Thank You

The Lake Area Water Alliance is grateful to everyone who has contributed so far to our goal of helping the City of Keystone Heights fund a hydrological consultant.  The Alliance was able to give their first donation of $2000 to the City on Friday, October 21st.

It is difficult to understand the complex problems associated with regard to recovering our lakes. We have heard people say things like “all we need to do is go up there and tear down that dam that is blocking Alligator Creek” or “all we need is a hurricane to drop us a load of water”.  It would be great if it were that simple and plain old hard work and common sense were enough.

At one time we were told by the SJRWMD that the lakes were down because of the lack of rain.  Now their studies show that large consumptive water users, such as the Jacksonville Electric Authority, do have an impact on our lakes.  

Recently, the JEA was given a permit to pump even more water from the aquifer than they do now, but with conditions of recovery to our lakes thanks to the vigilance of our own local water watchers working with the SJRWMD.  We had to ask the question: if harm is being done with the amount already being taken out; why would we give them more?  Also, some utility companies like CCUA recycle or reuse all of their waste water. JEA dumps most of theirs into the St. Johns and it goes right into the ocean instead of back into the aquifer where we need it.

After many meetings a Stakeholder group has been formed to address MFL Prevention and Recovery Strategies for Lakes Brooklyn, Geneva, Cowpen and Grandin which includes large utility groups, environmental and lake dweller groups, the City of KH and others that have a stake in the outcome of these meetings.  The outcome of these meetings could be the rebirth or demise of our lakes.

The JEA has high powered lawyers, lobbyists and engineering firms at their beck and call and seem to make up their own data.  The City of KH does not have and cannot afford these professionals.  At the very first meeting it was pointed out that our community did not any “technical standing” (professional engineers or hydrologists). Thank goodness the City Council had the foresight to hire a hydrologist, Peter Schreuder, to sit at the table as our consultant.  

Everyone who puts a well into the aquifer is taking water from the aquifer that sustains our lakes. We all need to conserve as much water as possible.  That is critically important.  We also need to fight for our water rights.  Mayor Hildreth, the entire KH City Council and Representative Van Zant are all doing their part.  We need to do our part.   

These are difficult economic times and asking people for money is not something the Alliance did without careful consideration. Progress is being made, but to back out and not fund someone who knows what the other professionals are really saying would be a mistake.  We are just beginning this fight to save our lakes.  The City needs the community to raise $10,000 which funds one third of the Hydrologist’s contract.  For goodness sakes, we give more donations than that for fireworks.   

The 14 organizations that have banded together to make the Alliance believe the people in this community love their lakes and that is the only reason they have reached out for your help.  Any and every contribution is appreciated and needed to reach our goal.

Jackie Host, President
Lake Area Water Alliance

Call for LakeWatch Volunteers for Lake Geneva & Lake Brooklyn

Florida LakeWatch is a volunteer water quality monitoring program that has been in service for many years. Typically, a LakeWatch volunteer is someone who lives on the target body of water and has access and free time to be able to take samples and readings from the lake once each month. LakeWatch will train the volunteer on how to take the readings and samples, and they will also provide all the equipment necessary to do this. For my lake, it takes me about an hour to do it each month (and I usually couple it with a bit of fishing while I’m out there).

LakeWatch does not have an active volunteer for either Lake Brooklyn or Lake Geneva. Last time Lake Brooklyn was sampled was 2007, and 2005 for Lake Geneva. It is easy to become a LakeWatch volunteer, so if anyone would like to learn what is involved, contact LakeWatch directly: http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/

Every body of water in Florida should have a devoted volunteer. This is essential to establish a baseline of data to be referenced whenever a  lake comes into trouble.

The following is an informative email exchange between Terry Brant and Peter Schreuder on October 15, 2011.

---

All,
Several conditions of the JEA CUP Technical Staff Report are of importance and I have reproduced those sections below FYI.

Was pleased to see that Peter addressed pumping location and advised that the recommendation was for a site some distance from the Lake Brooklyn at Dupont/Blanding site to avoid certain adverse consequences.  If this could be accomplished at Geneva or other lakes is another matter entirely.

You will see that JEA is limited to the portion of their impact and that they also must participate in recovery for only any one of the three lakes at issue -Cowpen, Geneva or Brooklyn.  Naturally, I am concerned that this provision will allow JEA to walk away from participation in any other lake recovery efforts if the plan is adopted only for Lake Brooklyn.  This situation could have several undesirable consequences that we should consider and address.  

SFLDA will also be addressing the Suwannee and Santa Fe interlocal agreement, coordination and potential for adverse impacts which have been completely disregarded or overlooked up to this point.

Terry

Excerpts from the Technical Staff Report JEA Cosolidated CUP

Minimum Flows and Levels

Staff also evaluated the effects of water withdrawals in northeastern Florida on lakes with MFLs established by the Governing Board in rule chapter 40C-8 of the Florida Administrative Code, cited as F.A.C. The District considered the impacts of JEA's proposed use on eight lakes with MFLs in the region potentially impacted by JEA: Banana, Como, Little Como, Tarhoe, and Trone lakes in southern Putnam County, Cowpen Lake in western Putnam County, and Lakes Geneva and Brooklyn in southwestern Clay County. Based on the model results, staff concludes that JEA's proposed withdrawals will materially contribute to groundwater declines affecting water levels only in Cowpen Lake and Lakes Geneva and Brooklyn.

The District is currently moving forward to expeditiously develop an MFL prevention and recovery strategy for the lakes in the western Putnam and southwest Clay County, including Cowpen Lake and Lakes Geneva and Brooklyn. The District is developing this plan after concluding that some lakes will likely not meet the adopted MFLs, and that Lake Geneva does not currently meet all of its adopted MFLs, based on historic water level data. The District concludes that both climatic conditions (rainfall deficits) and water use have contributed to the current observed conditions. To provide reasonable assurance that the proposed use is reasonable-beneficial and not subject to the reasons for denial set forth in section 9.4.1(f) of the Handbook, the permittee must participate in developing and implementing one or more regional prevention/recovery strategies to mitigate the cumulative impacts of existing and proposed water use on Cowpen Lake, and Lakes Geneva and Brooklyn, achieve recovery to the established minimum levels for Lake Geneva, and prevent the levels in Cowpen Lake and Lake Brooklyn from falling below their established minimum levels.

JEA's participation is limited to addressing its portion of the impact at these lakes, as provided for in a District approved prevention and recovery strategy. To ensure JEA's participation in the development and implementation of one or more regional prevention/recovery strategies for these lakes, staff is recommending a condition limiting JEA's maximum groundwater allocation to 142.26 mgd until JEA complies with several specified conditions. One of them requires JEA to participate in developing such a strategy for any of the three lakes at issue and, once the Governing Board approves such a strategy, to timely implement its share of the actions to be taken to achieve prevention or recovery.

