Lafayette County on Tuesday became the sixth county to pass a letter or resulution against Water First North Florida (WFNF), the scheme by JEA, SJRWMD, and SRWMD to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.

The other counties are Madison, Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, and Baker, plus the Town of Branford, the Rivers Task Force, and the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. The last two organizations represent all twelve counties in the Suwannee River Water Management District.

Lafayette County against WFNF & for desalination, April 28, 2026

There are better ways to address both lower flows and levels in the Suwannee Basin and JEA’s legal requirement to stop outflowing into the St. Johns River; see The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13.

For much more about WFNF, including upcoming county commission and city council meetings, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-04-06

A RESOLUTION OF THE LAFAYETTE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OPPOSING THE WATER FIRST NORTH FLORIDA AQUIFER RECHARGE PROJECT AND RECOMMENDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE WATER DESALINIZATION PROJECT

WHEREAS, the Floridian Aquifer, Ichetucknee River, Santa Fe River and 116 freshwater springs are designated as Natural Resources of Regional Significance in the North Central Florida region; and

WHEREAS, the water quality of the freshwater springs, rivers and the Floridan Aquifer is critical to the economic vitality of eco-tourism, agriculture and recreation in the North Central Florida region; and

WHEREAS, the lowering of the potentiometric surface of the Floridan Aquifer by water users located outside of the North Central Florida region has contributed to lower flows and levels in the Lower Santa Fe Basin and Ichetucknee River Basin; and

WHEREAS, the Commission recognizes the importance of achieving minimum flows and levels in the Lower Santa Fe River Basin and Ichetucknee River Basin as necessary to protect North Central Florida region’s natural resources and the commission’s interest in maintaining a high quality of life for its citizens and enjoyment of the area for residents and visitors; and

WHEREAS, the State of Florida local water sources first policy suggests that water users located outside of the North Central Florida region should develop alternative water supplies, such as desalinization; and

WHEREAS, the Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project would discharge 40 million gallons per day of treated wastewater from outside the north central Florida region into the Floridan Aquifer in either Baker County, Bradford County, Columbia County, Hamilton County, or Union County in the North Central Florida region.

Resolution 2026-04-06 against Water First North Florida and for desalination, 2026-04-28 –Lafayette County BOCC
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners:

1. The Commission opposes the Water First North Aquifer Recharge Project
2. The Commission recommends the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Suwannee River Water Management District and the St. Johns River Water Management District re-evaluate the alternative local water sources first desalinization project for water users located outside of the North Central Florida region as a means to contribute towards achieving minimum flows and levels in the Lower Santa Fe River Basin and Ichetucknee River Basin.

Resolved this 28th day of April, 2026.

LAFAYETTE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
[signed]
Anthony Adams, Chairman

[signed]
Steve Land, Clerk of Court

WATER FIRST NORTH FLORIDA, 2026-07-08 –SRWMD Staff
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 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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