tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50642080342911119682012-01-23T10:16:12.548-05:00The St. Johns River Water Management District manages groundwater and surface water supplies in all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties.Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comBlogger1141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-2581885615639508382012-01-09T11:14:00.001-05:002012-01-09T14:46:10.914-05:00

Nearly 500 people joined us Jan. 5 for a public meeting in Howey-in-the-Hills to discuss water levels in the Harris Chain of Lakes in Lake County. The meeting provided an opportunity for numerous community and special interest groups and elected officials to speak publicly and share concerns about declining water levels. They were also able to hear the St. Johns River Water Management District’

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In a clear demonstration of support for the restoration of central Florida’s Lake Apopka, representatives of state, regional and local agencies and organizations and the public came together on Dec. 14 to focus on the future restoration actions for the lake that straddles Orange and Lake counties. Florida Sen. Alan Hays, Rep. Bryan Nelson and Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks sponsored the

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The pesky Gizzard shad is a fish without many positive attributes. The fish isn’t valued for human consumption: the flesh is soft and rather tasteless, it’s riddled with fine bones and has a strong odor. Scientists learned more than a decade ago that this “rough” fish is a veritable phosphorus factory, helping exacerbate algae growth in murky lakes by feeding on lake bottoms and excreting

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The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Executive Director Search Committee on Oct. 3 recommended that Hans G. Tanzler III be hired as the District’s next executive director. The District Governing Board will consider the recommendation at its Oct. 11 public meeting at the District’s headquarters in Palatka. Tanzler has been the District’s general counsel since July, and previously

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Kudos to Orange Park and Clay County Utility Authority (CCUA) for being the first in northeast Florida to share wastewater between utilities, thus increasing opportunities for reclaimed water use, preserving fresh drinking water supplies, and reducing wastewater discharges and nutrients flowing into the St. Johns River. Orange Park on June 2 transferred 937,000 gallons of wastewater to CCUA that

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-83146583594016150772011-06-01T10:04:00.002-04:002011-06-01T10:04:30.181-04:00

Today marks the first day of hurricane season, which means that the time is upon us to ensure that we’re well prepared. An important element of preparation is having ready access to resources that can keep you informed about flood predictions, real-time water level information and who to contact for flooding assistance. The St. Johns River Water Management District maintains a web page that

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The Florida Earth Foundation has scheduled its third public forum for discussions that it began last fall about water resource issues in Florida. The foundation’s Water Choices III will be held July 7 at the University of North Florida’s University Center in Jacksonville, and registration is now open. According to the foundation’s website, “Water Choices III is insuring the think tank

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If you enjoy the outdoors and want to experience natural and undisturbed Florida, I encourage you to visit some of the 66 conservation areas encompassing 709,000 acres in north and central Florida managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District and its many partners. The best place to start is with the District’s online recreation guide, where you’ll find information about each property

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If Earth Day approaching tomorrow has you wondering what you can do in the name of conservation beyond just one day, the St. Johns River Water Management District’s opportunities for volunteers throughout the year may be of interest to you. By being involved in our waterway cleanups, in-school education programs, and special events, you can give whatever extra time you have to preserving, and

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Comcast subscribers in Northeast Florida can watch “Simple Truths About Our Water” at 7 p.m. on April 15 on channel 212 (WJCT 7.4). During the 30-minute show, you’ll see what’s being done to protect water supplies and meet future water demands, and the role water conservation should play for all of us. The program features the District’s work with local governments and water suppliers using a

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-14760276138758288312011-04-05T09:06:00.001-04:002011-04-05T09:10:00.619-04:00

In the year since a Gate Petroleum store in Jacksonville received the first Florida Water Star commercial certification in northeast Florida, significant water savings are being realized. When we compare water use for the Gate store on Hendricks Avenue with another similarly-sized Gate store over a 12-month period, we found that, on average, the Florida Water Star Gate store used 61 percent less

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Robert Coufal finds the Emeralda Marsh along Lake Griffin in Lake County so awe-inspiring that he made the video below of the wildlife that now call the area home. Coufal, who is the assistant general manager at the Hampton Inn of Leesburg/Tavares, summed it up this way: “We here at the Hampton Inn and our visiting guests to the area would like to thank you for your important and hard work at

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As you consider which plants to put in your yard this weekend, don’t forget there’s an interactive and searchable online database that helps you choose the right place for the right place. The waterwise plant database allows you to choose waterwise plants based on criteria (soil and light conditions, height, etc.) that you input.

