The NCFRPC will take up its own resolution against the WFNF project to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin.

For all the other local and regional government resolutions and letters and more, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

NCFRPC against WFNF, Thursday, March 26, 2026, After its Task Force, Against treated wastewater from JAX

There will be a meeting of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council on March 26, 2026. The meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting in-person at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Suwannee Room, 213 Southwest Commerce Boulevard, Lake City, Florida, and via Communications Media Technology at 7:00 p.m.

To join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:

https://meet.goto.com/193371933

DIAL IN NUMBER: Toll Free: 1.866.899.4679

ACCESS CODE: 193 371 933

MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 P.M.

Please email koons@ncfrpc.org by March 25, 2026 to let us know if you will be attending the meeting in-person or via communications media technology. THANK YOU.

Of particular interest:

VIII. A. Executive Committee –

1. Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project Resolution No. 2026-14

…

VIII. C. Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Task Force Update

Before we get to that, in the Minutes from January 26, 2026:

PUBLIC COMMENTS –

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson discussed the Water First North Florida Project to discharge treated wastewater from the Jacksonville Electric Authority via a pipeline into the Floridan Aquifer in the Lower Santa Fe River and Ichetucknee River Basin.

Christy Carter discussed the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project that discharges water flow from the South Fork of Black Creek via a pipeline into Alligator Creek in Clay County.

Layne Schultetus discussed the Water First North Florida Project to discharge treated wastewater from the Jacksonville Electric Authority via a pipeline into the Floridan Aquifer in the Lower Santa Fe River and Ichetucknee River Basin.

Christopher Sweeny discussed the Water First North Florida Project to discharge treated wastewater from the Jacksonville Electric Authority via a pipeline into the Floridan Aquifer in the Lower Santa Fe River and Ichetucknee River Basin.

Public Comments 2026-02-26
PDF

Back to the current board packet, on pages 87 and 89:

March 19, 2026

TO: Council Members

FROM: Scott R. Koons, AICP, Executive Director

SUBJECT: Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project Resolution No. 2026-14

RECOMMEMDATION

Adopt Resolution No. 2026-14 opposing the Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project and recommend the implementation of the alternative water desalinization project, and send a copy of the adopted resolution to the Governor, the President of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, the north central Florida Legislative Delegation, the Suwannee River Water Management District, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Jacksonville Electric Authority.

BACKGROUND

The Suwannee River Water Management District and St. Johns River Water Management District have announced a regional initiative, the Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project, designed to return more than 40 million gallons of water per day to the Floridan Aquifer system to maintain minimum flows and levels in the Lower Santa Fe River Basin and the Ichetucknee River Basin.

The Water First North Florida partnership proposes to take reclaimed wastewater and fmiher purify it through a natural wetland filtration system to recharge into the aquifer. The proposed wetland filtration system would be located in Duval County. The filtrated wastewater would be transmitted via a pipeline to a recharge site located in either Baker County, Bradford County, Columbia County, Hamilton County or Union County in the north central Florida region.

Both Districts jointly approved the project after determining it was the most cost-effective and environmentally beneficial solution to meet area water needs. Staffs evaluated more than I 00 potential projects.

The estimated cost of the project is $1.0 billion. The Jacksonville Electric Authority has pledged $400 million and the St. Johns River Water Management District has pledged $150 million for the project. An alternative desalinization project is estimated to cost between $2.0 billion and $3.0 billion.

According to the Districts, the initiative will deliver multiple long-term water benefits to the region.

• Restoring flows and protecting the health of rivers and springs;
• Recharging the aquifer to ensure a sustainable water supply for residents and visitors;
• Supporting agriculture, small businesses, tourism and future growth;
• Restoring wetlands that support wildlife habitat and enhance recreation; and
• Providing the greatest environmental return at the lowest cost compared with other alternatives.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Attachment

SUBJECT: Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project Resolution No. 2026-14
PDF

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-14

A RESOLUTION OF THE NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL OPPOSING THE WATER FIRST NORTH FLORIDA AQUIFER RECHARGE PROJECT AND RECOMMENDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE WATER DESALINIZATION PROJECT

WHEREAS, the Floridan Aquifer, Ichetucknee River, Santa Fe River and 116 freshwater springs are designated as Natural Resources of Regional Significance by the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, in the North Central Florida Strategic Regional Policy Plan; 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 River Basin and Ichetucknee River Basin; and

WHEREAS, the Council 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 natural resources and the Council’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.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, BE IT RESOLVED by the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council that:

1. The Council opposes the Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project.
2. The Council 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 26th day of March 2026, by the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council, in regular session.

Attest:
 

[to be signed]

Scott R. Koons, Executive Director

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA
REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL

[to be signed]

Mary C. Alford, Chair

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-14
PDF

The Task Force report on page 93:

March 19, 2026

TO: Council Members

FROM: Scott R. Koons, AlCP, Executive Director

SUBJECT: Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Update

BACKGROUND:

Pursuant to a request by the Madison County Board of County Commissioners, the Council authorized the Executive Director to convene and facilitate a meeting with representatives from Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison and Suwannee Counties to develop a plan to promote our area and help restore the reputation of the Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River as a result of raw sewage spills from the City of Valdosta, Georgia. On September 19, 2018, Council staff convened and facilitated a meeting of county commissioners, and county administrators, coordinators and managers at the Madison County Agricultural Extension office in Madison. Representatives from Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy and Madison Counties were in attendance at the meeting.

By consensus, the county commissioners present requested the Council to establish a task force comprised of a county commissioner from each of the following counties, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee and Union Counties, in the Suwannee River Basin, including the Santa Fe River Basin, to address the issues of raw sewage spills by the City of Valdosta, Georgia. The county commissioners present also requested that the Council authorize its Executive Director to provide administrative support to the Task Force and to develop, in conjunction with county administrators, coordinators and managers, a strategic action plan to address the issue of raw sewage spills by the City of Valdosta, Georgia.

Pursuant to the request, at the Council meeting on September 27, 2018, the Council established the Middle Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Task Force to be compromised of Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union Counties.

UPDATE:

The River Task Force met virtually on March 18, 2026 and received a report on activities conducted during 2025 concerning the Task Force’s purpose and discussed the Water First North Florida Aquifer Water Recharge Project. In addition, the Task Force unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the Water First North Florida Aquifer Water Recharge Project and recommending the implementation of the alternative desalinization project to contribute towards achieving minimum flows and levels in the Ichetucknee River Basin and Lower Santa Fe River Basin.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

SUBJECT: Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Update
PDF

We’ve already seen the Task Force Resolution, passed on March 18.

https://wwals.net/?p=69639

And WCTV’s report on Task Force Suwannee County member Don Hale coming to a WWALS meeting later that same day to announce their Resolution.

https://wwals.net/?p=69757

Here is the Meeting Notice, Map, and Agenda for the March 26 NCFRPC meeting. (PDF)

Meeting Notice

Map: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suite, Lake City, FL

Consent Agenda, Guest Speaker: Sheridan Morby, Senior Research Economist, Florida Chamber Foundation

Committee Reports, Public Comments, E.D. Report, Council Member Announcements

 -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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