Good News (for a change) About the Water!

Today the SJRWMD approved  a staff recommendation for the Executive Director to spend up to $500,000 for a pilot study that will send 1.2 mgd of water down Alligator Creek to Brooklyn Lake from a deep aquifer well that will be installed on Camp Blanding, probably just north of what is sometimes known as the South West Quadrant Pond.  The pilot study is a conveyance study and when the study is completed in a couple of years, most likely the well may be turned over to Camp Blanding as a fire prevention back up water source.  The SJRWMD emphasized the study is not to be confused with an augmentation of Lake Brooklyn for the sake of recovery.  Most scientists agree pumping from the aquifer to refill it makes no sense.  It is a conveyance study to determine water quality, evaporation loss, etc., in preparation for a long term aqua replenishment solution that will benefit the SRWMD and SJRWMD.  Water quality issues are a valid concern as radioactive materials have shown up in water from deep aquifer wells and none of us want to contaminate the entire chain of lakes by not doing essential water quality tests. 

Though the study is not for lake recovery, there are hydration factors that will benefit the lakes.  For example  Alligator Creek and the lake would hold more water if it rains, if the subsurface is already hydrated.  The study may put 2-4 ft. of water in part of Lake Brooklyn.  The Hydrologist hired by the City of Keystone Heights, Peter Schreuder, said this is a very good day for all of us as it is a step closer to implementing an aquifer replenishment project that will use the lakes as a natural rapid infiltration basin.  He has submitted several plans for implementation.  Our Alliance, Mayor Mary Lou Hildreth and others encouraged the Board to push forward as rapidly as possible with the study and solutions as we are getting reports that the lakes, springs, rivers and wetlands are drying up at an alarming rate all over North Florida.  We told them in two years without some serious rain the lakes may be beyond recovery and the aquifer depleted.

General consensus is that this is a win for the entire region of North Florida, because with a continuing drought and heavy withdrawals from the aquifer, putting “new water” which could be treated wastewater, storm water or other sources will probably be the only thing that saves it unless we have a rain of biblical proportion.

Tune in to the news on Channel 20 at 6:00  PM this evening as Mayor Hildreth was interviewed by the station directly after the Board Meeting.

Best wishes,  Jackie