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Beth Hickenlooper, who works for the St. Johns River Water Management District, provided the following. When the March 11 earthquake shook Japan, it was literally felt around the world. The St. Johns River Water Management District, South Florida District and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have all reported data that shows the 8.9-magnitude earthquake was felt in Florida. Specifically, wells

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Watering is allowed within the St. Johns River Water Management District region no more than two days a week on designated days from March 13 until Nov. 6, when we return to one-day-a-week watering. All of the details on when you can and can’t water are on our watering restrictions web pages. There are also some exceptions to the watering restrictions for new plantings and other temporary

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The District’s Governing Board today adopted a proclamation designating April 2011 as Water Conservation Month, “…calling upon each resident, visitor and business to help protect our precious resource by practicing water conservation measures and becoming more aware of the need to conserve water.” We offer numerous tips on our water conservation web pages for residents and businesses interested

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If you’re itching to get out in your yard and start pruning and planting, you’ll be happy to know that the Farmers' Almanac suggests that you’re likely safe from another frost or freeze in central Florida and almost safe in northeast Florida. But, frost prediction is not an exact science, so if you proceed now or this coming weekend, it’s important to know that there is still some risk. The

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With the increased focus in recent years on water conservation, hopefully you’re thinking about ways that you can conserve water in and around your home. If you’re new to water conservation, which not only benefits our environment but can also save you money, you may want to start with your water bill (if you receive one) to get an idea of just how much water your household consumes. To drill

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The District’s work with the federal government to restore and enhance more than 150,000 acres of the St. Johns River’s headwaters near Florida’s east coast in Brevard and Indian River counties has received the distinction of being recognized in and on the cover of a book recently published in Australia. River Journeys II highlights the massive restoration project with several others around the

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Identifying adequate water supplies to accommodate current and future needs in northeast and central Florida continues to be a critical issue that we’re working on with local governments. Because water supply issues can impact everyone in the 18-county region within the St. Johns River Water Management District, we recently put together an informative video that explains what we’re doing to

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Congratulations to Governing Board Member Maryam Ghyabi, who recently received the “Woman of the Year Award” at the Northeast Florida Women's Transportation Seminar. Ms. Ghyabi, who is CEO and president of Ghyabi & Associates, was honored because of her transportation leadership in Florida. Ms. Ghyabi has served on the District’s Board since May 2009, when former Gov. Charlie Crist appointed

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The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board has approved buying 23.5 acres in central Volusia County that will increase wildlife habitat by expanding the boundaries of the Longleaf Pine Preserve, and will provide additional protection for Tiger Bay State Forest. The parcel is located north of State Road 44 and east of Interstate 4, and The Daytona Beach News-Journal ran a good

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Hersey “Herky” Huffman devoted numerous decades to the betterment of Florida’s environment and, specifically, to its water resources. His death on Jan. 4 was not only a tremendous loss to those who knew him, but also to the environment that he served. Among his many contributions and public service, Mr. Huffman served on the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board for three

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This space is typically devoted solely to water resource issues. But, I'm going to deviate from that today for all of the Florida residents who have been shivering through December. Dinah Voyles Pulver has a story in today's Daytona Beach News-Journal that provides a good explanation about the unusually cold weather we've had throughout the state. She even addresses what happened with the

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For the past 13 years, Nov. 15 has been designated as America Recycles Day to promote recycling in the United States.

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With the upcoming change on Sunday to Eastern Standard Time comes a change in the days allowed for lawn and landscape irrigation. Between Sunday (Nov. 7) and March 13, 2011, irrigation throughout the region within the St. Johns River Water Management District is limited to no more than one day a week. Irrigation has been allowed no more than two days a week since 2006. The move to one day a week

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The District has been exploring potential amendments to its permitting rules to enhance water conservation. Since November 2009, the District has held numerous workshops and meetings to obtain input from the public and water suppliers on water conservation regulatory amendments, and the first components of potential changes are currently in the formal rulemaking process. Details about those

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The District implements many innovative approaches in its work to restore water bodies, not the least of which is removing a fish species that actually degrades water quality. Gizzard shad live in many central Florida lakes and their waste encourages algae growth, which is particularly a problem in nutrient-rich lakes like Lake Apopka northwest of Orlando. Over the past 17 years, the District

