Thirsty Central Florida Threatens St. Johns River
The St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River (a major tributary of the St. Johns) are currently being considered for major water withdrawal projects that would provide drinking water for a thirsty and booming Orlando and Central Florida. According to the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), Central Florida has out-stripped the ability of the Floridan Aquifer to provide a sustainable drinking water source beyond 2013.
The District has told communities they will have to seek alternative water supply (AWS) sources, such as surface water and desalinization. As a result of rapid growth and poor planning, these communities are running out of water and are now turning their attention to the St. Johns and the Ocklawaha to solve their problem.
Call to Action
Dear Governor Crist and Governing Board Members:
I am opposed to any proposals to withdrawal water from the St. Johns River or Ocklawaha River. Removing millions of gallons of water each day will potentially worsen existing pollution problems, increase salinity levels, and adversely impact the fisheries, wildlife and vegetation in and along these waterways.
I am also deeply concerned that the St. Johns River Water Management District continues to issue consumptive use permits (CUPs) that are not consistent with its mission to "ensure the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the state of Florida." We urge you to oppose the Niagara Bottling permit and any other permits that could potentially be detrimental to our overall collective well-being or to our rivers, lakes, springs, wetlands or aquifer.
Instead, I urge you to support aggressive water conservation programs and to implement policy changes that will ensure the sustainable use and protection of our water resources.
Use the following contact information, if you would like to write your own individual letter to Governor Crist and the Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Governor Charlie Crist
PL-05 The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
SJRWMD Governing Board Members
4049 Reid Street, Palatka, FL 32177
David Graham, Chairman dgraham@sjrwmd.com
Susan Hughes shughes@sjrwmd.com
Ann Moore, Secretary amoore@sjrwmd.com
W. Leonard Wood wlwood@sjrwmd.com
Arlen Jumper ajumper@sjrwmd.com
William Kerr wkerr@sjrwmd.com
Hersey Huffman hhuffman@sjrwmd.com
Michael Ertel mertel@sjrwmd.com
Douglas Bournique dottenstroer@sjrwmd.com
Hans G. Tanzler III htanzler@sjrwmd.com
Use the following links to contact other elected officials and legislators about the water withdrawal issue:
Florida House of Representatives
Florida State Senators
Jacksonville Mayor
Duval County City Council
St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners
Clay County Commissioners
Putnam County Governement Site
Learn More
(.pdf format)- St. Johns River Water Withdrawal Fact Sheet
- Find Out What You Can Do
