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MFLs Virtual Workshop June 16, 2020– This Could Be Important

MFL gatewayGood In: MFLs Virtual Workshop June 16, 2020-- This Could Be Important | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River

MFL gatewayGood In: MFLs Virtual Workshop June 16, 2020-- This Could Be Important | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
John Good, Chief Professional Engineer, of Suwannee River Water Management District explains the MFLs. Photo by Jim Tatum.

Word has it that the water management district has used a new model/method to asess the effects of groundwater pumping on the Santa Fe.  Currently the river is not meeting its minimum flows and levels, but it seems possible that, without lowering the flows or levels more, the new model may show that groundwater pumping is not lowering the flows and levels, and thus the river is meeting the MFLs.  This is critical for the evidence countering the Nestle claim that they use sustainable sources.

If the above is accurate, which we think it is, Nestle’s legal challenge  could have been designed to allow time for the water district to change the status of the river.  At the time of the permit granting, it could then be meeting its MFLs, which would greatly facilitate the issuance  of the permit by the district.  Remember that the staff’s recommendation of denial was based on an incomplete application, not on science or negative impact of the environment.  This too, effectively allowed a delay for Nestle, giving them time to change river status to satisfying the MFLs.

The public is at a tremendous disadvantage because the water district is a master at burying facts within huge amounts of data, numbers and statistics which we, as non-scientists, cannot identify.  This is why we say the end result is set, and the science, which is supposed to lead to the result, is designed to fit the result.

Our other thought is that a meeting of this importance should definitely NOT be a virtual meeting.  This issue should be postponed until circumstances allow in-person gatherings.

Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum


Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum


Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing

 

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

Suwannee River Water Management District

The Suwannee River Water Management District announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 6:00 p.m.  8:00 p.m.

PLACE: District Headquarters, 9225 CR 49, Live Oak, FL 32060 (District personnel only as currently District offices are closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Members of the public may listen and provide comments via phone at 1(888)585-9008 and entering conference room code 704-019-452.

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: The Suwannee River Water Management District is inviting the public to attend a meeting of the independent scientific peer review panel for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Associated Priority Springs Minimum Flows and Minimum Water Levels. Anyone who wishes to provide public input will be able to do so by calling toll-free at 1(888)585-9008 and entering conference room number of 704-019-452.

Additional instructions regarding viewing and participating in the meeting may be obtained by contacting: Pennie Flickinger at (386)362-1001 or 1 (800) 226-1066 (Florida only).

A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Pennie Flickinger at (386)362-1001 or 1(800)226-1066 (Florida only) when available.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 2 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Pennie Flickinger at (386)362-1001 or 1(800)226-1066 (Florida only). If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at this meeting or hearing, he/she will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence from which the appeal is to be issued.

For more information, you may contact: John Good at JCG@srwmd.org.

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2 Comments

  1. Let me see if I understand this: SRWMD is saying their new model shows that taking over a million gallons a day from a spring which feeds the Santa Fe River which already has too little water in it will have no effect on amount of water in the river? That’s quite a model!

    I wonder if I could borrow their model to balance my bank account? I could take as much money as I want from the account without lowering the amount left in it.

  2. Given the State’s previous use of “Alt Math”, I’m confident they could demonstrate that the more pumping of groundwater they allow, the more the level of the Santa Fe River will rise (after a delay of at least 20 years since the system is not a steady state system).

    I am tired of waiting for the State to do the right thing. I have been looking up for years now and still have not seen the many flocks of pigs they claim are endemic to Florida.

    It should be obvious to all by now that if we leave the health of our water to the Florida Government and its agencies, we will one day long for the good old days when there was enough water flowing in Florida for filamentous algae blooms to float upon,

    Come on! Enough is Enough!

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