Surface Waters

Staff evaluated whether JEA's proposed withdrawals would cause environmental impacts to the Upper Santa Fe and Upper Suwannee Rivers in the Suwannee River Water Management District. The District concluded that due to the hydrologic characteristics of the Upper Santa Fe River, even small reductions in stream flow could potentially be harmful. The District also considered impacts on the Upper Suwannee River and concluded that upstream from Alapaha Rise, harm could  potentially result from even small reductions in the river flow below the median discharge that are exceeded approximately 50 or more percent of the time in the Upper Suwannee River. Staff concludes that there is reasonable assurance that the applicant will not contribute to an unacceptable reduction in flow in the Upper Santa Fe and Upper Suwannee Rivers, based on the projected aquifer drawdown from JEA's proposed withdrawals near these rivers, and the recommended permit conditions already discussed above, which would limit JEA's groundwater allocation until compliance with certain conditions was demonstrated, including the implementation of any prevention/recovery strategy approved by the Governing Board for lakes in western Putnam and southwestern Clay Counties. In addition, staff is recommending that the permit include permit conditions requiring that JEA submit updated analyses of the impacts from the permitted use on wetlands and surface waters including the Upper Santa Fe and Upper Suwannee Rivers, and specifying that if the District concludes from the monitoring data, updated

analyses, or other information that adverse impacts to wetlands (or other water bodies) are or are projected to occur as a result of JEA's withdrawals, the District will revoke the permit in whole or in part to curtail or abate the adverse impacts, unless the permittee mitigates the impact pursuant to a District-approved plan.

These measures (along with the overall reduction in JEA's initial requested allocation of groundwater) provide reasonable assurance that the proposed use will not contribute to unacceptable harm to the Upper Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers.

---

Terry,

From a Hydrogeologist point of view, we believe that once Lake Brooklyn is augmented with water from an outside source, the surrounding water table aquifer will be "rebuilt" as well. Once that happens, the water table aquifer between Lake Brooklyn and Lake Geneva will also recover and will start providing surficial aquifer seepage to Lake Geneva. In addition there is an overflow from Lake Brooklyn to Lake Geneva, so when Lake Brooklyn reaches that overflow elevation water will flow directly into Lake Geneva.

John and I appreciate the detailed description of the conditions which was attached to the JEA WUP. It will not be easy to determine the drop in the groundwater levels in the Keystone Heights area which can be attributed to the pumpage from the permitted JEA well-field.  If the regional ground water flow model project gets off the ground and delivers a reliable replica of the groundwater system, John and I can run several modeling scenario's to determine quite accurately the drawdown caused by the pumpage from JEA.

The next question to be answered is: "What is the increased loss in surface water from Lake Geneva (or Lake Brooklyn or Cowpen) for each foot of groundwater level decline in the Floridan Aquifer?". John and I hope that the newly created ground water flow model can provide a reliable answer.

Considering all the facts as they are known today, we both feel confident that the long-term solution to improve lake level is the importation of water from an outside source. We elected to look for such a solution within the boundaries of Clay County. We believe that the augmentation of the lakes with surface water from Black Creek should be a serious contender for consideration as a solution.

Assuming that such an importation option could be implemented at a cost which is reasonable, then the lakes would start to add more water to the Floridan Aquifer. This increase in ground water availability could possibly be used for an additional ground water supply. This availability of additional ground water would not cause an impact to the lakes.  You might ask who could use this additional supply?  We suggest that the additional availability of ground water could be withdrawn by the Clay County Water Supply Authority (CCWSA) and could be made available to JEA at a pre-determined cost. The income from this delivery of newly available groundwater resulting from the lake augmentation with surface water from Black Creek could be used entirely or in part to pay for the cost of moving the Black Creek water to the lakes.

If such a plan could be implemented, the surface and ground-water water resources in Clay County could provide a long-term and reliable source to improve the lakes and provide a reliable source of relatively inexpensive drinking water from the Floridan Aquifer. How this idea fits in the permit conditions of the JEA WUP is yet to be evaluated and determined.

Peter

Consider Recreation and Aesthetics As Well

The following is a draft letter dated October 14, 2011, from Webb Farber that he intended to send to SJRWMD:

Dear Jennifer, Tom, Sonny, and Cliff:

Thanks again for visiting our group in Keystone last Wednesday to explain the process of establishing MFL's for the lakes in our area.  We all learned from your presentation of the biological and botanical analysis of lake levels.  As we discussed during and after the meeting, there is quite a strong concern among our group that the criteria of recreation and aesthetics be considered as well, particularly for lakes Brooklyn and Geneva.

These lakes have a long and well known history of being a recreational draw to our area.  The very fact that our lakes are featured in many newspaper articles focusing on the lost recreational resources clearly shows that this is how the lakes are regarded, in Keystone, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and other locations.  As I noted during the meeting, the recreational aspect was first on the list of criteria to be considered when setting MFL's. 

Perhaps the most striking statement I heard during Wednesday's meeting was that lakes Brooklyn and Geneva were viewed as "recreationally unfriendly" in the MFL analysis.

I have a few notes to begin building a case for for a strong consideration of these recreational/aesthetic qualities of the lakes:

1. The fact that the waterfront of the lakes is lined with homes, summer camps, and public areas bought at a premium price, shows that these qualities are indeed present.
2. The local economy is largely affected by residents attracted to the area due to the lakes, i.e. businesses of all kinds, particularly those catering to visitors to the lakes.
3. The "theme" of the area is tied to these lakes.  Popular events have included the "Festival of the Lakes".

The damage done to the area resulting from low lake levels follows as:

1. Fewer residents/visitors -- a quick look will reveal many vacant houses, some falling into disrepair, that might be termed as "blight".  These homes were often formerly well kept and regularly visited byseasonal or weekend visitors from Jacksonville, Gainesville, and elsewhere. 
2. The local economy suffers with fewer customers.  There have been a number of business closings recently, restaurants for instance.  Others that support swimming, fishing, boating skiing, etc. are affected.  New business is discouraged from moving into the area.
3. Property values declining, especially waterfront.  (This results in less tax revenue collected, including for SJRWMD.)
4. A general negative perspective is drawn from the dry lakes.  Anyone driving across Brooklyn Bridge and glances at the lake bed will think of the decline of water resources, rather than the natural attractiveness of the area.  This is discouraging to visitors and residents.

