Category Archives: Politics

More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill 2026-02-25

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Vigilance, please!

Yesterday, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, we heard from Florida State Senator Corey Simon that “the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form.”

That’s good news, as far as it goes. And it wouldn’t have happened without all of you who have opposed it.

But it ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings, and the SRWMD Governing Board said nothing about this that same morning. I was there and spoke against WFNF along with about half a dozen other people.

Nor have any of SRWMD, SJRWMD, or JEA said anything since that I’ve seen. And what happened yesterday did nothing to repeal huge financial support for WFNF by JEA and SJRWMD.

So please don’t stop now. Keep on speaking to cities, counties, the state, members of Congress, and the unelected boards that are pushing WFNF: SRWMD, SJRWMD, JEA, plus the Jacksonville City Council.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill, SB 7034 into HB 1417]
More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill, SB 7034 into HB 1417

We also heard yesterday from Florida State Representative Chuck Brannan that: Continue reading →

WFNF Canceled? 2026-05-12

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Update 2026-05-13: More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill 2026-02-25.

Florida State Senator Corey Simon posted this letter on his facebook page about 1 PM today, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The Madison County Florida Board of County Commissioners also posted it.

[WFNF is being canceled 2026-05-12, FL State Senator Corey Simon; What does this mean: in its current form?]
WFNF is being canceled 2026-05-12, FL State Senator Corey Simon; What does this mean: in its current form?

Well, I hope that formerly “done deal” is undone.

A catch: a single state Senator does not have the power to undo it.

Another catch: nothing was said about this at the SRWMD Governing Board meeting this morning.

And a third: “the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form.”

Does that mean some parts of it are canceled? Which parts? For example, is SJRWMD cancelling its three-year consultant contract involving wetland siting and pipeline routing?

So, cautious optimism.

And many thanks to Senator Corey Simon, who has long made it clear he opposes WFNF, for example at the SRWMD and SJRWMD dog and pony show at UF IFAS on March 19.

But I will be making some inquiries with SRWMD, SJRWMD, JEA, and Sen. Simon’s offfice.

SENATOR COREY SIMON
3rd District

May 12, 2026

Subject: Update on the Water First North Florida Project

Dear Neighbor,

I want to provide you with an important update regarding the Water First North Florida Project.

After careful review and continued conversations with local leaders, water experts, property owners, and concerned citizens across North Florida, the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form. While the need to address low water levels in our aquifer remains very real, it has become clear that this proposal is not the right path forward for our communities at this time.

Protecting North Florida’s water supply is one of the most important Continue reading →

Lafayette County against WFNF and for desalination 2026-04-28

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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 each represent all twelve counties in the Suwannee River Water Management District.

[Lafayette County against WFNF & for desalination, April 28, 2026]
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, Continue reading →

What you can do about WFNF, slides –Suwannee Riverkeeper 2026-04-02

Here’s the WWALS video of me speaking and my slides. Basically, there are much better ways to rehydrate wetlands, springs, and rivers in the Suwannee Basin, such as Jacksonville can desalinate seawater. And there are other places JEA can send its treated wastewater in the St. Johns Basin.

[What you can do about WFNF --Suwannee Riverkeeper 2026-04-02, You can help with better solutions]
What you can do about WFNF –Suwannee Riverkeeper 2026-04-02, You can help with better solutions

To stop this project, we need a groundswell of public opposition such as stopped golf courses in state parks. You can help.

For who you can contect, and a petition you can sign, plus more information about WFNF, including all the city, county, and regional letters and resolutions against, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

For the rest of the speakers, see Continue reading →

Georgia legislature fails to rein in datacenters –AJC 2026-04-03

If datacenters are so great, why can’t they pay their own way?

You’d think their billionaire backers could afford it.

For more about datacenters, including a petition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/datacenters

[Possible Datacenter Sites, Lowndes County, GA, Irwin County, GA, 2025 and 2026]
Possible Datacenter Sites, Lowndes County, GA, Irwin County, GA, 2025 and 2026

Drew Kann and Kristi E. Swartz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 3, 2026, Georgia lawmakers leave data center tax breaks intact, punt on energy costs
Consumer advocates call inaction ‘disgraceful,’ while Georgia Power and data center groups tout benefits they say the industry will bring Georgians.

When the General Assembly convened in January to begin its legislative session, few issues seemed to get more attention from lawmakers than data centers.

A flurry of data center bills emerged in the session’s early days, from moratoriums on new developments to measures aimed at the facilities’ energy infrastructure costs and rolling back the lucrative tax breaks the state offers to lure them to the Peach State.

But as the legislature adjourned in the wee hours of Friday morning, the robust debate that began beneath the Gold Dome earlier this year ended in relative silence, at least as far as data centers are concerned.

In the end, none of the legislation consumer advocates said was needed to protect Georgians from the onslaught of data centers successfully cleared both chambers.

Continue reading →

Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL 2026-04-02

An overflow-capacity room full of people heard about the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin: Water First North Florida (WFNF).

They did not like it.

[Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL, 2026-04-02]
Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL, 2026-04-02

Six people stood up front to speak, and many in the audience had questions. Larry Sessions speaking for himself (he’s also on the SRWMD Board), Franklin White speaking for himself and as a Suwannee County Commissioner, Dennis J. Price, P.G., asking SRWMD to resume evaluating his proposal to drill recharge wells at overflows of forestry ditch wetlands, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman about what you can do, Joe Squitieri, wastewater professional, about Florida statutes give JEA until 2039 to deal with its wastewater, and Adam Collins, an engineer from Live Oak, who said we’ve been complacent long enough.

