The SRWMD Board agenda for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9, 2025, is here:
https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/Archive.aspx?ADID=1706

I sent this letter Monday evening.

Please remove Nutrien WUP from Consent Agenda and hold a Public Hearing –WWALS to SRWMD 2025-09-08

September 8, 2025

To: Virginia H. Johns
Board Chair
virginia.johns@srwmd.org
Suwannee River Water Management District

Cc: Hugh Thomas
Executive DIrector
Hugh.Thomas@srwmd.org

Dear SRWMD,

Staff seem unaware of a recent fish kill on Swift Creek, one of the “offsite discharge locations” cited in the Memorandum on the proposed five-year extension of the Nutrien Water Use Permit 2-047-219878. A fish kill is not a natural system “healthy and functioning well.”

That alone should be enough reason to remove that item from the Consent Agenda and to schedule a public hearing on that WUP.

Specifically, on your agenda for Tuesday morning, in this item,

5. Consideration of the following Items Collectively by Consent:

Please remove this one:

• Agenda Item No. 22 – Water Use Permit 219878-7 Nutrien-White Springs, Hamilton County

The corresponding Memorandum on BCS 66 says in its last paragraph:

“District staff inspected the environmental conditions at the mine operation of the offsite discharge locations, Mill Creek, Camp Branch, Swift Creek, Roaring Creek, and Rocky Creek. Staff also inspected reclamation area wetlands. The landcover and natural system appeared healthy and functioning well.”

On June 19, a short video of dead fish in Swift Creek was posted on the facebook group, Hamilton County Florida News, Gossip and Ventiing Zone. See still picture attached.

I have corresponded with the person who took that video, Russell Hart. He has publicly confirmed that he took it at the SE 78th Place bridge over Swift Creek, looking southwest into his property. See attached Hamilton County Property Appraiser map.

The attached WWALS map shows Swift Creek running down from the Nutrien mine past that bridge to the Suwannee River.

I don’t know how that location fits with the Swift Creek outfall mentioned in the Memorandum, because there were no associated maps or geographical coordinates.

Please hold a public hearing on the Nutrien Water Use Permit 2-047-219878.

For the rivers and the aquifer,
John S. Quarterman
[signed]
Suwannee Riverkeeper
229-560-4317

Attachments: Image of dead fish in Swift Creek, Hamilton PA map, WWALS map,
And SRWMD Agenda BCS 66 Memorandum.

Dear SRWMD: Please take Nutrien Water Use Permit off the SRWMD Board Consent Agenda 2025-09-08 –WWALS
PDF

Image of dead fish in Swift Creek, 2025-06-19 on facebook
PDF

Map: Parcel ID 1548-025, 2025-06-23 –Hamilton County Property Appraiser
PDF

Map: Swift Creek, 2025-06-22 — SRWT by WWALS
PDF

BCS66

SRWMD BCS 66 Nutrien WUP 2-047-219878
PDF

SRWMD BCS 66 The landcover and natural system appeared healthy and functioning well.
PDF

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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https://wwals.net/donations/

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