Also discussed during the meeting was quantification of the lake levels with regard to the above items.  This could be approached several ways with details and defensibility to be developed:

1. Historical usage could be studied with consideration of MFL's to provide a reasonable useful area of lake surface area commensurate with this usage. 
2. Adequate depth for boat navigation could be a criterion, perhaps a minimum depth of three feet over major sand bar areas to prevent grounding hazard.
3. A high enough lake level for access, i.e. from established boat ramps, water edge distance from residences, camps, and public areas.

The above is a beginning for establishing a vital regard for the recreational/aesthetic qualities of our lakes.  It doesn't seem to us that these qualities should be compromised by groundwater withdrawals, local or distant, and certainly not if these withdrawals are made without full attention to conservation, recycling, efficiency, alternative sources, and all other opportunities to minimize adverse effects on our water resources.

Your suggestions and comments are welcome.

Webb Farber   

Geneva MFLs & Lake Recovery

The following is an email exchange between Frank Host (LAWA) and Jennifer Gihring (SJRWMD) on October 14, 2011.

---

Jennifer,

Once again I want to thank the Water Management District for visiting with us.  I found it very informational.

I want to reiterate my request that a link to the agreement between SJRWMD, SRWMD and DEP be posted on “our” website so that it is readily available.  This document was cited at the last technical work group meeting.

Secondly, I request that a link to the SJRWMD 2008 MFLs Methods be posted.  Cliff said he would provide me a copy but I think others may be interested also so a link on that page would be appropriate.

Thirdly, please post a link to the draft report for the new MFLs for Geneva.  Several in our group appear to not have that available.  I was concerned that it was not a public document but at the meeting on Wednesday you stated that it is public record.

After the Wednesday meeting I questioned Cliff about the validity of the bathymetry that he used in the draft report.  He said he would provide me a better copy than was available in the draft report.  I will copy him with this email as a reminder.  And, I am not sure of the appropriate person to make requests of this nature.

The groundwater modeling of Geneva  should consider water in and water out.  I question whether the outfall from Geneva is being considered as a part of this modeling.  I did some quick investigation on this outfall and the attached is a copy of the notes I made.  I have more documentation if you would like.

And THE BIG QUESTION!!!  I should have thought of this Wednesday but it took two nights to work through my head.  How high would the proposed MIL on Geneva have to be raised to no longer be protected and become the limiting MFL?

Frank

---

Hi Frank,
Per your request:

1.       The SRWMD-SJRWMD-DEP MOA is attached.  This will go on the website soon.  Feel free to share this with whomever else you feel would be interested.  Note that we recently tasked a staff member to serve as a formal liaison with SRWMD on MFLs.  He may have other responsibilities as well, but since he does not start until next week, I don’t have many details at the moment.

2.       The MFL methods paper is available here:  http://floridaswater.com/minimumflowsandlevels/pdfs/SJRWMD_MFLs_Method_Paper_2008.pdf.  This was published in the journal “Environmental Management” (2008) 42:1101-1114.

3.       The draft Geneva re-evaluation document is attached. Posting this document online may take a bit.  I need to check to see if it’s OK to post it.  The web staff have some tight policies regarding posting of draft vs. final documents on the website.    

4.       The bathymetry map from Cliff is attached.

Wednesday’s attendees requested a few additional items.  I will send a complete packet, including the attached items & Wednesday’s powerpoint, to all of the attendees shortly. 

I will check with Price Robison, the staff member who conducts the MFL surface water budget modeling, regarding your question about integration of the Geneva outfall in his water budget model.  Can you forward your notes?  They weren’t attached to the email below.

In order to answer your big question, we would need to expand it a bit – “Is there a quantifiable and defensible basis for establishing an MIL that is more limiting than the proposed MIH?”  We could conduct an analysis in which we raise the MIL incrementally until it becomes the most limiting.  However, if there is no basis for that value, then I’m very hesitant to ask for the technical resources to support that exercise.  In order to take the next step, I encourage you to revisit the information in Cliff’s report about the basis for the MIL, within the context of Wednesday’s discussion, and continue to approach the issue with the goal of identifying an alternative (defensible, quantifiable, and non-arbitrary) criteria for the District to consider as a basis for a revised MIL.  You know there are no guarantees as to whether or not the proposed re-evaluated MFL would be modified, but it would move our conversations forward.  I can promise you that we would investigate such suggestions with due diligence.

Although you’re always welcome to request information directly from anyone here at the District, feel free to continue to use me as your conduit, if you like.  I am happy to help. 

Enjoy your weekend,

Jennifer

SJRWMD Hires New Executive Director: Hans Tanzler

Complete article published in Daytona Beach News Journal on October 12, 2011.

USGS Report on Comparing Ground-Water Augmented Lake with Non-Augmented Lakes

Metz, P.A., and Sacks, L.A., 2002, Comparison of the Hydrogeology and Water Quality of a Ground-Water Augmented Lake with Two Non-Augmented Lakes in Northwest Hillsborough County, Florida: Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4032, 74 p.

ABSTRACT:

The hydrologic effects associated with augmenting a lake with ground water from the Upper Floridan aquifer were examined in northwest Hillsborough County, Florida, from June 1996 through May 1999. The hydrogeology, ground-water flow patterns, water budgets, and water-quality characteristics were compared between a lake that has been augmented for more than 30 years (Round Lake) and two nearby non-augmented lakes (Dosson Lake and Halfmoon Lake).

Compared to the other study lakes, Round Lake is in a more leakage-dominated hydrogeologic setting. The intermediate confining unit is thin or highly breached, which increases the potential for vertical ground-water flow. Round Lake has the least amount of soft, organic lake-bottom sediments and the lake bottom has been dredged deeper and more extensively than the other study lakes, which could allow more leakage from the lake bottom. The area around Round Lake has experienced more sinkhole activity than the other study lakes. During this study, three sinkholes developed around the perimeter of the lake, which may have further disrupted the intermediate confining unit.

Ground-water flow patterns around Round Lake were considerably different than the non-augmented lakes. For most of the study, ground-water augmentation artificially raised the level of Round Lake to about 2 to 3 feet higher than the adjacent water table. As a result, lake water recharged the surficial aquifer around the entire lake perimeter, except during very wet periods when ground-water inflow occurred around part of the lake perimeter. The non-augmented lakes typically had areas of ground-water inflow and areas of lake leakage around their perimeter, and during wet periods, ground-water inflow occurred around the entire lake perimeter. Therefore, the area potentially contributing ground water to the non-augmented lakes is much larger than for augmented Round Lake. Vertical head loss within the surficial aquifer was greater at Round Lake than the other study lakes, which is additional evidence of the limited confinement at Round Lake.

