By Stephenie Livingston, Reporter
Experts gathered at a forum hosted by state Representative Debbie Boyd Monday night in Branford to express concern over North Florida's dwindling water supply.
Experts outlined a new plan to save the Floridian Aquifer, North Florida's main source of water, while Boyd voiced her opposition to allowing South Florida access to our water.
"I've been a huge advocate of keeping our water here and not being piped to other areas," said Boyd. It is most important to protect local sources first, as per current state law, agreed Suwannee River Water Management District Deputy Executive Director Kirk Webster.
"They are looking for water, they need water," Webster told a crowd of about 200 at Branford Elementary School. However, Webster noted, "we do not have endless supplies" of the resource.
Lauren Davis, a Future Farmers of America member and student at Cedar Key Middle School, compared North Florida to the ant in Aesop's fable, working hard to protect its resources, while a wasteful South Florida - the grasshopper - foolishly refuses to conserve, then turns to us for help.
In some versions of the story the ant takes pity on the grasshopper and shares his food him. In real life we may not have a choice.
"We do not have the political clout to stop it if someone wants to take our water," said Webster. Still, North Florida citizens are going to try. Before the forum was over a group action meeting had already been set up for Tuesday morning at the Ft. White community center.
"The era of cheap water is gone," said Webster. "The state is going to have to pay more. You cannot take water without harming resources."
Webster sited desalination and better conservation practices as alternative solutions to Tampa's water shortage.
As for our own dwindling aquifer, the Suwannee River Water Management District along with the St. Johns River Water Management District are working towards a plan that will eventually put Florida's aquifers "back on track." Already, SRWMD has been in the process of a district wide water supply assessment. "We have determined there will not be sufficient water to meet future needs in the Upper Santa Fe Basin," said Webster. "This is the red flag, this is the warning."
The new plan will mean a new permitting strategy for municipalities, as well as stricter conservation measures for homeowners and business. The increasing population in northeastern Florida and advancing industry and other economic development has led to a rapid increase in water demand.
In a previous Democrat article, SRWMD Executive Director David Still stated that North Florida must improve the design and management of water resource technologies, find alternative water supplies, and adopt stricter water conservation technologies. "Hopefully once implemented things will get back on track," he said.
However, with Tampa's eye on the Floridian aquifer, the future of the Suwannee River Basin's water supply remains hazy, expressed water management officials.
