NCFRPC asks Gilchrist County to pass a resolution against WFNF 2026-04-20

This Monday the Gilchrist County BOCC will consider a resolution against Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated Jacksonville wastewater into the Suwannee Basin, by JEA, SJRWMD, and SRWMD.

That’s 3:01 PM, Monday, April 20, 2026, Board of County Commissioners Meeting Facility, 210 South Main Street, Trenton, FL 32693.

There is Public Comment towards the beginning and the end of the meeting.

NCFRPC, after passing a resolution against WFNF back in March, is now asking counties to do the same.

NCFRPC asks Gilchrist County to pass a resolution against WFNF, 3:01 PM, April 20, 2026, 210 S Main Street, Trenton, FL 32693

On the Gilchrist agenda for Monday:

Attorney Report

Miscellaneous

Email and Resolution from North Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Attachments:

NCFRPC Email in Opposition to the Water First North Florida Aquifer Project (NCFRPC_Email_in_Opposition_to_the_Water_First_North_Florida_Aquifer_Project.pdf)
NCFRPC Resolution in Opposition to the Water First North Florida Aquifer Project (NCFRPC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_the_Water_First_North_Florida_Aquifer_Project.pdf)

For all the other local and regional letters and resolutions against WFNF, as well as who you can contact and a petition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Here’s what NCFRPC is asking:

…
Subject: FW: NCFRPC Resolution Opposing Water First North Florida Project
… From: Scott Koons <Koons@ncfrpc.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 2:07 PM
To: Scott Koons <Koons@ncfrpc.org>
Cc: Lynn Franson <Franson@ncfrpc.org>
Subject: NCFRPC Resolution Opposing Water First North Florida Project
CAUTION: This email originated outside of Gilchrist County. Please use caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. County and City Managers,
As many of you know, 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 treated wastewater 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 further purify it through a natural wetland filtration system, to be located in Duval County, to recharge into the aquifer. The filtrated wastewater would be transmitted via a pipeline to a recharge site located in Baker County, Bradford County, Columbia County, Hamilton County or Union County in the north central Florida region.

The water quality of the freshwater springs, rivers and the Floridan Aquifer is critical to the economic vitality of eco-tourism, agriculture and recreation of the region. The Regional Planning Council has unanimously adopted the attached resolution opposing the Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project and recommending the alternative water desalinization project. The Council encourages all counties and cities in the north central Florida region to adopt a similar resolution and send a copy to the Governor, the President of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, state senators and state representatives, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Suwannee River Water Management District, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Jacksonville Electric Authority.

Please send me a copy of a similar resolution adopted by your commission. Thank you!!!

Scott
Scott R. Koons, AICP
Executive Director
North Central Florida Regional Planning Council
…

Scott Koons attached a copy of the NCFRPC resolution:

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:

The Council opposes the Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project.
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:
Scott R. Koons, Executive Director
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA
REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
Mary C. Alford, Chair

-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/

Agenda, Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners, Monday, April 20, 2026 at 3:01 pm
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