A comparison of the water quality and lake-bottom sediments at the three lakes indicate that Round Lake is strongly influenced by the addition of large quantities of calcium-bicarbonate enriched augmentation water. Round Lake had higher alkalinity, pH, calcium and dissolved oxygen concentrations, specific conductance, and water clarity than the two non-augmented lakes. Round Lake was generally saturated to supersaturated with respect to calcite, but was undersaturated when augmentation was low and after high rainfall periods. Calcium carbonate has accumulated in the lake sediments from calcite precipitation, from macrophytes such as Nitella sp., and from the deposition of carbonate-rich mollusk shells, such as Planerbella sp., both of which thrive in the high alkalinity lake water. Lake-bottom sediments and aquatic biota at Round Lake had some of the highest radium-226 activity levels measured in a Florida lake. The high radium-226 levels (27 disintegrations per minute per dry mass) can be attributed to augmenting the lake with ground water from the Upper Floridan aquifer. Although the ground water has relatively low levels of radium-226 (5.8 disintegrations per minute per liter), the large volumes of ground water added to the lake for more than 30 years have caused radium-226 to accumulate in the sediments and lake biota.

The Round Lake basin had higher calcium and bicarbonate concentrations in the surficial aquifer than at the non-augmented lakes, which indicates the lateral leakage of calcium-bicarbonate enriched lake water into the surficial aquifer. Deuterium and oxygen-18 data indicated that water in well nests near the lake consists of as much as 100 percent lake leakage, and water from the augmentation well had a high percentage of recirculated lake water (between 59 and 73 percent lake leakage). The ground water surrounding Round Lake was undersaturated with respect to calcite, indicating that the water is capable of dissolving calcite in the underlying limestone aquifer.

Annual and monthly ground-water outflow (lake leakage) was significantly higher at Round Lake than at the non-augmented lakes for the 3-year study period. Minimum estimates of the total annual ground-water inflow and outflow were made from monthly net ground-water flow values. Based on these estimates, total annual ground-water outflow from Round Lake was more than 10 times higher than for the non-augmented lakes. Local ground-water pumping, augmentation, and hydrogeologic factors are responsible for the high net ground-water outflow at Round Lake. Localized ground-water pumping causes the head difference between the lake and the Upper Floridan aquifer to increase, which increases lake leakage and results in lower lake levels. Augmenting the lake further increases the head difference between the lake, the water table, and the Upper Floridan aquifer, which results in an increase in lateral and vertical lake leakage. The lack of confinement or breaches in the intermediate confining unit facilitates the downward movement of this augmented lake water back into the Upper Floridan aquifer. The increase in ground-water circulation in the leakage-dominated hydrogeologic setting at Round Lake has made the basin more susceptible to karst activity (limestone dissolution, subsidence, and sinkhole formation).

Full Report: http://fl.water.usgs.gov/PDF_files/wri02_4032_metz.pdf

District must protect region's water supply

Complete article published by Orlando Sentinel on October 11, 2011

SJRWMD – SRWMD Cooperative Groundwater Model Development Project: Team Update

From: Alfred Canepa
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 3:37 PM
Subject: SJRWMD – SRWMD Cooperative Groundwater Model Development Project: Team Update

This is a periodic update to the entire project team as discussed in our meeting on September 1, 2011.

In the September meeting, the Steering Team tasked the Technical Team with the development of a project work plan that will meet the goals and objectives of the project charter.  The Technical Team met on September 28, 2011 at the St. Johns River Water Management District headquarters.  They discussed a preliminary general framework for the work plan.  The notes, sign-in sheet, and preliminary work plan framework are attached for your information.  The Technical Team continues to develop the work plan between meetings and I am hopeful that we will have a draft work plan to review in November.

The next Technical Team meeting will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2011, 9:00 – 12:00 at SJRWMD, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka FL. Conference Room 162 located in the Executive Building has been reserved.

Please remember that anyone not on the Technical Team can choose to attend a Technical Team work meeting as an observer, but will not have opportunity to participate in the meeting.  The reason for this is the team needs to focus on getting work done without being diverted by questions or comments from an audience.  Thanks for your understanding.

Expect the next project team update in early November.  Please contact me in the interim if you have any questions.  Thanks.

Al
_____________________
Alfred P. Canepa
Assistant Director
Department of Water Resources
St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street
Palatka, FL 32178-1429
Telephone: (386) 329-4382

Barnett speaks out on Water Crisis

Cynthia Barnett speaks out on the Water Crisis.

Definition of "full pool condition"

Our battle to save our lakes has been fraught with learning new technical terms and complex hydrological explanations (this is why we hired a hydrologist as a consultant to aid our cause). The following exchange between Terry Brant and Peter Schreuder clarifies the technical term "full pool condition" (originally published October 5, 2011).

---

Peter,  I would greatly appreciate  your  advising me if I’m defining a hydrologic term correctly. I have reviewed several hydrologic regimes and defined circumstances and “full pool condition” is always defined as a high water event.  Hence, as you will see, I believe the district assertion below is delusory on its face because it fails to recognize that many other water levels, from MFL to MA for example,  could contribute to recognition and consideration of both recreational and scenic attributes, not just the maintenance of the highest possible water level.  I’m trying to push back on the plan to lower the Geneva MFL by 15.2 ‘.

The SJRWMD MFL Lake Geneva Draft addressing aesthetic and scenic attributes (Rule 62.40.473(1) (f), F.A.C.), continues:  “Lake Geneva naturally fluctuates over a very large range. The water levels are not considered seasonal like those of a riverine system. Thus, the lake can be extremely full during some years/decades (e.g., 1940s, 50s, 60s, and early 70s) and extremely low during other years/decades (e.g., 1990s and 2000s). The lake cannot easily (emphasis added) be maintained in a full pool condition to maximize aesthetic and scenic attributes because there is not sufficient water in the watershed during most years to allow such lakes levels to be maintained. Further, minimum levels allow for a decrease in the number of high water events and an increase in the number of low water events per century, on average. The recovery time for aesthetic and scenic attributes is considered short, probably less than a year. Therefore, the aesthetic and scenic attributes WRV and associated criteria are not considered to be limiting at Lake Geneva.”

I would like to counter the point by saying the following:

To conclude variously that “fish passage” provisions and general statements, including the cobbling together of decades of varying lake levels from the 1940’s to the present date, somehow equals compliance with all other separate nonconsumptive criteria, is unsupported, speculative and raises several legitimate questions. 

Saying that the lake cannot “easily (emphasis added) be maintained in a full pool condition to maximize aesthetic and scenic attributes because there is not sufficient water in the watershed,” is delusory inasmuch as this condition refers to a typical elevation that would occur only during high flow events, not  any others, such as average, minimum or even the current set MFL level (98.5’) on Lake Geneva, which could protect both scenic attributes and Recreation as well as “fish Passage” and other consumptive uses.  

