County is urged to conserve water resources

By John Ayers

The Gilchrist County Commission listened as Steve Minnis, governmental affairs director with the Suwannee River Water Management District, addressed the board to advise county leaders to conserve water resources as he presented them with a report regarding the state of the resource.

“In the upper Santa Fe River region which lies in the northeast portion of the Suwannee River Water Management District, there aren’t enough resources to supply the growing demand for water,” Minnis said.
Minnis explained there are a lot of things going on involving the Suwannee River Water Management District at this time. One of the greatest things that has recently changed involved Senate Bill 2080 identifying the water use permitting rule that needed to show greater conservation of the water resource.
A recent grant award of $340,000 will fund a water supply assessment in the Suwannee River Water Management District which will identify issues involving water supply and recharge areas in this and neighboring water management districts, Minnis told the board.
The Water Management District representative praised Gilchrist County for becoming involved in the Nature Coast Regional Water Authority for future water conservation in this area.
The springs heartland including the Suwannee, Santa Fe and other springs and river resources, was once thought to have unlimited water resources. This area has the highest concentration of freshwater springs in the world, but the resource is limited, Minnis explained. There are 253 known springs in the 16 county district that provide an estimated 72 percent of the flow.
The Suwannee River Water Management District has been identifying the flows and levels of the area rivers for over 20 years. This study determines how much water is needed to sustain springs, rivers and other resources. The minimum flow for a given watercourse shall be the limit at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area. Based on the adopted minimum flows and levels study, there isn’t enough water to meet the needs through 2030 in the Upper Santa River Basin. The cause of this problem is a regional lowering of the Florida aquifer, threatening springs, rivers and water supplies in North Florida. Steve Minnis explained to the Commission that the Floridian Aquifer provides an essential source of water to North Florida, Southeast Georgia, South Carolina, and Southeast Alabama. He explained that the St. John River Water Management District is presently drawing a volume of water from the Upper Santa Fe River Basin.
The study involving the present uses will identify several priority issues. The plan will account for existing and reasonably projected future uses. The plan will develop a list of water supply sources and water resources development options. The study will estimate costs and the funding in the future. The plan is expected to provide information on who will implement the plan and options and on what timetable this plan will become effective. The plan will also provide for extensive stakeholder participation in the future and the stakeholders involved. A target date of September 2010 was projected for the completion of this plan.
The SRWMD is challenged to maintain the flows of the rivers and springs, improve water quality, and provide future water supply in support of economic growth. Minnis then opened the presentation to allow the board to ask questions about the district and the water resources presentation.
Commissioner Tommy Langford asked if a significant amount of rainfall continues in this area, would this sustain the aquifer and the recharge of the ground water.
Minnis pointed out that there is such a large demand for the resource, that a large amount of rainfall will not provide sufficient water for the aquifer.