Lake County Resolution opposing surface withdrawals from St. Johns

Resolution No. 2009-

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROPOSALS TO WITHDRAW WATER FROM THE ST. JOHNS RIVER AND OCKLAWAHA RIVER SYSTEMS; EMPHASIZING WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES AS A MORE APPROPRIATE ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER WITHIN THE DISTRICT; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, the St. Johns River, the Ocklawaha River, and their tributaries are outstanding natural resources of irreplaceable value to Lake County and the people of Florida; and

WHEREAS, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), is currently considering plans to withdraw hundreds of millions of gallons per day of surface water from the St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River as an “alternate water supply”; and

WHEREAS, Seminole County is spearheading the aforementioned effort by requesting a permit to withdraw water from the St. Johns River at its Yankee Lake facility; and

WHEREAS, environmental studies evaluating the ecological impacts to the river have not been completed, and Minimum Flows and Levels have not been established for all water bodies within the District affected by plans for surface water withdrawal; and

WHEREAS, the SJRWMD has not met the intent of the 2020 Water Supply Plan adopted by its Board of Governors, which requires meaningful implementation of water conservation measures before developing other alternative water supplies; and

WHEREAS, developing the associated infrastructure for withdrawal, treatment and transmission of surface water from the St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River is estimated to cost billions of dollars, an expense to be borne by Central Florida through water bill rates that are expected to be many times higher than today; thereby placing a burden upon residents, families, businesses and the economy; and

WHEREAS, Florida has one of the highest per-capita rates of domestic water use in the country; a number that has increased dramatically from 102 gallons per day in 1950 to 174 gallons per day in 2000 for residents served by public supply; and

WHEREAS, over 50% of the per capita domestic use of water within the SJRWMD occurs outside of the home for the inefficient irrigations of lawns and landscaping; and

WHEREAS, significant water savings can be realized to meet future needs with less financial burden through meaningful conservation programs, including the effective regulation and enforcement of water use, drought-tolerant landscaping, low-impact development practices, and the limitation of growth to sustainable levels, compatible with the protection of natural resources and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, meaningful, mandatory and enforceable conservation programs have not been established in Central Florida or within the SJRWMD to yield an effective reduction in the per capita domestic use of water; and

WHEREAS, if efforts to withdraw water from the St. Johns River system or Ocklawaha River system prevail and a dependence on that supply is created, the reversal of such water withdrawal, regardless of environmental impacts, will be difficult if not impossible to achieve;








NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA:

SECTION 1. Lake County hereby opposes the withdrawal of water from the St. Johns River, the Ocklawaha River, or their tributaries for public supply.

SECTION 2. Lake County finds that costly efforts to increase available public water supplies by withdrawing from the St. Johns River system or Ocklawaha River system will have the deleterious effect of perpetuating the ongoing wasteful use of water from all sources, and thus contravene necessary change in behaviors and practices required to ensure environmental sustainability and economic health.

SECTION 3. Lake County urges the SJRWMD and local governments, including its municipalities, to fully exercise their respective authorities to implement aggressive water conservation programs and regulatory measures, coupled with necessary enforcement and responsible growth management, in order to maximize conservation as an effective “alternative water supply.”

SECTION 4. This resolution shall be effective upon adoption.

DONE AND PROCLAIMED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida this 24th day of February, 2009.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA

_________________________________________________
WELTON G. CADWELL, CHAIRMAN

_________________________________________________
JENNIFER HILL, VICE CHAIRMAN

_________________________________________________
ELAINE RENICK, DISTRICT 2

________________________________________________
JIMMY CONNER, DISTRICT 3

______ _________________________________________
LINDA STEWART, DISTRICT 4

ATTEST:

_______________________________________
NEIL KELLY, CLERK TO THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA


APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL
SUFFICIENCY:

_______________________________________
SANFORD A. MINKOFF
COUNTY ATTORNEY

Lake opposes surface withdrawals from St. Johns River

Just a few moments ago, the Lake County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution opposing withdrawals of surface water from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers. The full version of the resolution will be posted soon.

SJRWMD Board of Governors contact info

Here are the contacts for the people who will be making the final decision on Seminole County's plan to pump millions of gallons of water per day from the St. Johns River. Please write or call to let them know that you oppose the plan prior to the April 13 meeting!

Tell them that at the very least, the District should:
1) Implement stonger conservation measures before tapping the river
2) The District should await the results of its own study, which was designed to determine what ecological harm might result from the plan

Here are the contacts. I'll try to add e-mails soon. (e-mail being sent to their @sjrwmd.com addresses are being intercepted.)

Susan N Hughes
7775 Baymeadows Way, Ste 102
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7538
(904) 730-6270
(904)665-6248
(904) 285-4831


W Leonard Wood
5317 S Fletcher Ave
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034-5326
(904) 277-2467

Hersey A Huffman
1430 Shell Mound Rd
Deltona, FL 32725-2441
(407) 323-1360


Hans G Tanzler III
3965 Ortega Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32210-4417
(904) 381-9615

Douglas Bourrnique
7925 20th St
Vero Beach, FL 32966-1318
(772) 562-2728
(772) 231-2550

Michael Ertel
330 Windcliffe Ct
Oviedo, FL 32765-8645
(407) 708-7712
(407)687-3654
(407) 359-3372

David Graham
6420 Southpoint Pkwy
Jacksonville, FL 32216-0944
(904) 281-7100

Arlen N Jumper
PO Box 478
Fort Mc Coy, FL 32134-0478
(352) 546-2012

Lake Co. to consider opposing St. Johns withdrawals

The Lake County Board of Commissioners will vote Tuesday, Feb., 24 on a resolution opposing Seminole County's plans to pump millions of gallons of water daily from the St. Johns River. Please try to make the meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. to support this resolution.