Based on your understanding of the definition “full pool condition,”  do you agree with my use of the term as a high flow event or a high water event – a level higher than a MFL or a fish passage of 0.7”  at the current Geneva MFL of 98.5’?  If you see any other argument  - especially in the sweeping decades-long generalizations regarding full Vs. low levels, please comment.

Thanks, Terry

---

Terry;

John and I are not entirely sure what the exact SJRWMD definition of “full pool condition” is.  Our professional opinion is that “full pool condition” refers to the elevation in any surface water retention area including lakes, when the surface water flows out of this retention area as overland flow to a downstream water body. In the case of Lake Geneva, we believe that “full pool condition” should be tied to the elevation of the outflow invert of Lake Geneva. Looking at the USGS Keystone Heights 7.5 minute quadrangle map, this invert is approximately 105 to 108 ft NGVD and it located on the south-east section of Lake Geneva.

I am personally challenged by their statement that “minimum levels allow for a decrease in the number of high water events” . It seems that if one assumes that the wide fluctuations in rainfall are the primary driving force on the surface water levels of the lake, with ground water seepage losses an so far quantitatively ill defined volume, the maintenance of a minimum level in the lake would assure that the recovery to “full pool condition” would be easier given a similar rainfall event. I would therefore have to disagree. I fail to see the logic of the statement:” and an increase in the number of low water events per century, on average”.

The District needs to better define their definition of “full pool condition”. It most likely occurs somewhere less that the “overflow/outflow invert elevation”. I believe that the fish passage criterion is a rather reasonably defensible environmentally responsible definition. Presuming this to be the case than the minimum level could be and should be established by measuring the highest bottom elevation inside the wetted perimeter of Lake Geneva and adding 0.7’ to that elevation.

Both John and I have been wondering how the District intends to justify statistically based minimum water levels in Lake Geneva, using the potentiometric surface elevations measured in the Floridan Aquifer as a point of departure. This is the more puzzling because neither John or I have been able to extract any reliably measured data on the range in values of the vertical leakance from the Lakes downward into the underlying Floridan Aquifer. This should be a prerequisite in case one uses the long-term elevation values measured in the Floridan Aquifer to establish a minimum surface water level in the Lakes.

Peter

Augmentation Plan, Aquifer, Well Depths, Connectivity

Sent by Jackie Host on October 1, 2011:

INTERMEDIATE AQUIFER SYSTEM
The top of the Hawthorn Group serves as the upper confining unit that separates the surficial and intermediate aquifer systems. The degree of hydraulic connection between the two systems varies throughout the UECB as the formation thickness ranges from 25 feet to complete absence. Discontinuous limestone, dolomite, shell, and sand beds make up the intermediate aquifer system. Due to breaches in the lower confining unit, which can allow significant vertical leakage, the base of the intermediate aquifer is connected hydraulically to the upper Floridan aquifer.

FLORIDAN AQUIFER SYSTEM

Four major components make up the Floridan aquifer system: an upper zone of a relatively high permeability, a middle confining zone of low permeability, a lower zone of low-to-high permeability, and a lower confining unit. The karst limestone formations that constitute the Floridan aquifer system are of Eocene age. The upper Floridan aquifer is a zone of high permeability, and its thickness generally increases from west to east within the study area.

The middle confining unit exhibits lower permeability, and its thickness ranges from 50 to 200 feet. Little is known of the lower Floridan aquifer because few wells have penetrated its depths. Its  thickness ranges from about 1,100 to 1,200 feet. The lower confining unit, which has a low hydraulic conductivity, is considered to be the bottom of the Floridan aquifer system.

RECHARGE AND DISCHARGE

Surficial Aquifer System
Precipitation and discharge from lakes are the primary means of recharge to the surficial aquifer system. Although precipitation is the main source, some lakes contribute recharge during 23 periods of low or negligible rainfall. This phenomenon is a consequence of declining ground water levels in the surficial aquifer surrounding the lakes. Ground water discharges from the surficial aquifer include vertical leakage into the intermediate and upper Floridan aquifers, flux into lakes within the UECB, evapotranspiration, and pumping from domestic wells.

Intermediate Aquifer System
Through vertical leakage, the overlying surficial aquifer supplies most of the recharge to the intermediate aquifer. Recharge can occur from lakes directly on the upper confining unit of the Hawthorn Group. Ground water moves through direct hydraulic connections in the confining unit. The intermediate aquifer mainly discharges in the form of vertically downward leakage to the Floridan aquifer system through the lower confining unit in the Hawthorn Group. Leakage also occurs through breaches and cavities in the formation. Pumping from private wells in the region is another form of discharge.

Floridan Aquifer System

Recharge to the Floridan aquifer system is derived from the intermediate aquifer system and from areas where lakes and the surficial aquifer system have a direct hydraulic connection. Overall, rainfall has a significant effect on recharge to the Floridan aquifer system. The recharge from the intermediate aquifer occurs through the lower confining unit of the Hawthorn Group. In addition, dissolution cavities in the upper Floridan aquifer may create hydraulic connections to the overlying intermediate aquifer because the lower confining unit becomes discontinuous, and they can even form connections completely through the Hawthorn Group into the surficial aquifer 24 system. Water level changes in the upper Floridan aquifer due to precipitation may have a lagtime of approximately one to two months (Hoenstine and Lane, 1991).

Potentiometric maps prepared by the USGS and SJRWMD consistently delineate a major ground water mound in the upper Floridan aquifer in the western part of the UECB (Figs. 7 through 10). Centered in the Keystone Heights area, this mound, or potentiometric high, indicates that the lakes and surficial aquifer system are a major source of recharge to the underlying Floridan aquifer system.

JEA CUP TSR - April 2011

The Consumptive Use Permit granted to Jacksonville Electric Authority on April, 2011.

Invesitation and Conceptual Design - P. Schreuder

Investigation and Conceptual Design of Options for Lake Brooklyn Watershed, Clay County, Florida

Legislative Alert- It is more important than ever that the people of this state stand up for their water rights.  Every day huge withdrawals of water are being sucked out of our Floridan Aquifer and being sold to the highest bidder.  Now there are bills before the House and Congress to take away riparian rights and lands that belong to the citizens of Florida.  Please contact your local representatives and oppose HB1103 because it will privitize tens of thousands of acres of publicly owned submerged lands in Florida's rivers, lakes and streams.

