeepers made a post less than 24 hours before the meeting.
Lack of leadership is right.