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The District had a significant accomplishment on Tuesday night – adopting a balanced budget for the new fiscal year that begins on Friday that maintains the current property tax rate for the fourth year in a row. Because of an overall decrease in property values, continuing to maintain the same tax rate means that most property owners will actually pay less in taxes to the District. That

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-84093088949357324452010-09-09T16:21:00.000-04:002010-09-09T16:21:07.362-04:00

We're having some e-mail interruptions at the District today. We expect the problems to be resolved by late this evening, so if you're not having success sending e-mails to us, or you haven't received e-mails from us that you expected to receive, please resend your e-mails tomorrow. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-91311456434289380152010-09-02T09:04:00.000-04:002010-09-02T09:04:41.171-04:00

The Daytona Beach News-Journal published a story today on District Governing Board member Herky Huffman's resignation from the Board. It's a quick read and can be accessed on the News-Journal's website.

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We have received some unfortunate news – Governing Board member Herky Huffman has resigned from the Board due to ongoing health issues. Mr. Huffman’s health has prevented him from attending and participating in Board meetings to the degree that he wanted, so he felt it appropriate to step down. He has been an extremely valuable member of the Board since Gov. Crist appointed him in July 2007, and

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The St. Johns River will be the focus of a two-day summit in Jacksonville, and organizers are encouraging people to register as soon as possible. Registration can be completed on the St. Johns River Alliance’s website. Elected officials, local government and agency leaders, and special interest groups from the 12 counties that border the St. Johns River from northeast to east-central Florida

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One of the responsibilities of bringing nearly 700,000 acres of land throughout northeast and east-central Florida into public ownership is properly managing that land. While providing passive public recreational opportunities, the St. Johns River Water Management District also strategically manages land to closely mimic natural conditions. One effective land management technique involves the

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Northeast Florida’s section of the St. Johns River has been receiving a lot of attention in recent weeks for issues that are, in some cases, long-standing, and, in other cases, new. Some of the issues are fairly straightforward with known causes; others are more complex with as yet unknown causes. The recent issues: • Significant algal blooms (Caused by excess nutrients from sources such as

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As some areas of northeast Florida have been getting hammered many afternoons by heavy rains, it’s important to remember that just because watering restrictions allow you to water your lawn and landscape two days a week, they don’t require that you water. If your area receives rain within a couple of days of your watering day, you can typically skip your designated watering day. That’s an easy

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Following the St. Johns River Water Management District’s notification of its intent to deny a water use permit for the proposed sturgeon fish farm near Melrose, Fla., the applicant has withdrawn its permit request. The withdrawal brings an end to Little Big Sturgeon Inc.’s application that originally requested to withdraw 450,000 gallons per day of groundwater from the Floridan aquifer. The

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There may not be a tropical storm system on our horizon, but now is the time to ensure that you’re prepared if the hurricane activity predicted this year actually impacts northeast or east-central Florida. There are likely many things on your checklist, and one of those should be resources you can turn to for flood predictions, real-time water level information and flooding assistance. The St.

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The Vero Beach Press Journal published a story today that provides a good update on the impacts of dredging in the St. Sebastian River in Indian River County along Florida’s east coast. The story is available on TCPalm.com.

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As we all adjust to the spring/summer watering schedule of no more than two days a week, one of the questions we hear is why weekend days were chosen as watering days when that’s when many people do yard work. There actually was significant thought and discussion put into the designated days. While weekday watering would be more convenient for those with automatic in-ground irrigation systems,

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As you look for outdoor weekend activities, don’t forget about the thousands of acres of land that your tax dollars have helped preserve and protect, and much of that land is especially beautiful this time of year. With nearly 550,000 acres of St. Johns River Water Management District land publicly accessible throughout northeast and central Florida, you can expect to stumble upon a variety of

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The Energy Star Appliance Rebate program began today, which means you can receive a rebate to replace your high water use dishwasher and clothes washer with a newer, water efficient model. Gas tankless water heaters and some other appliances also qualify. Go to the Florida Energy Star Appliance Rebate Web site for all of the details.