Cautionary Tales

Senate Takes Testimony on Water Quality and Water Supply  

The Florida Senate Environmental Preservation Committee listened to two top Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials as they explained the state's efforts on water quality and water supply. Drew Bartlett, who directs DEP's efforts on numeric nutrient criteria discussed the agency's draft rule that is being presented as an alternative to the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s promulgated criteria. Bartlett said the state plan is to hold workshops and then to decide whether to proceed with taking the rule to the Environmental Regulation Commission and the Legislature.    
Janet Llewellyn, who directs state water supply policy, gave an overview of permitting and the relation of permitting to minimum flows and levels. She discussed current and projected water use and reviewed state and local strategies to meet future water demands, projected to grow by 1/3 to 8 billion gallons per day by 2030.

If you would like to see the latest presentation by Janet Llewellyn, FDEP, Div of Water Rsource management about Consumptive Use Permitting; copy and paste the following link in your web browser.

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?PublicationType=Committees&CommitteeId=2654&Session=2012&DocumentType=Meeting Packets&FileName=Water_Mtg_9-21-11_Online.pdf

---

(Jackie’s comment: Here are another two bills that should raise a red flag to all Floridians:

CS/CS/HB 421 was introduced on behalf of two major landowners who were caught destroying wetlands and altering surface water flows. The bill retroactively allows water to be impeded or diverted for agricultural activities regardless of harm to natural resources or downstream landowners. It also allows developers to escape mitigation when converting agricultural land to development.

HB 7207 was amended to pick up a controversial rewrite of growth management legislation. The bill makes it easier for developers to amend local land use plans, eliminates the important 9J-5 rule, diminishes need as a condition of new growth, and removes the ability of communities to hold referenda on comprehensive planning issues.

DONATE TODAY!

LAKE AREA WATER ALLIANCE
"Restoring and protecting our lakes"
Post Office Box 571
Keystone Heights, FL 32656
LakeAreaWaterAlliance@gmail.com

Dear Neighbor:

Lake Area Water Alliance (LAWA) is a non-profit, non-political, charitable alliance dedicated solely to the restoration, preservation and protection of our threatened area lakes and declining aquifer levels.

Our once beautiful lakes are disappearing along with the recreational opportunities we enjoyed; things that made our way of life special. Boating, water skiing, fishing for that trophy bass, abundant wildlife and nature viewing have vanished, replaced by useless docks, grim reminders of falling property values, times gone by, and a lost quality of life.

LAWA, in partnership with community businesses, civic organizations, the City of Keystone Heights and Clay County, are raising funds to carry on the vital work necessary to restore and protect our lakes and aquifer. To be successful in protecting our lakes, hydrologic, technical and professional consultants will be needed as we develop a Lake Recovery Program in cooperation with the St. Johns River Water Management District and other Stakeholders.

We have the opportunity and dedication to get the job done, but we need your help. Give our lakes a chance; please donate to insure that we continue to have a strong and effective voice in representing our future water resources and the best interests of area residents and businesses.


YES! I want to help restore and protect our lakes and aquifer by donating
$10 $15 $20 $25 $50 $100 OTHER AMOUNT_________

Please make your check payable to: LAWA and mail to
Lake Area Water Allliance, P.O. Box 571, Keystone Heights, FL 32656

Thank you for your consideration,

Jackie Host, President

Email from Jackie, September 14, 2011

Just wanted to let you know we are doing great, we have a post office box, a checking account with money in it ($200 from Sportsmen’s Club).  Vivian said SOLO is putting $1000 in this week.  Judy Baumgartner has got her fundraising ducks in a row and things are going very well.  Terry wrote a nice fund raiser letter and it will be mass mailed in the very near future.  Joyce King is passing the letters out to her Audubon meeting tonight so that is a big help too.   We have also talked about the possibility of having a big community gathering for Rodney Bamford Day in the spring, at Keystone Beach.  Joyce said there are some good folk singers who have offered to entertain for us and we could have speakers on water conservation, native plants, cook up some BarBQ and do some other fun things too.  Anyway, we’d like to pack the beach like 4^th of July and collect some donations for an entrance fee.  If you have any great ideas about this don’t hesitate to contact Chairman Judy or one of the officers.  We are also hoping everyone will participate in helping SOLO sell their tickets for their day on October 22^nd.  They have agreed to give at least ½ of their proceeds to the recovery fund so let’s get behind them and see if we can’t get even more people there this year than they had last year,  It was great last year and people loved going out to see where they camped at Immokalee when they were young and also SOLO had some excellent activities for the young and the young at heart.

I walked part of the creek with Frank looking for sinkholes and I only got 2 ticks to  his one.  I’m still itching.  The dog fennel was up to his belt so you can imagine what shortlegs was dealing with.  The thatch is really built up in the creek and that may be something we have to help remove at some time in the future.  Probably in the winter would be good when the green that is there dies too and it can all be either control-burned if that is allowed, or removed manually.  A lot of it is private property so there will need to be some coordination with the property owners to get it done.  The good news is we don’t think there are any sinkholes between Immokalee Rd and Camp Blanding.

SJRWMD Board Meeting Update – a tadpole’s view

The SJRWMD meeting was a long one today.  There were some budget items and contracts approved.  Information technology support faired very well in the budget.  One sort of sad thing was that they are letting the ARC janitorial staff go because they said they were outbid by $70,000.  As you may know, ARC hires the handicapped so these people who have been working to earn a living will probably now be needing more government assistance.   One bright star was it seems that our recovery project does have some top priority in the budget that has been sent forward.  No definite details but that is what I gleaned from the presentation. Also they made a resolution to lower the millage rate of taxation for 2011-12 to 0.3313 mills which is 26.52 percent less than the rolled back rate of 0.4509 mills.  The budget for the year adopted was $204,683,679.00.

There were several fairly large consumptive use permits allowed, particularly the City of Apopka, with what I felt were weak promises of reuse….Although it seemed to fall on deaf ears of Board members Karen Ahlers got up and made a very good objection statement about how  the lakes just south of us are suffering also and that we need to stop issuing these permits.  Kirby Green also said this was his last public Board meeting and to everyone’s surprise gave a  little environmental speech/caution to the Board about needing to reduce the withdrawals and, I nearly applauded when he gave a strong rebuttal to Joe G. who keeps claiming there is no more water used now than 30 years ago.    

Another government boondoggle sent down from Rick Scott’s office seems to be that  demands for calculating and documenting economic impact on over 100 rules in the works are being required by the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee.  the SJRWMD staff was asking for the Board to submit a certification of claim for exemption because they cannot possibly do all of this by October 1^st.  It seems this requirement is going to generate even more cost that could be going to things like recovery implementation projects but they will be spending hours and probably needing to hire specialists just to handle this task.  Some of the questions asked take 20 pages to answer and some questions seemed almost impossible to answer.

