The monthly meeting of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council’s Middle and Lower Suwannee River Task Force Committee took place as scheduled on April 25, 2019 in Lake City.
Lack of members constituting a quorum delayed the meeting but once going it put forth considerable information, including an informative and very well done presentati0n by Darlene Velez of Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) on water quality monitoring.
In a very brief summation, it was revealed that speculation exists that because Valdosta is currently under a Consent Order and is actually making some effort towards progress (albeit minuscule) in finding a solution, this may effect some type of protection from legal action.
The task force holds some hope that the future retention ponds will be much more effective in protecting Florida than the snail-paced infrastructure repair of the city. However, many months have passed and no permits have been issued to begin construction.
Chair Davis suggested help from the EPA might hasten progress, and asked Senator Rubio’s office, represented by North Florida Staff Assistant Matthew Dews to assist, to which he agreed.
The problem of a slow notification process on new spills was discussed at length, with suggestions for expedition.
The hot button at the moment is water quality monitoring and sampling. Thanks to OSFR’s Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and WWALS ‘ John Quarterman, it was revealed some time ago that water sampling has been less than adequate by our (and Georgia’s) agencies, lacking even a baseline for comparison in places.
Once called out, the agencies have been scrambling and Ms. Velez’ PowerPoint covered this wonderfully. Your writer did not know that SRWMD tests for nutrients, metals, alkalinity, etc. but not for bacteria, pesticides, herbicides, mercury, pharmaceuticals, radionuclides, industrial byproducts or petroleum products.
As might be expected, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection covers the most bases in testing, and implements state laws to protect quality in both surface and ground water.
On the contrary, the Florida Department of Health has no enforcement powers, but concerns itself with public education and can issue public health advisories. This agency does private well testing, onsite sewage programs and public swimming pools.
Least active of these agencies is SRWMD in sampling, which concerns itself with water quality improvement projects involving the DEP’s nutrient loadings, employing the Surface Water Improvement and Management plans, and the Basin Management Action Plans. They also monitor to identify areas of concern.
Water sampling has come to the forefront with a bang, in part because the Valdosta spills have been considered the bad guy for all the E. coli presence in the Suwannee, even while others have suggested there may be other animal sources. Testing for sucralose will determine human vs. animal origins.
The task force plans to meet again with Valdosta representatives on July 10 at 6 pm. in that city. The group will next convene on June 27 at 4 pm in Lake City
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-
