Tag Archives: Lower Santa Fe River

SRWMD WFNF Open House @ UF IFAS, Live Oak, FL 2026-03-19

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Come walk around informational tables about Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.

That’s the Community Open House by SRWMD, 6-8 PM, Thursday, March 19, 2026, at UF-IFAS in Live Oak, Florida. For details see the SRWMD press release below.

Don’t forget the other two WFNF meetings the previous day, Wednesday, March 18, 2026:

The Thursday meeting started as one that SRWMD was going to hold in Jasper, Hamilton County, on February 26.

SRWMD changed it on February 23 to SRWMD HQ in Live Oak.

On March 6, SRWMD changed the location to UF IFAS.

Either on March 6 or by March 10 when I heard about it in the SRWMD Board meeting, SRWMD changed the format from speakers and audience to tables with materials and staff to walk by.

Whether intentional or not, this format change makes it difficult for attendees to hear what other attendees say, or to hear all the answers from SRWMD.

This is why WWALS recommends people take pictures and videos and post them with hashtag #WFNF.

SRWMD PR, March 12, 2026, Water First North Florida Community Open House to take place March 19,

[Water First North Florida Community Open House 2026-03-19, by SRWMD @ UF-IFAS, 8202 CR 417, Live Oak, FL 32060]
Water First North Florida Community Open House 2026-03-19, by SRWMD @ UF-IFAS, 8202 CR 417, Live Oak, FL 32060

LIVE OAK, FLA., MARCH 12, 2026 — The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) is reminding residents of the upcoming Water First North Florida Community Open House from 6-8 p.m. on March 19.

The event will take place at the UF-IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center — Suwannee Valley, 8202 County Road 417, Live Oak, FL, 32060.

Written public comments will be received at the event. Informational tables will be set up throughout the venue, focusing on specific topics related to Water First North Florida, and allow residents to learn more about each aspect of the project. Experts will be available to answer any project questions that attendees may want answered.

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Dozen Florida Counties Task Force Resolution against WFNF and for Desalination 2026-03-18

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The Task Force originally formed to deal with Valdosta wastewater is meeting next Wednesday to decide on a resolution opposing WFNF and prefering desalination.

Remember the other two related meetings:

MEETING NOTICE

MIDDLE AND LOWER SUWANNEE RIVER
AND WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER
TASK FORCE

There will be a meeting of the Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Task Force on March 18, 2026. The meeting will be held virtually via communications media technology at 10:00 a.m.

DIAL IN NUMBER: Toll Free 1.888.585.9008

CONFERENCE CODE: 568 124 316

[Dozen Florida Counties Task Force Resolution against WFNF and for Desalination 2026-03-18]
Dozen Florida Counties Task Force Resolution against WFNF and for Desalination 2026-03-18

The resolution:

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-01

A RESOLUTION OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER SUWANNEE RIVER AND WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER TASK FORCE OPPOSING THE WATER FIRST NORTH FLORIDA AQUIFER RECHARGE PROJECT AND RECOMMENDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE WATER DESALINIZATION PROJECT

WHEREAS, Continue reading →

Nutrien water withdrawals approved –SRWMD 2025-09-09

After SRWMD Chair Virginia Johns took the oath of office due to being reappointed, the Board at its September 9, 2025, meeting approved the agenda unchanged and then approved the Consent Agenda with the Nutrien White Springs phosphate mine water use permit still in there, for withdrawal of up to 64.1621 million gallons per day (MGD) of groundwater.

Plus, “The executive director may authorize the use of groundwater for back-up mining/dewatering use in excess of 11.0000 mgd in emergency circumstances.”

For comparison, the City of Gainesville is permitted 30.0 mgd by SJRWMD.

This strip mine water use permit was approved despite the fish kill WWALS notified SRWMD of and despite frequent violations of the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

[Nutrien water withdrawals approved, Consent Agenda unchanged, Letters from WWALS and OSFR ignored --SRWMD 2025-09-09]
Nutrien water withdrawals approved, Consent Agenda unchanged, Letters from WWALS and OSFR ignored –SRWMD 2025-09-09

I wonder if the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) Board or Staff looked at EPA ECHO, which shows Clean Water Act (CWA) Violations Identified in 5 of 12 quarters and 1 Significant Noncompliance, as well as Significant Noncompliance in all 12 quarters of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). It’s true that these EPA ECHO quarters do not seem to include 2025, but such previous results are troubling. This is for PCS PHOSPHATE WHITE SPRINGS, 15843 SE 78TH PL, WHITE SPRINGS, FL 32096, which is the permit holder for NPDES permit FL0000655, which is cited in the SRWMD Board packet on page BCS 66: Continue reading →