Tom Bartol gave an update on the MFL Recovery process and I saw where they had 19 one on one meetings.   At least 4 of us were in that group that I know of….so the others must have been the utility companies, golf courses, the farm bureau and????   Two Board members made comments about the value or lack thereof for having the non-technical people with the technical people meeting together.  This made me feel that the utility people had been talking with them since they made objections at the Stakeholder meetings.  One Board member even made a suggestion (tongue in cheek I thought) that he might have some solutions for recovery but not have the science to back it up.  I may have understood this wrong but the response to this was that they are really trying to include everyone so at the end we will all agree on what is going to happen and not have over expectations of the outcome.   This makes me even more convinced that we need Peter at the table representing our community.  Vivian got up and said proof of how successful the process will be known when we see water in the lakes.   I was going to speak at the end when they had public comment but the meeting lasted so long we had to leave at 3:30pm because Vivian had to be at City Hall at 4:30 for the SOLO meeting.  My hat is off to her for doing double duty today on water meetings.   

The River Keeper was there and I’m pretty sure Neil was going to make Public Comment.   Among other things I’m sure he was very unhappy about an “event” that happened where a contractor in Jacksonville allowed a lot of turbid water to be dumped into the St. Johns and only fined $3000.  The staff said the contractor was only fined that amount because as soon as he was reported he was very helpful and did more than was needed to fix the problem.  Mickle made comment that he thought SJRWMD fines were to high in general.  However, I believe it was Haman who said the contractor only did what he should have done before he was caught and wondered how many of them calculate and say “Doing the right think costs more than getting fined.  If I don’t get reported I don’t even have to pay a fine so I make a real good profit even though I illegally dumped into the St. Johns.”

That’s about all folks.  Don’t  forget our next Meeting is September 29^th, 6PM at the Woman’s Club.  You can also come to the Stakeholder meeting at Trinity Church  the same day 2-4pm if you wish as the public is invited to sit in the audience and will be allowed comments before and after the work group meets.  I am really honored and proud to work with this group.  You are the best of the best. 

Jackie

Immokalee Road to Camp Blanding

Sent September 9, 2011

I have now completed walking Alligator Creek from Immokalee Road to the Camp Blanding property line.  The primary purpose was to look for sinkholes.  I saw nothing that would lead me to believe there is a sinkhole in this part of the creek.  However due to the width (as much as 200 feet in places), the dense growth (3 ½ foot maidencane grass and 10 foot dog fennels) and the thick matting of maidencane thatch over most of the creek bottom it is impossible to say absolutely. 

See attached annotated air photo for a visual of the following:

There are four fences across the creek.  The two southerly ones are field wire and recently constructed.  They fence in a residential back yard.  The two northerly ones appear to be barbed wire but the growth adjacent to them is so thick I could not be sure.  The part I crossed (crawled under) south of the fence intersection is definitely barbed wire.

The southerly bridge is recent construction and pedestrian only.  There is 4-5 feet of clearance beneath this bridge.  The northerly bridge is older construction (30 years?), 60-70 feet long and wide enough for an automobile.   There is 3-4 feet of clearance beneath this bridge.

I noted two depressions in the creek bed south of the southerly bridge.  These depressions are 2-3 feet deep, the width of the creek bed (10 feet) and about 30 feet long.  These may have been excavated but not recently.

There is a large depression (labeled pond on the air photo) between the northerly most fence and the northerly bridge.  This depression is 4-6 feet deep, 50 feet wide and 200 feet long.  This was probably excavated.  The current owner says this depression was there when he purchased the property in 1980. 

There is NO water anywhere in this part of Alligator Creek.

Attached also are two photos.  One is of the maidencane grass that covers 75% of the creek bed.  The other is the maidencane thatch that covers most of the creek bed including where the grass and the dog fennels are growing.

Frank Host

---

Thank you for your effort Frank;

As a surface water conveyance system this overgrown channel system does not look very promising.  Unless we can clean the system and keep it clean, we can expect significant surface water conveyance losses.  As a rough estimate, I believe that one acre of vegetation may transpire approximately 40 to 42 inches per year.  Wet sand might loose possibly 30 inches per year to evapotranspiration losses. Thus the estimated water loss  from a surface water channel which is covered with overgrown vegetation may be as high as one acre-feet per year or nearly 900 gallons per day per acre of overgrown channel bottom.

Unless the surface water channels from Blue Pond to Lake Brooklyn can be kept “clean” permanently, we might have to consider other conveyance options.

Peter Schreuder

---

Peter,

Both the maidencane and the dog fennel will die back in the winter and a controlled burn would clean the channel.  I wonder if 10 mgd (15.5 cfs) is enough to mainten a cleaning flow in a channel this large.

The channels between Magnolia, Lowry and Blue Pond are reasonably clean (for a creek in the woods) because they have constant flow.

Frank

Permit-DuPont Trailridge-FL0000051-010-IW3S-Bradford County

Permit-DuPont Trailridge-FL0000051-010-IW3S-Bradford County

• Notice of Permit
• Fact Sheet
• Fact Sheet addendum
• Final Permit
• DMR with Final Permit

Clay-Putnam Lake Level Recovery Strategy

Clay-Putnam strategy development area for lakes Geneva, Brooklyn, Cowpen, and Grandin

DRAFT Lake Geneva MFLs Reevaluation Report July 11, 2010

Draft_Lake_Geneva_MFLs_Reevaluation_Report_July_11_2011.pdf

Preliminary Draft of Strategies for Lake Level Recovery

The following is an excerpt from a Peter Schreuder email, September 9, 2011:

In the following paragraphs I will present an outline of my plans for your consideration and comments. I need your inputs as soon as possible. After I receive everybody's comments John and I will prepare a Power Point presentation, which John will present at the September Stakeholders meeting.

Some of the ideas expressed in the following paragraphs are preliminary and will need to be checked with David Wright of DuPont and with Paul Catlett of Camp Blanding. I also hope that Frank can get together with Paul to check on the invert elevation of the pipe from SW Quadrant Lake to Blue Pond.  In the meeting it was said that the surface water intake elevation could still be lowered by possibly 2 feet. John and I need to know that information.

Here is the outline of my plan:

Short Term:

The objective of the short term plan is to get more surface water flowing to Lake Brooklyn, so that the people can visually see some action.  The basic short term opportunity involves the following action items: 1) lowering the intake elevation of the SW Quadrant pipe to Blue Pond; 2) preventing seepage losses in the Creek channels from Blue Pond to Lake Brooklyn; and 3) investigating if the DuPont deep aquifer production wells at their plant site can be equipped and used to pump more ground water to SW Quadrant lake.

