Hahira, Georgia, May 18, 2026 — Two experts from Georgia and Florida on current water topics will speak at WWALS River Revue, the sit-down fundraising dinner for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., plus the music of a headliner and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and a silent auction.
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2026
![[Speakers, WWALS River Revue, September 12, 2026, Amy Sharma on Datacenters, Rick Davis on WFNF]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-05-18--pr-speakers-wwals-river-revue/many.jpg)
Speakers, WWALS River Revue, September 12, 2026, Amy Sharma on Datacenters, Rick Davis on WFNF
Update 2026-05-19: They passed it: https://www.facebook.com/SpringtownAuto/posts/pfbid02d4vZXw719avgP7DSRd4L7pzP3dKCwYLz158gjBKNCHh8SLQKPMiv1ByQc25wHmg9l
Assuming the Commissioners pass this at their 6 PM Monday meeting, Union County will become the seventh county (plus the Town of Branford) to pass a letter or resolution against Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin.
For which counties, the Task Force and NCFRPC resolutions that represent all 12 counties in the Suwannee District, and who you can contact, see:
![[Packet: WFNF opposition to SRWMD @ Union County BOCC, 2026-05-18]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-05-18--union-county-wfnf/fbmany.jpg)
Packet: WFNF opposition to SRWMD @ Union County BOCC, 2026-05-18
See Agenda, Regular Meeting, May 18, 2026, 6:00 P.M.
https://union-clerk.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/14144906/5.18.26-Regular-Meeting-Packet-Web.pdf
Union County Board of County Commissioners
15 Northeast 1st Street, Lake Butler, FL 32054 * Phone: 386-496-4241 * Fax: 386-496-4240Ms. Virginia Johns, Chair
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49 Live Oak, Florida 32060
Re: Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project
Dear Ms. Johns:
Union County joins with its fellow members of the Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochie River Task Force, as well as the numerous counties, municipalities, and citizen groups who who have all expressed concerns about, and opposition to, the proposed Water First North Florida Project. In the apparent rush to implement this project, local governments have gone uninformed and local voices in opposition have been largely ignored until just recently. We are grateful for legislative intervention that has, for the time being, stayed the execution of this project, but we remain alert to the potential for it to re-commence in the future and therefore wish to express our opposition.
It has long been understood by the scientific community that Continue reading
The Alachua County BOCC meets this morning, May 5, 2026, at 10 AM, County Administration Building – Grace Knight Conference Room 12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601.
There is nothing on their agenda about either of the moratoria that Hailey Hall requested on April 28, 2026, after their last meeting:
![[Two moratoriums: detention centers and WFNF --Hailey Hall to Alachua BOCC, 2026-04-28]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-05-05--alachua-bocc-hall-wfnf/fbmany.jpg)
Two moratoriums: detention centers and WFNF –Hailey Hall to Alachua BOCC, 2026-04-28
Hello Commissioners,
Thank you for your efforts and for allowing everyone to speak today at the meeting.
I am requesting that you enact two separate moratoriums.
- A moratorium prohibiting construction of new, non-municipal detention centers as Kansas City has done.
- A moratorium against further development and construction of the Water First North Florida pipeline project.
Please see the attached ordinance from Kansas City and resolution from Town of Branford.
Thank you and take care,
Hailey Hall
You’ve already seen the Branford resolution.
Here is the Kansas City ordinance: Continue reading
There is nothing about Water First North Florida (WFNF) on the Alachua County BOCC agenda for this morning, May 5, 2026, at 10 AM, County Administration Building – Grace Knight Conference Room 12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601.
But there is Public Comment near the end. And you can watch on facebook, YouTube, or Alachua County’s Video on Demand.
For much more about WFNF, see:
Here is what I sent the Alachua BOCC on April 20, 2026. Continue reading
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.
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:
Here’s what NCFRPC is asking: Continue reading
This is the letter I sent SRWMD and gave them on paper this morning.
You can see it in SRWMD’s own video on YouTube. Public Comments start at 20:28.
https://www.youtube.com/live/OwKstHuSHNg?si=nF1yXXiXayn91J7p&t=1228
My bit starts at 38:20.
https://www.youtube.com/live/OwKstHuSHNg?si=yJ_hyAkBR3r_JPR6&t=2300
![[The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF --WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-13--wwals-wfnf-srwmd/igmany.jpg)
The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13
Three other people spoke against WFNF in Public Comments, and there was more comment by the board members at the end, as well as some allusions during the Public Hearing about the Modified Phase II Water Shortage Order. You can see and hear those for yourself in the SRWMD video. I may blog some more of that later.
For much more about WFNF, including the letters and resolutions against it by towns, counties, and regional entities, as well as who you can contact and a petition, see:
Below is the text of the WWALS letter to SRWMD for their 9 AM meeting this morning.
I also sent a similar letter to SJRWMD for their 10AM meeting this morning.
Images of both letters are below.
Maybe some day they will stagger their board meetings so it is possible to attend both, as Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson asked them 9 years ago. Continue reading
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-02--wfnf-slides/fbmany.jpg)
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:
For the rest of the speakers, see Continue reading
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-02--scrp-wfnf-videos/many.jpg)
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:
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
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-02--scrp-wfnf/many.jpg)
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:
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
Update 2026-03-26: Yes, they passed the resolution.
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:
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 Continue reading
![[NCFRPC asks Gilchrist County to pass a resolution against WFNF, 3:01 PM, April 20, 2026, 210 S Main Street, Trenton, FL 32693]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-20--gilchrist-bocc-wfnf/fbmany.jpg)
![[NCFRPC against WFNF, Thursday, March 26, 2026, After its Task Force, Against treated wastewater from JAX]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-26--ncfrpc/fbmany.jpg)