1. 45°Clear sky
MORE WEATHER
Video: RETURN OF THE GREEN
MONSTER: See a series of video reports
about the St. Johns River by the River
Keeper
Published Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Thirsty Central Florida has plans for St. Johns
The river would lose hundreds of millions of gallons under the proposals
DAVID HUNT
Imagine the Empire State Building flooded nearly to its trademark lightning rod.
That's about how much water the St. Johns River could lose each day under plans to quench a thirsty Central Florida.
Utility managers are considering taking up to 262 million gallons daily from the St. Johns and a tributary, the Ocklawaha
River, to support a groundwater network not expected to handle population growth beyond 2013.
The idea has led to much debate over environmental and development issues
from Orlando, where the water is most needed, to Jacksonville, where the
water's loss could be most noticeable.
"It really is quite a domino effect. It's not like you're just pulling an amount of
water out or turning a faucet off a little bit," said Quinton White, a Jacksonville
University biologist and the school's arts and sciences dean. "This is another
example of man trying to harness nature. I don't think we've ever successfully
done that."
White said he sees the drawdown blending more of the Atlantic Ocean's
saltwater into the river's already salty lower basin, killing off freshwater plants
and species. He also said the change in flow could create sediment deposits big
enough that dredging will be more frequently necessary to make way for
Jacksonville's cargo traffic.
Planning the drawdown are dozens of Central Florida utility managers and the St. Johns River Water Management District,
a regulatory agency charged with finding a compromise between development and environmental needs.
The water management district is projecting a 4.9 percent reduction in flow, which officials say should not have significant
impacts on salt levels and sea life. Printed agency research shows the drawdown likely would increase the river's habitat
for pink shrimp while shrinking the amount of space for blue crabs.
Five conceptual plans are under discussion. If any moves forward, construction could begin by 2009. Projected
construction costs range between $800 million and $1.2 billion, with state tax dollars funding as much as $500 million, said
agency Water Supply Management Director Barbara Vergara.
While financial issues have become part of the debate, opponents claim the water management district is meddling with
Mother Nature and could be sacrificing one of Jacksonville's most precious resources. Agency officials say some of the
concerns have been alarmist.
"People get images in their minds of what it looks like out west with the Colorado River stopping in California or the Rio
Grande not running to the Gulf of Mexico," said James Gross, an agency senior project manager. "We're talking about
reducing the discharge of the St. Johns River to the ocean by 4 percent. We're not talking about permitting out every drop
of water."
Even at 262 million gallons each day, enough water to fill nearly 400 Olympic-size swimming pools, it may not be long until
the region thirsts again. Vergara said the St. Johns River Water Management District has anticipated this and has been
working on plans to desalinate ocean water for the past seven years.
The idea to treat river water has been developing since the mid-1990s, when planners were examining ways to get more
drinking water for growing St. Johns County. Vergara said drawing from the river was considered too complicated a
solution in that case because of the salt levels in the river's northern sections.
In Central Florida drawing from the river is a much more sound idea, she said, because the north-flowing freshwater
pushes away south-flowing saltwater. Although not as expensive as desalination, treating river water will be more costly
than what utilities are used to, she added.
Advertisement
Things to do
Triple Threat Tour: featuring Tank,
Chrisette Michelle &…
Friday, Jan 28, 7:30 pm
Moran Theater
Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile
Friday, Apr 01, 8 pm
Florida Theatre
Ridin Solo Easter Bash Featuring
Keith Sweat & Silk
Friday, Apr 22, 8 pm
Moran Theater
Sat
8
Sun
9
Mon
10
Tue
11
Wed
12
Events
All
Submit an Event | More Things To Do
Site Web
SEARCH
Web Search powered by YAHOO! Search
Thirsty Central Florida has plans for St. Johns | Jacksonville.com http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090507/met_196934057.shtml
1 of 2 1/8/2011 8:41 PM

2. Vergara said utilities generally spend about $1 processing 1,000 gallons of groundwater. Processing 1,000 gallons of river
water likely will cost between $3.50 and $4.50.
Consumers will see that higher production cost in their water bills, which may promote conservation. That's an issue the
water management district already stresses in its "Think Two" campaign and Water Star Homes program.
James Orth, director of the environmental group St. Johns Riverkeeper, said he thinks the water management district
should push harder on conservation before tapping the river.
"We haven't gone out and attacked people's use of water. It's almost immoral in my opinion," he said. "The thing that
frightens me is once it's done, it's done. People become accustomed to this and, if we realize we're wrong, you can't just
shut people's water off."
Neil Armingeon, who serves as Orth's chief river watchdog, said he doesn't believe the water management district has
given enough thought to potential damage to the river. He said his group is seeking a third-party environmental assessment
and may take the debate into a courtroom.
"We're still in that, 'What can you do legally,' phase," Armingeon said. "We don't know, but there's a coalition of groups
forming."
Opposition to the plan is not limited to environmentalists. The Marion County commissioners took a stand last month by
telling the water management district they felt pumping the Ocklawaha River would be more harmful than it was worth.
However, the commission has no governing power over the water management district.
Orth said he questions whether the drawdown will compromise the mission of Mayor John Peyton's River Accord, a $742
million cleanup plan launched last year.
Peyton spokeswoman Susie Wiles said the mayor has monitored the planning process but hasn't taken a stance.
"We've got a lot of questions, but none that nobody else doesn't have," she said.
david.hunt@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4025
Related Searches
USD ORTH JOHN PEYTON BIOLOGIST ORLANDO ATLANTIC OCEAN SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
MAYOR JAMES GROSS CALIFORNIA GULF OF MEXICO ENVIRONMENT MARION COUNTY DEAN
DAVID.HUNT@JACKSONVILLE.COM (904) 359-4025 SUSIE WILES GULF OF MEXICO JACKSONVILLE RIO
GRANDE
Advertisement
Jacksonville.com ©2011. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us Privacy Policy Copyright User Agreement About our ads
Site Web Web Search powered by YAHOO! Search
Thirsty Central Florida has plans for St. Johns | Jacksonville.com http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090507/met_196934057.shtml
2 of 2 1/8/2011 8:41 PM