The Constantine Springs
Bill
SB 0274
The Boyd Water Resources Bill
HB 593
The Argenziano Springs Bill:
SB 2636
and.....
ABSTRACT:In most watersheds (river basins) in Florida the interactions between ground water and surface water typically result in a single dynamic flow system. This direct hydraulic linkage results from numerous karst features (such as sinkholes, conduit systems in the underlying limestone, and springs) that facilitate the exchange of water between the surface and subsurface. Unique problems can arise in protecting water quality in karst areas because of the direct and rapid transport of recharge through conduits to the subsurface and through resurgence by springs. In some areas, recharge from unknown drainage pathways to areas of discharge may contribute to chemical and biological contamination of water supplies. Such contamination in karst areas has been documented by many studies.
Legislation enacted in 1993 mandated the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to develop and implement measures to protect the functions of the State's ecosystems. Watershed management is one of the main components of a program designed to protect and manage Florida's ecosystems. The FDEP has identified several key objectives to effectively address watershed management issues: (1) more coordinated management of ground- and surface-water resources, (2) more effective partnerships with local, regional, State, and Federal government agencies, (3) coordination of ground- and surface-water monitoring efforts to assess the quality and quantity of the water resources and delineate the boundaries of three-dimensional watersheds, and (4) the development and maintenance of comprehensive statewide data bases for water resource information and monitoring networks oriented toward targeted watersheds.
The Suwannee River basin in Florida is one of several watersheds in the U.S. that was chosen for a pilot study by the Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring Water Quality (ITFM) to evaluate the effectiveness of current monitoring programs that are coordinated among Federal, State, and local agencies in addressing the key issues related to monitoring water resources. The ITFM previously found that information gaps existed in State and Federal monitoring programs and recommended that these gaps be addressed by developing an integrated, voluntary, nationwide strategy for water-quality monitoring. The ITFM recommended the watershed approach as a highly effective way to manage water resources because this approach integrates ground-water and surface-water systems.
The Suwannee River basin pilot study is attempting to provide answers to critical watershed-management questions such as: (1) Can boundaries be delineated for ground-water and surface-water basins and do these boundaries change depending upon hydrologic conditions? (2) What does existing information tell about the hydrochemical interaction between ground water and surface water in the basin? (3) Can natural processes provide a remediation of elevated concentrations of nitrate in the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) during high or low flow conditions and or mixing of surface and ground water? and (4) Can a framework be developed in this study for evaluating the interactions between ground water and surface water and for delineating watershed boundaries that can be extrapolated to other watersheds within Florida and nationwide that have similar hydrogeologic conditions?
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Please Forward To Your Lists and Friends. We need your help on Tuesday 2/24 at the County Commission Meeting. Below is an Excellent column in today's Orlando Sentinel by Lauren Ritchie...Folks, this is one of the largest, most aggressive, egregious attempts to turn Lake County into another sprawling mess like Orlando. Bob Thielhelm of City of Mt. Dora, Keith Riger of the City Deland, and Ray Sharp, City of Leesburg have proposed a SPRAWLING WATER PIPELINE spidering across Lake County and Central Florida. Just like in Colorado, California and the Everglades, proposers say there will be no damage. The resulting damage to fishing, and outdoor recreation by dried up rivers and lakes and the extreme sprawl and eroded quality of life can be seen in those and other locations. The Thielhelm, Riger, and Sharp proposal will cause irreverible harm to the environment and the quality of life in Lake County by killing our lakes and rivers to provide an unending supply of water for sprawling development in the Wekiva Protection area, Lake County's last rural areas, and in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern. Thielhelm, Riger, and Sharp propose to significantly raise taxes on all Lake County residents to pay for the pipeline so their cities can sprawl out for a lower cost to themselves. We doubt the citizens of these cities approve of higher taxes for a lower quality of life and we hope that other officials from these cities will step up to the plate to oppose what these individuals are proposing. Read more below in Orlando Sentinel's commentary today. You can see the extreme proposal and how the pipeline snakes all over Lake County at www.thecitizenscoalition.com/damagingThielhelmRigerSharpproposal.pdf. On Tuesday 2/24/09 at the Lake County Board of County Commission (BCC) meeting Commissioner Elaine Renick is proposing a resolution stating that the County opposes this proposal and a water pipeline in Lake County and opposes water withdrawals from our lakes and rivers. Please attend the 2/24/09 BCC meeting in Tavares at 9am in the round building to support Commissioner Renick's resolution. If you cannot make the meeting, please send an email to the County Commissioners at the following addresses indicating that you want the County to oppose withdrawal from our lakes and rivers and to oppose any water pipeline across Lake County. Click Here to Email ALL FIVE of the Lake County Commissioners Remember to fill in the subject line for your email message. Or click on any email below to send separate emails: Jennifer Hill jhill@co.lake.fl.us If for any reason you need to change your email address reply to this email and let us know. If you would like to unsubscribe, simply reply to this email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject or body. We will promptly remove your name from our email. Rob Kelly, President ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Water Waste:OrlandoSentinel.comCOMMENTARYSay no, no, no to colossal waste of a water projectLauren Ritchie
COMMENTARY
February 22, 2009
In July 2008, the price tag was $500 million. Today, it's $1 billion.
What will it be by this July -- $1.5 billion?
This insane proposal -- 500 miles worth of pipe to carry water from the St. Johns River to your tap -- could be the single most expensive public project ever undertaken in Central Florida. And every penny would be a waste. Lake County commissioners should say no. No, no, no! Stop the flow! |
By Craig Pittman,
Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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As the traditionally dry spring approaches, regional water managers are asking the state to impose the toughest watering restrictions in history.
Turtles:
Harvesting freshwater turtles is
seen on Santa Fe River, across state
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Photo courtesy of the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission Shown above is a soft-shell, freshwater turtle. Until October of
2008, turtles like these could legally be taken in unlimited numbers. A
temporary rule that limited the number that could be taken per day will be
reviewed by the state in April, at which time the state could go back to
the old, unlimited harvest or enact stricter limits.
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One slip of the flipper and turtles perched on fallen logs on the Santa Fe River, warming their cold-blooded bodies with the plentiful Florida sun, could be headed to Asia to become someone's dinner.
read more: http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/02/06/news/news11.txt