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One of the unique approaches the St. Johns River Water Management District takes to improve water quality in some central and northeast Florida lakes is removing bottom-feeding gizzard shad. The District is conducting an experimental project in Newnans Lake east of Gainesville, and Alachua County recently posted a video about the process on its Web site. Details about the Newnans Lake project

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Florida Today posted an interesting and informative story and video today about the magnificence that is the headwaters of the St. Johns River in Brevard and Indian River counties. The story and video can be accessed on Florida Today’s Web site. St. Johns River Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been working cooperatively since the 1980s to restore and protect

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One of the questions frequently asked of us about controversial permit applications is why we even consider those applications. There’s a very simple answer to that question: We’re legally obligated to consider every permit application submitted. There is a rigorous set of standards for evaluating and either approving or denying permit applications, but every application submitted must be

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JEA – a northeast Florida utility – hosts a live radio call-in show at 1 p.m. every Saturday on WOKV in Jacksonville, and they talk about a variety of issues relating to the services they provide. I participated in their March 13 show and we had a fairly thorough discussion about water conservation, watering restrictions and other water resources issues. You can listen to the live show each week

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-56620734881437793812010-03-12T13:26:00.000-05:002010-03-12T13:26:13.703-05:00

Friday, March 12, 2010 Beginning on March 14, watering is allowed within the St. Johns River Water Management District region no more than two days a week. But that doesn’t mean you have to water two days a week. By being aware of rainfall and whether your landscape truly needs water, you can help conserve our finite water resources. All of the details on when you can and can’t water are on

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-71785576527638070172010-03-05T09:28:00.000-05:002010-03-05T09:28:57.136-05:00

As you consider what you’re going to do to rid the winter freeze evidence from your landscape, you have an opportunity to ensure that your landscape is Florida-friendly and that it will be more cold tolerant in future winters. Planting the right plant in the right place is important to achieve a landscape appropriate to your region while reducing the need to apply water and fertilizers. Visit

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-61786050072682002302010-02-26T13:47:00.001-05:002010-02-26T13:47:02.154-05:00

As part of the St. Johns River Water Management District’s plan to propose changes to permitting rules that would result in increased water conservation throughout northeast and central Florida, the agency’s Governing Board will hold a third public workshop on March 8. The workshop will begin at 2 p.m. at the District’s headquarters in Palatka and will provide the public, water supply utilities

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-46762004410260375252010-02-18T08:21:00.000-05:002010-02-18T09:42:39.366-05:00

A public meeting will be held Feb. 25 on a permit application being considered for a sturgeon fish farm near Melrose. The special meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to share their thoughts on the application before a decision is made. The meeting about the Little Big Sturgeon Farm application will be at 5 p.m. at the St. Johns River Water Management District headquarters in

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-45117141543997661222010-02-11T18:41:00.000-05:002010-02-11T18:42:03.907-05:00

A redesigned and reorganized St. Johns River Water Management District Web site has been launched that you should find more dynamic and current. We’ve been working for many months on the changes that were based on input we received from visitors, the changing industry and technological trends, and our goals to make information about the agency and water resources more accessible. We will

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-89973237629786073432010-01-28T16:37:00.000-05:002010-01-28T16:37:22.128-05:00

The city of DeLand has come up with creative and lucrative incentives for homeowners and builders interested in conserving water through the Florida Water Star program. The city is providing up to $250 rebates to homeowners and builders who install water-conserving fixtures and appliances. Builders can also obtain permit fee rebates for homes and commercial buildings certified as meeting Florida

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-22462352101576644732010-01-22T12:59:00.001-05:002011-03-11T14:19:33.064-05:00

Now that it has warmed up a bit (actually a lot), some people are venturing into their yards to get rid of any evidence of our freezes by pruning what appears to be dead vegetation and limbs. The experts are all pretty consistent in agreeing that pruning now can do more harm than good since we still have the potential of more freezes. It’s best to hold off on any pruning until spring is actually

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-82439039475202107532010-01-14T16:02:00.001-05:002010-01-14T16:02:49.318-05:00

As part of our continued planning for future water supplies, we’ll be holding a public meeting Jan. 28 that will be another opportunity for the northeast Florida public to participate in and learn about the water supply planning process. The Suwannee River Water Management District will join us since we share mutual water supply concerns and challenges, and the meeting will be in the evening for

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-50367372001452007212009-12-18T14:52:00.002-05:002011-03-11T14:14:43.736-05:00

The National Research Council (NRC), which the St. Johns River Water Management District engaged to conduct an independent expert review of the study of the potential environmental impacts of St. Johns River withdrawals, on Thursday released its second report on the progress of the St. Johns River Water Supply Impact Study. The report is available through the National Academy of Sciences Web

