tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post6180435010086630991..comments2024-01-13T03:17:01.627-05:00Comments on SWFWMD Matters: Silver Springs Dying? Are You Okay With That?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-29235491024611563922014-09-18T11:46:33.409-04:002014-09-18T11:46:33.409-04:00Thank you for sharing this!!! And Thank you for ca...Thank you for sharing this!!! And Thank you for caring about our beautiful springs...they truly are more important than most of us would admit. I will be sticking around to read more. I just found your blog after doing some research on Florida's natural springs, I added your link in my post (see my blog post here--->http://love-light-laugh-dream.blogspot.com/2014/09/are-we-loving-nature-to-death.html.<br />You rock!Candicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06742629770574714388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-11733473908940020952012-06-14T08:44:30.584-04:002012-06-14T08:44:30.584-04:00This writer makes a good point for not issuing the...This writer makes a good point for not issuing the proposed permit. If "they would not be using all the water allocated," than based on SJRWMD and Florida State law the permittee does not meet one of the three conditions of permit issuance (Reasonably Use Criteria)and the permit request should be denied or the quantity reduced. <br /><br />Although the proposed permit is calculated for a 2-in-10 event, the permit does no limit when the water could be used. Hopefully during wetter years they will use less, however, based on Consumptive Use Permitting there is no limitation when or how much of the quantity (as long as they do not exceed the total permit amount) is used and they can still use the drought quantity during a wet year. To illustrate this point we have all seen irrigation during or after a large rain and for home owners there is a state law that requires rain shut-off devices to prevent this from happening, yet it still happens, farms do not have to install any of these types of devices. So, what will be the reasonable assurances to prevent the permittee from using all the permitted quantity when they want?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-56741753222700050422012-06-08T10:09:52.606-04:002012-06-08T10:09:52.606-04:00To answer your last question, agriculture needs to...To answer your last question, agriculture needs to be protected from unfair global competition from countries that have no environmental protection standards and enjoy an economic advantage as a result. Ag landuse needs to be fostered and encouraged. Farming is good and extremely important to this country’s future. I believe in all those things, but, when ag landuse begins to cause impacts that have far reaching negative impacts upon the society’s quality of life that sustains it, accommodation of agriculture begins to need constraints. Not even ag should always get a pass when it is contributing to the destruction of such iconic cultural features as natural springs. There are alternatives. Adena Springs Ranch can be a national leader in developing alternative approaches to farming in ways that do not add nutrients to groundwater and does not impact, especially during major droughts, the flows of nearby major springs. It is a great opportunity for the fellow from Canada.<br /><br />Thanks for your views. Always welcome.Sandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-32192909865556432772012-06-08T10:09:03.588-04:002012-06-08T10:09:03.588-04:00Sonny, you have made some salient points but, your...Sonny, you have made some salient points but, your conclusions and accusations on the proposed Adena Springs cattle operation are inaccurate. First, Drought over the last 30 years has created a devastating double negative, significantly less recharge and increased pumpage. <br /> <br />With respect to the cattle operation, the CUP as you know is only for "supplemental irrigation" and based on a 2-in-10 year drought. They would not be using all of the water allocated, and in normal rainfall years significantly less. And, with the spacing of their proposed wells over thousands of acres, minimizing drawdowns to the aquifer. <br /> <br />And finally, just curious, what use of the land would you propose, or do you think they have no right to use their land for agriculture?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-78365409655199517222012-04-30T13:30:39.962-04:002012-04-30T13:30:39.962-04:00It appears that the owners are from Canada, “a”. ...It appears that the owners are from Canada, “a”. I like the name on the application Adena “Springs” farm. How fitting. The drawdown map says that at full capacity it will only drawdown the aquifer at .1 of a foot at about3 miles or so. I find that very hard to believe and hopefully the SJ district staff is not that stupid. Someone has manipulated something but the DWRM should ferrit this out. Of course you know that this is just a step toward getting development water rights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-46682861906364467072012-04-26T23:56:12.498-04:002012-04-26T23:56:12.498-04:00Hmmm... What then would you recommend as a potenti...Hmmm... What then would you recommend as a potential counter balance to predominately business and agricultural interests currently making up the Suwannee River Water Management District board? The board seem to just continue to hand out permits hand over fist despite even their science staff recommend against some permits. The springs in the region might not have another 2 years... as potentiometric pressure lowers cave systems can start to collapse. It just seems that the water boards should be made up of at least 50% hydrologists as they are more equipped to figure water withdrawal rates, recharge rates for confined vs unconfined aquifers, and factor in changing weather patterns. Frank S. was the last real scientist we had on the board in this region.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09792377899569634535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-26930723085510125182012-04-26T11:01:06.677-04:002012-04-26T11:01:06.677-04:00Ed, I think I've got the link fixed now. Than...Ed, I think I've got the link fixed now. Thanks. -SandspurSandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-32530616951531446812012-04-26T10:48:45.913-04:002012-04-26T10:48:45.913-04:00Barbara, thank you for commenting, however, I disa...Barbara, thank you for commenting, however, I disagree WMD governing boards should be elected. It would only add another dimension of parochialism the resource would have to contend with. It's bad enough as it is. And, at least in SWFWMD, almost, if not all, agricultural water users with a consumptive use permit are required to meter and report their water use.