This was Thursday, April 2, 2026 at Live Oak City Hall, in the monthly meeting of the Suwannee County Republican Party (SCRP).

For much more about WFNF, including a petition and how to contact your appointed and elected officials, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Here are WWALS videos of each speaker, followed by a WWALS video playlist.

In the interests of getting these videos posted in a timely manner, I’m not including much commentary about what went on. See for yourself. Continue reading →

WFNF at Suwannee County Republican Party, Live Oak, FL 2026-04-02

Update 2026-04-02: Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL 2026-04-02.

Come hear about the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin: Water First North Florida (WFNF).

Thursday, April 2, 2026, Live Oak City Hall, 101 White Ave SE, Live Oak, FL 32064-3340.

Optional informal social time at 6:30pm, meeting starts at 7pm.

According to the facebook event by the Suwannee County Republican Party:

This Thursday, April 2nd, come discuss the Water First North Florida project, with SRWMD Board Member Larry Sessions, Suwannee County Commissioner Franklin White, geologist Dennis Price, and WWALS/Suwannee Riverkeeper Executive Director John Quarterman.

Our County Commission and those of all the surrounding counties have passed resolutions opposing the project, as has the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council.

So: What do we do now? Who will decide, and how can we influence future decisions? Come be part of the discussion.

https://www.facebook.com/events/819236594498207

[WFNR @ SCRP, 5:30 PM, April 4, 2026, Live Oak City Hall, 101 White Ave SE, Live Oak, FL]
WFNR @ SCRP, 5:30 PM, April 4, 2026, Live Oak City Hall, 101 White Ave SE, Live Oak, FL

That’s a bit of hyperbole about “all the surrounding counties,” since we have not yet heard from Hamilton, Lafayette, or Gilchrist. However, Madison and Columbia have passed resolutions, along with Suwannee County.

Update 2026-04-01: Hamilton County has been heard from:
Hamilton County Commission against the utter disrespect of SRWMD and JEA about WFNF 2023-03-24
https://wwals.net/?p=69937

For the complete set, and much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Larry Sessions represents the Upper Suwannee Basin and was reappointed June 2022 to the Governing Board of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD). Continue reading →

Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project –Columbia County BOCC 2026-03-05

Here is the letter against WFNF and for sustainable water solutions that Columbia County approved on March 5, 2026.

For much more about WFNF, including all the other local government letters and resolutions, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Opposition to Water First North Florida by Columbia County BOCC, March 5, 2026]
Opposition to Water First North Florida by Columbia County BOCC, March 5, 2026

District No. 1 – Kevin Parnell
District No. 2 – Rocky Ford
District No. 3 – Robby Hollingsworth
District No. 4 – Everett Phillips
District No. 5 – Tim Murphy

Board OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS @ COLUMBIA COUNTY

March 5, 2026

Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49
Live Oak, Florida 32060

Subject: Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project Continue reading →

Town of Branford Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01

Branford is at the mouth of the Santa Fe River, and downstream of the Ichetucknee River, both of which Water First North Florida (#WFNF) purport to help.

For more about WFNF, including the other local and regional government opposition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Town of Branford, Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01, Water First North Florida, JAX treated wastewater]
Town of Branford, Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01, Water First North Florida, JAX treated wastewater

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-003

A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF BRANFORD, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE FIRST NORTH FLORIDA (WENF) PIPELINE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED; REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM PENDING INDEPENDENT STUDY; AND DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL TO STATE OFFICIALS

WHEREAS, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Suwannee River Water Management District approved elements of the Water First North Florida (WFNF) project in November 2025, which includes a proposed approximately 90-mile pipeline to transport highly treated reclaimed water from facilities in the Jacksonville metropolitan area to wetlands within the Suwannee River Basin for purposes of aquifer recharge; and

WHEREAS, the project is estimated to cost between $1.0 and $1.1 billion, including approximately $400 million in funding from JEA, and proposes to recharge the Floridan Aquifer with more than 40 million gallons per day; and Continue reading →

Letter against WFNF to SRWMD –Suwannee County Commission 2026-03-17

“Hubris.” That’s what the Suwannee County Commission is going to call SRWMD’s WFNF project to pipe treated wastewater into the Suwannee Basin.

Hubris is excessive pride or self-confidence: arrogance.

The Titanic is a classic example: the unsinkable ship went down.

The Suwannee County Commissioners meet at 5:30 PM, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida, 32064.

[Letter against WFNF, to SRWMD: Hubris --Suwannee County Commission, 5:30 PM 2026-03-17]
Letter against WFNF, to SRWMD: Hubris –Suwannee County Commission, 5:30 PM 2026-03-17

Much more about WFNF here: https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf/

Here’s the text of the letter, from page 75 of the agenda packet:

Suwannee County
Board of County Commissioners
224 Pine Avenue, 2nd Floor, Live Oak, Florida 32064
Franklin White, Chairman.

March 17, 2025[sic]

Hugh Thomas
Executive Director
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49
Live Oak, Florida 32060

Re: Suwannee County’s Objection to Water First North Florida Project

Dear Mr. Thomas,

As a unanimous board we are writing to you — individually, as County Commissioners and on behalf of all the citizens of Suwannee County—to voice our strong objection to proceeding with the Water First North Florida Project.

Continue reading →