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-42719769470283140772009-12-03T13:24:00.001-05:002011-03-11T14:18:27.955-05:00

The District Governing Board will have its second public workshop on Monday (Dec. 7) to discuss proposed enhancements to current water conservation requirements. The workshop will begin at 1 p.m. at the District’s headquarters in Palatka. As with its first workshop in November, the Board is very interested in getting input from the public, water suppliers and local governments. Both workshops

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-56407402862792682592009-11-20T13:37:00.001-05:002011-03-11T14:18:08.477-05:00

If you’re looking for some guidance on steps you can take in and outside of your home to save water, you’ll want to check out the new tier of our Florida Water Star program that we launched this week. Florida Water Star Bronze is designed for certification of existing homes for water-conserving actions and behaviors. Some changes that may need to be made in your home can be relatively simple and

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-38121524922283107252009-11-13T09:50:00.001-05:002011-03-11T14:17:50.489-05:00

As part of our work to make information about water resources and the St. Johns River Water Management District’s work more accessible and easier to locate, we’re in the process of a complete redesign of our Web site. The new design will be much more dynamic, with news and current information frequently updated on the home page. Our news releases, blog posts and other news will be more

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-55171771049641521422009-11-10T15:55:00.000-05:002009-11-10T16:09:52.469-05:00

Please visit the District's Web site to read about the Governing Board's unanimous vote today to re-elect Susan N. Hughes of Ponte Vedra Beach to serve as Board chairwoman.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-51035983951300731522009-11-10T15:45:00.000-05:002009-11-10T15:48:58.074-05:00

Please visit the District's Web site to read about the District Governing Board's vote today to approve $1.7 million in cooperative funding to construct a regional stormwater facility that will improve the water quality in the Lake Jesup region.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-61499497648859801392009-11-10T15:27:00.000-05:002009-11-10T15:40:22.302-05:00

Please visit the District's Web site to read about the Governing Board's vote today to purchase a 3,321-acre property mostly within the Volusia Conservation Corridor Florida Forever Project boundary that offers the potential for long-term water storage benefits and expansion of the conservation corridor.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-82998187273621140822009-11-10T08:09:00.001-05:002011-03-11T14:16:52.416-05:00

In a public workshop on Monday, the District’s Governing Board, members of the public and water suppliers had lengthy discussions about proposed enhancements to current District water conservation requirements. The workshop focused on five of nine proposed enhancements that would require increased water conservation of those who receive District water supply (consumptive use permit) or

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-17568494672476074892009-11-06T15:40:00.001-05:002011-03-11T14:16:29.150-05:00

The District Governing Board will have a public workshop on Monday (Nov. 9) to discuss proposed enhancements to current District water conservation requirements. The workshop will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the District’s headquarters in Palatka. The Board will hold a second public workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 7, and both workshops will focus on potential changes to District rules that

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-79139722820717506192009-11-05T14:18:00.001-05:002011-03-11T14:15:59.360-05:00

We’re about a week into the new one-day-a-week schedule for watering restrictions, and since we’ve received some questions over the past week with common threads, I’m going to use this space this week as a watering restrictions Q & A. Q. When can I water? A. The details are listed at www.sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions. Q. Why were weekend days chosen as watering days when that’s when many

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-73035662316548547232009-10-30T10:22:00.001-04:002011-03-11T14:15:17.640-05:00

With the upcoming change on Sunday to Eastern Standard Time comes a change in the days allowed for lawn and landscape irrigation. Between Sunday (Nov. 1) and March 14, 2010, irrigation throughout the region within the St. Johns River Water Management District is limited to no more than one day a week. Irrigation has been allowed no more than two days a week since 2006. The move to one day a week

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-65904917833503513872009-10-09T16:01:00.001-04:002011-03-11T14:21:18.154-05:00

A new feature added to the District’s Web site will make reserving group campsites on thousands of acres of public land in central and northeast Florida easier. The online reservation system, which can be accessed at the bottom of our camping Web page, allows 24-hour reservation access to 18 group campsites (those for seven or more people). The reservations can be made no sooner than seven days

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-10471666226587697292009-10-01T16:45:00.001-04:002011-03-11T14:21:40.677-05:00