<br /><br />Again, thank you for your comment. -SandspurSandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-85661289445805168442012-04-26T10:41:56.757-04:002012-04-26T10:41:56.757-04:00I'm Trying, Anon. Believe me, I'm trying....I'm Trying, Anon. Believe me, I'm trying.Sandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-12837950897484459232012-04-26T10:33:11.971-04:002012-04-26T10:33:11.971-04:00This article was so well done – from a historical ...This article was so well done – from a historical perspective to modern day concerns. You really ought to let the world in on this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-61503596855430403452012-04-26T01:33:49.615-04:002012-04-26T01:33:49.615-04:00Thank you for your thorough article and all the re...Thank you for your thorough article and all the relevant links included. North Florida water issues are going to really heat up because wells are staring to go dry. It is known that some (not all) consumptive users use a lot more water than they are permitted for....especially during a drought. That is because there are no flow meters on most of the consumptive wells Therefore there is no way for farmers to accurately measure and keep accurate records... reporting is mostly guesstimates. (70% of the water in the Suwannee District is used by ag.... that percent is probably lower in Marion County but is still a significant percent.) <br /><br />But the crux of our problem lies with the fact that our Water Management Boards (who hand out all the permits) are special interests appointed by the Governor. In the Suwannee District not one of the board members is a hydrologist. Dr Cole's doctorate is in Philosophy of Geography (read his dissertation and look at the text book he wrote if you have a chance!!!!) Water boards need to be elected by citizens and hopefully a petition drive to get this accomplished will be started. PS: Wish you had a facebook page for us to scan for your newest posts in with our fb news-feed.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09792377899569634535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-29396202336988814912012-04-25T20:28:39.055-04:002012-04-25T20:28:39.055-04:00I was unable to post comments as directed. I got a...I was unable to post comments as directed. I got an error message each time.<br /><br />I sent an email to the board and Mr. Tanzler instead.<br /><br />I urge everyone who cares about Silver Springs, and Florida's future, to do the same.Ed Stanselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00205702381476210644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-33687043453437701612012-04-25T09:23:18.164-04:002012-04-25T09:23:18.164-04:00I just returned from southeastern Arizona and read...I just returned from southeastern Arizona and read your email about the proposal to withdraw huge amounts of water from the Silver Springs springshed.<br />Frankly, it was doubly frightening because I had just spent time in an area where water is so scarce and precious and the evidence of its lack is etched on the landscape. If water withdrawals here continue at the same pace of the last few years, the green Florida we know will surely disappear, to be replaced vast tracts of prickly pear and shifting sand dunes.<br />Thank you for your blog! I have contacted St. John's Water Management District to express my opposition to granting a withdrawal permit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-52909665984439917012012-04-25T07:39:48.028-04:002012-04-25T07:39:48.028-04:00Wonderfully informative..thank you...Wonderfully informative..thank you...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-79120030946204867722012-04-25T07:38:54.580-04:002012-04-25T07:38:54.580-04:00... this is informative email which sets the right...... this is informative email which sets the right tone for rational discussion. Good job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-290179154003064982012-04-25T06:27:58.863-04:002012-04-25T06:27:58.863-04:00I would think that doubling the water withdrawal w...I would think that doubling the water withdrawal would be considered "to do harm"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-8860673264030520812012-04-24T22:00:21.079-04:002012-04-24T22:00:21.079-04:00They are selling off what belongs to the public, d...They are selling off what belongs to the public, destroying our water resource as well as our environment and it will have truly devastating results for Florida and all Floridians.Nancy Argenzianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12647358039318020199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-85855298195930704432012-04-24T20:05:49.450-04:002012-04-24T20:05:49.450-04:00This is happening in our generation, in a relative...This is happening in our generation, in a relatively short time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-7471168803313860392012-04-24T17:53:40.523-04:002012-04-24T17:53:40.523-04:00A long article but important to read. Rainbow Spr...A long article but important to read. Rainbow Springs isn't far behind what Sonny describes of Silver Springs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-52734636927596310802012-04-24T17:31:25.414-04:002012-04-24T17:31:25.414-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-64428708429082652352012-04-24T17:22:44.266-04:002012-04-24T17:22:44.266-04:00"Ecological health in a land dying of abuse i..."Ecological health in a land dying of abuse is not worth something; it is worth everything." -Wendell Berry, in the 2012 Jefferson Lecture at Kennedy Center, 4/23/2012<br /><br />Thank you, Sonny, for telling it like it is.A Word Witchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04945717356576119953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-54253548326110484482012-04-24T16:14:28.126-04:002012-04-24T16:14:28.126-04:00Sonny...thank you for the alarming yet realistical...Sonny...thank you for the alarming yet realistically valid information on the further diminution of our springs, our aquafer.<br />We have to keep the pressure on WMDs, the Legislature, DEP, by way of public opinion and education to the issue of losing our finite water. You and those joining with your cause are indeed Patriots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com