Tuesday, February 24, 2009

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

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