I was fortunate last week to be able to observe the two-day symposium in Gainesville on the study that’s looking at the potential effects of river water withdrawals on the St. Johns River. The three-year study currently has another 15 months before it’s completed, but much has already been accomplished. It’s far too early to be talking about potential results and conclusions, but I and others

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-75960066569159490302009-09-25T10:12:00.001-04:002011-03-11T14:21:55.271-05:00

After many months of evaluation, discussion and debate, District Executive Director Kirby Green this morning approved a five-year permit for Niagara Bottling in Lake County to manufacture plastic water bottles and to purify groundwater for bottled drinking water. We’ve posted a lot of new information on our Web site about the application, permit and the decision-making process that may help you

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-82097220794542490922009-09-22T19:09:00.001-04:002011-03-11T14:22:17.208-05:00

The District Governing Board tonight approved a budget for the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 that reflects a 23.8 percent reduction from the current year’s budget. The reduction can be attributed to reductions in property tax revenues and in local, state and federal funding. The Board also approved leaving the property tax rate unchanged, which will generate less revenue than it did this year

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-86136691672880869732009-09-18T16:29:00.001-04:002011-03-10T14:38:26.118-05:00

In the next week and beyond, you’ll have numerous opportunities to learn more about and become involved in District programs and projects. On Tuesday (Sept. 22), there will be a Governing Board workshop that will include a briefing on the Lower St. Johns River Basin Program in northeast Florida followed by a public hearing for adoption of the District’s fiscal year 2009-2010 budget (the millage

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-71907095562785125772009-09-11T15:13:00.001-04:002010-10-29T13:31:32.565-04:00

The District has several water resource workshops and trainings (all are free) coming up that may be of interest to you. The technical symposium on the second phase of the District’s investigation of potential effects of water withdrawals from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers will be held Sept. 23 and 24 in Gainesville. You must register to attend online by Sept. 16. Low impact development (

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-38626797424096107872009-09-04T14:20:00.000-04:002009-09-06T13:21:35.854-04:00

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday (Sept. 3) issued a health alert as a result of elevated concentrations of algal toxins in a water sample taken from the St. Johns River in northeast Florida. This is the second algal toxin health alert that DOH has issued since Aug. 12.The health alert states:The Florida Department of Health has issued a reminder about precautions to take to

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-78069982342002866582009-08-28T16:56:00.001-04:002010-10-06T08:31:40.359-04:00

Congratulations are in order for St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board Chairwoman Susan Hughes, who was named today one of northeast Florida’s “2009 Women of Influence.” The Jacksonville Business Journal annually selects women for the honor based on their “business accomplishments in their work organization, whether it’s for profit, nonprofit or government, and in their

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-4486884010527724042009-08-27T11:01:00.000-04:002009-08-27T11:05:20.905-04:00

I have a brief update to my Aug. 7 blog about the Florida administrative law judge issuing a recommended order in the pending case which challenged the St. Johns River Water Management District’s proposed issuance of a five-year consumptive use permit to Niagara Bottling LLC.The District originally had until Sept. 21, 2009, to enter a final order to approve or deny the permit. That deadline has

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-44561227769943054572009-08-12T15:47:00.000-04:002009-08-12T15:53:45.637-04:00

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today issued a health alert as a result of elevated concentrations of algal toxins in a water sample taken from the St. Johns River in north Florida.Details about the alert can be found in DOH’s news release, and links to algae resources are available in my Aug. 7 blog.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-85755079587256081452009-08-12T09:08:00.001-04:002011-02-04T17:10:01.606-05:00

Schools reopen throughout central and north Florida this month, and the St. Johns River Water Management District has a multitude of water education resources and materials that you can access for your child or encourage teachers to use in your child’s classroom. The Great Water Odyssey is an interactive computer-based education resource that introduces third-, fourth- and fifth-graders to the

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-29710914376825223932009-08-12T09:02:00.001-04:002011-02-04T17:06:49.891-05:00

On Aug. 25, we’ll hold the second meeting for the public to provide input on permit applications that, prior to new legislation in July, would have otherwise been considered by the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board. The meeting will focus only on items on the agenda, and will run from 10 a.m. to noon at the District’s headquarters in Palatka. The meetings began in July

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-3387761234930306242009-08-11T13:49:00.001-04:002011-02-04T17:05:18.838-05:00