Intermediate Term:
The intermediate term objective is to have SJRWMD and Camp Blanding agree to the installation of the adjustable outfall structure (weir) on Lake Lowery.

It should be pointed out to the SJRWMD that if we will be successful in convincing JEA to pump effluent to Camp Blanding/DuPont, this water needs to go on a daily basis to natural and large rapid infiltration basins which are Lake Brooklyn and Lake Geneva. At this time it would not be prudent to run

10 million gallons per day (mgd) through Lake Lowery in its present hydraulic condition. If it becomes a "pass through" water body, it will be prudent to control and manage its rate of discharge with an adjustable outfall structure.

Long Term:

The long term plan calls for the following action items assuming that JEA will deliver up to 20 mgd: 1) create a 300 - 400 acre wetland system on the Camp Blanding/DuPont property at the point where the effluent discharges on the property; 2) upgrade the conveyance capacity of the natural drainage system to SW Quadrant lake; and 3) construct an adjustable outfall structure in the southwest corner of SW Quadrant lake to be able to discharge surface water from SW Quadrant lake to the Santa Fe basin.

I anticipate that filling sinkholes in the channel of Alligator Creek east can be done by volunteers. We need to use a mixture of no. 54 limerock and bentonite clay pellets. I envision a truck with this mixture to approach these areas where a previous check-up by volunteers under the direction of Paul Catlett has identified the sinkholes which need to be plugged. The rock/pellet mixture need to be shoveled into the sink hole and compressed.

The lowering of the intake level of the structure on SW Quadrant lake will require most likely the cutting of the concrete box and the installation of an adjustable stainless steel gate.

John and I will prepare our PPT presentation. At the meeting John will present our plans and we can hand-out copies of the slides as documentation of our plans.

Please share your thoughts with us.

Thanks,

Peter Schreuder, P.G.
Schreuder Inc
Peter@schreuderwater.us
ph:(813)932-8844 fx: (813)932-2991
www.schreuderwater.us

CUP for Naval Facilities Engineering Command SE

SUBJECT:  Notice of Receipt of Consumptive Use Permit Application(s)

Dear Sir/Madam:

This is your notification that the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) has received the
consumptive use permit application(s) listed below.

Individual Consumptive Use Permit Application(s)

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Naval Air Station Bldg 903, PO Box 30, Jacksonville, FL 32212, application #589. This is a renewal of an existing permit. The applicant is requesting to withdraw 1.75 million gallons per day of groundwater for commercial and industrial use, golf course use, recreation area use, and household type use to supply an estimated population of 12,000. The withdrawals used by this proposed project will consist of surface water from Lake Wonderwood via 1 active pump; groundwater from FAS - Upper Floridan Aquifer via 4 active wells in Duval County, located in Section: 5, Township: 2 South, Range: 29 East, known as Naval Station Mayport.

The file(s) containing the permit application(s) are available for inspection Monday through Friday, except for District holidays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the District's Headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka, FL 32177-2529. You may also view files at one of the District's service centers, but you should call service center staff in advance to make sure that the files are at a specific service center. Service center contact information is available online at:

http://www.floridaswater.com/permitting/index.html

Decisions on Standard General permit applications will be made at the District's service center where the application is processed, unless the application is upgraded to an Individual permit application as explained below. A substantial objection to a Standard General consumptive use permit application must be made in writing and filed with (received by) the Director of Regulatory Support, P.O. Box 1429, Palatka, FL 32178-1429, or by e-mail at applicationsupport@sjrwmd.com, within 14 days of notification of the application. Please include either the Permit Application Number or the Project Name in the objection. Notification of the application is the date on which the notice was e-mailed to you (not the date you open it). A "substantial objection" means a written statement directed to the District that identifies the objector, concerns hydrologic or environmental impacts of the proposed consumptive use, and relates to applicable rule criteria. A timely substantial objection will cause the Standard General consumptive use permit application to be considered an application for an Individual consumptive use permit. If the District receives a timely substantial objection from you, then you will receive written notice of the District's intended decision on the permit application.

Decisions on Individual consumptive use permit applications will be made by the District's Governing
Board. Notice of Intended District Decision will be provided to persons who have requested individual
notice.

Peter Schreuder, Hydrologist, Hired

July 27, 2011

Dear Alliance Members and Friends:

I am please to be able to tell you that the Keystone Heights City Council approved the hiring of Mr. Peter Schreuder, Hydrologist and Author of the well known Schreuder Report to represent the City at the upcoming Stakeholder meetings that will be held by the SJRWMD to implement strategies to help recover the lakes in our area. 

This was a very tough decision for the Council because of the meager City budget.  Though each of the Council Members love the lakes just as much as the rest of us they cannot commit to more money than is in the coffers.   

Members of the Save Our Lakes Organization, Lake Area Water Alliance, Santa Fe Lake Dwellers, Garden Club of the Lakes, KH Woman’s Club, Melrose Business & Community Association, Keystone Business Association and other members of the community were all there to support the hiring of Mr. Schroeder as this is the best and possibly last shot our community has to actually do something to rehabilitate our lakes and hopefully restore the aquifer.  Since the City does not have engineers and hydrologists on its staff as does the large cities like Jacksonville and other big water consumers, Mr. Schroeder’s expertise will be invaluable as the technical advisor to the lake area citizenry.  We are very fortunate he has already invested a lot of his time for free helping us get this far.

The Council took this bold step with the reassurances from those attending that the community would step up and help shoulder the expenses necessary to retain Mr. Schreuder.  There is only enough money in the City budget for the initial work that will need to be done to complete a project of this scope.  Mayor Hildreth has been working on getting some matching funds from the County to help out but this will still not be enough.  However, we as a community whether we live inside or outside the City borders, this is our community and we are going to have to help the City with this expense as we are also Stakeholders that need to be represented at the Stakeholder table by Mr. Schreuder.

In the near future, you will be called upon to help with a fundraiser to raise a war chest for this fight to save our lakes and I hope you will respond wholeheartedly.  It is only together in partnership with the City, County, our organizations and individual contributions that we will be able to do what needs to be done to succeed in restoring our lakes so that we can recharge the economy in our community and most of all protect our water resources for future generations.

I would like to  have an Alliance Meeting on Wednesday, August 24^th,  7:00PM at the KH Womans Club to discuss our progress at the Stakeholder meeting on the 11^th, future plans for fundraising, etc .  As always we are looking for new  members so don’t hesitate to invite a new organization to join us.  Please let me know if you can come or not so I can change the date if necessary.   

 Looking forward to your reply,  Jackie