They also know that that solution is simply to cease doing what is causing the problem. This, however, would cause trouble for the permit holders and cause so many changes and adjustments in their way of life that the State of Florida and the District would be unable to handle the pushback.
Hence, we have the absurd plan proposed by the District to take water from the Suwannee River to dump on the ground in Ichetucknee Springs State Park in order to replenish the aquifer. Offered with this beyond-bad idea is the proposal to pay foresters to reduce the number of trees they grow, to save water.
Rob Peter to pay Paul, they used to say.
All this, of course, would cost many millions of dollars paid by you and me. Just as we pay the [wasted] salaries of the desperate water people in Live Oak who spend their days concocting misdirected fantasies.
This is akin to a man trapped in a pit dying from lack of food and water. There is a ladder leaning against the wall leading to the top, but he is not allowed to use it. He must come up with other ideas to escape, none of which work and he eventually dies.
Not only is this water transfer plan illogical, it goes counter to District policies. This is because the Suwannee River needs its water. Some non-thinking people have said if we don’t use the water it just goes down to the Gulf and is wasted. The District has spent thousands on restoring oyster reefs near the mouth of the Suwannee which have declined due to District-caused diminished fresh water entering the Gulf from the Suwannee River.
This is the same District whose board of directors did not consider nearly twenty thousand letters from the public as a factor of “public interest” while unanimously approving a pumping permit for Seven Springs Water Company. The same District whose board of directors has members who have no idea what is causing pollution in the Suwannee River — who think the springs are healthy because they are flowing –who think they are great stewards of the environment just because they grow trees or cattle — who never question any issue beyond what their attorney suggests and who spend no time researching an important issue whose fate their vote decides.
Bruce Ritchie of Politico has given the details of this tragic scene in a recent article, which also mentions the Nestle water permit and OSFR. We are unable to re-post the article but can offer the public link here.
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