The full agenda is available here: http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/board_agendas/board_regular_meetings.aspx

The language of the proposed resolution - based in part on the one passed by the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District in July, 2008 is below:

Resolution No. 2009-

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROPOSALS TO WITHDRAW WATER FROM THE ST. JOHNS RIVER; EMPHASIZING WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES AS A MORE APPROPRIATE ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER WITHIN THE DISTRICT; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, the St. Johns River is an outstanding natural resource of irreplaceable value to Lake County and the people of Florida; and

WHEREAS, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), is currently pursuing plans projected to result in the eventual withdrawal of more than 260 million gallons of water per day from the St. Johns River and tributaries as an “alternative water supply”; and

WHEREAS, Seminole County is spearheading the aforementioned effort by requesting a permit to withdraw 5.5 million gallons per day of water from the St. Johns River at its Yankee Lake facility, and has estimated that 80 million gallons per day may be withdrawn in the future; and

WHEREAS, environmental studies evaluating the ecological impacts to the river have not been completed, and Minimum Flows and Levels have not been established for all water bodies within the District affected by plans for surface water withdrawal; and

WHEREAS, the SJRWMD has not met the intent of the 2020 Water Supply Plan adopted by its Board of Governors, which requires meaningful implementation of water conservation measures before developing other alternative water supplies; and

WHEREAS, developing the Yankee Lake facility and associated infrastructure for withdrawal, treatment and transmission is estimated to cost $500 million, an expense to be borne by Central Florida through water bill rates that are expected to be many times higher than today; thereby placing a burden upon residents, families, businesses and the economy; and

WHEREAS, Florida has one of the highest per-capita rates of domestic water use in the country; a number that has increased dramatically from 102 gallons per day in 1950 to 174 gallons per day in 2000 for residents served by public supply; and

WHEREAS, over 50% of the per capita domestic use of water within the SJRWMD occurs outside of the home for the inefficient irrigations of lawns and landscaping; and

WHEREAS, significant water savings can be realized to meet future needs with less financial burden through meaningful conservation programs, including the effective regulation and enforcement of water use, drought-tolerant landscaping, low-impact development practices, and the limitation of growth to sustainable levels, compatible with the protection of natural resources and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, meaningful, mandatory and enforceable conservation programs have not been established in Central Florida or within the SJRWMD to yield an effective reduction in the per capita domestic use of water; and

WHEREAS, if efforts to withdraw water from the St. Johns River prevail and a dependence on that supply is created, the reversal of such water withdrawal, regardless of environmental impacts, will be difficult if not impossible to achieve; and

WHEREAS, on July 15, 2008, the Seminole Soil & Water Conservation District adopted a resolution objecting to the withdrawal of water from the St. Johns River, emphasizing conservation as a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative; and




NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA:

SECTION 1. Lake County hereby supports the Seminole Soil & Water Conservation District in its opposition to the withdrawal of water from the St. Johns River for public supply, and opposehe issuance by the St. Johns River Water Management District of additional permits to withdraw water from the St. Johns River and its tributaries by other utilities, municipalities or agencies within the district.

SECTION 2. Lake County finds that costly efforts to increase available public water supplies by withdrawing from the St. Johns River will have the deleterious effect of perpetuating the ongoing wasteful use of water from all sources, and thus contravene necessary change in behaviors and practices required to ensure environmental sustainability and economic health.

SECTION 3. Lake County urges the SJRWMD and local governments, including its municipalities, to fully exercise their respective authorities to implement aggressive water conservation programs and regulatory measures, coupled with necessary enforcement and responsible growth management, in order to maximize conservation as an effective “alternative water supply”.

SECTION 4. This resolution shall be effective upon adoption.

DONE AND PROCLAIMED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida this 24th day of February, 2009.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA

_________________________________________________
WELTON G. CADWELL, CHAIRMAN

_________________________________________________
JENNIFER HILL, VICE CHAIRMAN

_________________________________________________
ELAINE RENICK, DISTRICT 2

________________________________________________
JIMMY CONNER, DISTRICT 3

______ _________________________________________
LINDA STEWART, DISTRICT 4

ATTEST:


_______________________________________
NEIL KELLY, CLERK TO THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA


APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL
SUFFICIENCY:

_______________________________________
SANFORD A. MINKOFF
COUNTY ATTORNEY

SJRWMD Board of Governors to decide St. Johns' fate

Special Board meeting scheduled for April 13

PALATKA, Fla., Jan. 30, 2009 - The St. Johns River Water Management District has scheduled a special public Governing Board meeting for April 13 to consider the recommended order in the pending case that challenged the District's proposed issuance of a permit to Seminole County to withdraw surface water from the St. Johns River for public supply and reclaimed water supply augmentation.

The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. at District headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka. The District's goal in scheduling the special meeting is to accommodate members of the public interested in attending.

Prior to issuing a final order at this meeting, the Board will consider the administrative law judge's recommended order, subsequent comments submitted by the involved parties and oral arguments by the parties.

At the special meeting, the involved parties will have an opportunity to address the Board directly, and members of the public who have not been involved in the hearing process also will be given an opportunity to address the Board.

The Board was originally scheduled to consider Seminole County's permit application in March 2008. Because of petitions objecting to the District staff recommendation for approval of the county-owned water utility's application to withdraw 5.5 million gallons of water per day (on an average annual basis) from the river, the issue went through a state administrative hearing process.