Following up on my Aug. 6 post, the potential State Road 46 water supply project was removed from today's Governing Board agenda. Continued discussions will be held with the potential partners of the Memorandum of Agreement to ensure that aggressive water conservation measures will be implemented as part of the agreement. Background on the item is available on our Web site.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-66959395406080892012009-08-07T15:55:00.000-04:002009-08-07T15:57:08.760-04:00

A Florida administrative law judge today issued a recommended order in the pending case which challenged the St. Johns River Water Management District's proposed issuance of a five-year consumptive use permit to Niagara Bottling LLC to withdraw 484,000 gallons of groundwater per day (on an average annual basis).In his recommended order, Judge Bram Canter recommended that the District approve

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-75338363241125498192009-08-07T14:58:00.001-04:002011-02-04T16:41:40.437-05:00

Algae continues to be spotted in the northern region of the St. Johns River, which is an unwelcome but not unusual occurrence this time of year as rains wash nutrients such as fertilizers off yards, into storm drains, through canals, and into the St. Johns River, where the nutrients feed algae. The St. Johns River Water Management District is testing algal blooms throughout the summer for

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-54662816429211874182009-08-06T15:46:00.002-04:002011-02-04T16:39:31.073-05:00

The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board on Aug. 11 will consider a request to provide cost-share funding for planning and investigation of a potential alternative water supply project near State Road 46 in Seminole County. Please visit our Web site to learn more about the potential project.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-70251754686348988522009-08-06T15:38:00.000-04:002009-08-06T15:41:56.209-04:00

The National Research Council (NRC) has completed its review of the first phase of the study of potential environmental effects of St. Johns River withdrawals, and recommendations have been incorporated into the study’s second phase.The St. Johns River Water Management District launched the three-year St. Johns River Water Supply Impact Study in the fall of 2007 to further existing science on

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-32848032413641431542009-08-01T08:11:00.001-04:002011-02-04T16:36:10.510-05:00

To ensure that the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board’s July 14 action relating to water conservation and river water withdrawal project funding are clearly communicated and understood, I’m revisiting the issue. As part of approval of a tentative budget for next fiscal year, the Board strengthened its commitment to water conservation and delayed funding allocations for

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-5653936843791465392009-07-29T15:48:00.001-04:002011-02-04T16:12:17.106-05:00

The first permitting public meeting since new legislation (Senate Bill 2080) shifted permitting approval authority from the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board to our executive director was a success yesterday. The meeting was an opportunity for the public and permit applicants to talk with District Executive Director Kirby Green in a public setting prior to decisions being

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-68441166370120554022009-07-20T16:35:00.001-04:002011-02-04T16:08:46.321-05:00

New legislation that changed the process for St. Johns River Water Management District permit approvals July 1 necessitated identifying a process to ensure adequate opportunities continue to exist for public input. Senate Bill 2080 requires that water management district governing boards delegate permit application approval authority to their executive directors, while the boards continue to

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-46191338149522221222009-07-16T19:13:00.000-04:002009-07-16T19:14:31.746-04:00

The St. Johns River Water Management District's Web site will be down some this evening because of power interruptions. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-38463513301482749852009-07-14T16:48:00.002-04:002011-03-10T14:53:48.497-05:00

A strengthened commitment to water conservation and a delay in funding allocations for construction of river water withdrawal projects came out of today’s St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board meeting. The Board adopted a tentative budget for next fiscal year that represents a 23 percent reduction from the current budget, as well as a 10 percent drop in property tax revenue.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-55009278181878574972009-07-10T16:34:00.001-04:002011-03-10T14:53:16.805-05:00

The applicant who applied for a permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District for a permit to build 400 boat slips and a boardwalk along Lake Oklawaha (Rodman Reservoir) in Marion County withdrew its application on Thursday. Lake Oklawaha RV Park’s action removes the application from any further consideration. The SJRWMD Governing Board was scheduled to consider the application and

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-11995713674841823372009-06-30T18:58:00.001-04:002011-02-04T16:05:02.660-05:00

Governor Crist today signed into law a bill that changes the process for the water management districts’ permit approvals. Senate Bill 2080, which came out of the 2009 legislative session, will become law tomorrow (July 1). The new law requires water management district governing boards to delegate permit approvals to the agencies’ executive directors. Only those permits recommended for denial

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-13732396232846057732009-06-26T08:50:00.001-04:002011-03-10T14:52:39.692-05:00

We’re only a few weeks into hurricane season and we don’t yet see any major storms on the horizon, but now is the time to ensure you know where to get current and accurate weather and flooding information. The St. Johns River Water Management District has put a variety of resources for before, during and after storms in one place at floridaswater.com/storm. The site is kept current and includes

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-67387459561633205552009-06-19T16:30:00.001-04:002011-02-04T16:02:20.689-05:00

As we continue to emphasize cutting back on outdoor irrigation as one of the ways to conserve our current water supply, one of the questions we receive is: “Why is overwatering wasteful when the water drains back into the soil and underground aquifer?” Some of the water from irrigation and rainfall does drain into the ground and ultimately back into the Floridan aquifer (the source for much of

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-7931094035344626962009-06-10T06:21:00.001-04:002011-02-04T15:46:02.754-05:00

To comply with a potential change in state law that came out of the 2009 Florida legislative session, the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board on Tuesday approved changing the process for permit approvals. The changes, which would become effective July 1, will only occur if the legislation (Senate Bill 2080) becomes law. In addition to the Board’s action Tuesday, we’re

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-43415183432371599352009-06-09T10:58:00.001-04:002011-02-04T11:10:13.656-05:00

The Florida Water Star program was nationally recognized when an Orlando area builder recently received the 2009 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building Award. Hardwick General Contracting Inc. won in the NAHB Green Remodeling - Project of the Year category for single-family residences, which are the first in Orlando to achieve Florida Water Star, Green building and Energy

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-2572507429984518672009-06-05T15:43:00.001-04:002011-02-04T11:07:27.548-05:00

A project in the St. Johns River Water Management District Water Supply Plan is being evaluated for the flood control, water supply and water quality benefits it could provide in the Holly Hill area in east-central Volusia County. The Nova Canal Stormwater Diversion/Alternative Water Supply Augmentation Project would involve diverting and capturing stormwater, which would: - Provide flood

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-69144885618350155042009-05-29T17:06:00.001-04:002011-02-04T11:06:00.793-05:00

As we’re returning to more normal summer weather patterns following some pretty serious rainfall, it’s again important to be aware of watering restrictions and the need to conserve. While it would seem logical to assume that the 12 inches and more of rain in many areas of our region of Florida within a week would adequately replenish groundwater supplies (the primary source for drinking water in

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-72150640935924281142009-05-22T18:04:00.001-04:002011-03-10T14:50:20.141-05:00

If you’re experiencing flooding or you’re concerned about flooding, you can access resources in the “Helpful Links” box at floridaswater.com/storm. On the page, you’ll find links to flood statements and warnings, river stage and flooding data, phone numbers for local government flood contacts, and other emergency contact information.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-43104388974951998992009-05-19T17:51:00.001-04:002011-02-04T11:03:40.137-05:00

Gov. Crist today announced his appointment of two new members of the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board. Richard G. Hamann and Maryam H. Ghyabi were each appointed to four-year terms. They replace David Graham and Ann Moore, who each served eight years (two terms) on the Board. The nine-member Governing Board sets the policies for operation of the agency. Members, who

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-38879824510964570612009-05-19T14:33:00.001-04:002011-02-04T10:59:56.179-05:00

This spring, the Florida Legislature approved an amendment to Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes that includes changes to the process for final actions on permit applications submitted to Florida’s water management districts. The bill (Senate Bill 2080) is now with Gov. Crist’s office. The amendment states, in part: “The governing board shall delegate to the executive director all of its

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-46693514233147279922009-05-18T08:23:00.001-04:002011-02-04T10:58:28.069-05:00

Following up on my May 8 blog, the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board on May 12 approved amending the agency’s water supply plan to expand and update the description and role of water conservation and the use of reclaimed water to meet projected water demands. Go to www.sjrwmd.com/facts to get the facts about the changes.

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064208034291111968.post-12427690806518124562009-05-12T13:17:00.001-04:002011-02-04T10:56:22.571-05:00

The city of Jacksonville and St. Johns Riverkeeper filed notices of appeal with the Fifth District Court of Appeal on Monday regarding the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board’s approval April 13 of the permit for Seminole County to withdraw water from the St. Johns River. The filing of the notices of appeal does not impact the Board’s decision on the permit, which stands as

Jeff Cole, St. Johns River Water Management Districthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297948071039722590noreply@blogger.com