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Posted on March 5, 2010

Board workshop on March 8 to discuss water conservation rule enhancements

The St. Johns River Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board will hold its third workshop on March 8 to discuss nine concepts to improve water conservation by considering changes to District consumptive use permitting and environmental resource permitting rules. District staff will provide an update and propose a schedule for the rulemaking process.

The workshop will be held at 2 p.m. in the Governing Board Room at the District’s headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka. The Board will welcome comment about the water conservation concepts from water suppliers, local governments and members of the public. Public comment will also be part of the upcoming formal rule development process.

Preparing for April — Water conservation month

At the District’s March 9 Governing Board meeting, a proclamation will be considered recognizing April 2010 as water conservation month. April has been formally recognized as water conservation month in Florida for the past 12 years. Declaring April as water conservation month helps heighten awareness about the importance of conservation. Florida is the only state in the country to designate a month promoting water conservation.

The District encourages local governments to pass similar-type resolutions in support of water conservation month. To obtain an sample proclamation, please contact your intergovernmental coordinator.

Watering restrictions change March 14 with the return to daylight saving time

On Sunday, March 14, watering restrictions will return to no more than two days a week. The restrictions specify the days for residential and nonresidential irrigation. The District and its utility partners will once again implement a mass media campaign to inform the public about the restrictions.

The District encourages local governments to adopt irrigation ordinances that fully implement the District’s landscape irrigation rule. A model ordinance is available on the District’s Web site.

District Web site has new look and address

The District has launched a new Web site, floridaswater.com with a focus on more dynamic and updated content, as well as improved functionality from a local government perspective.

The site has been reorganized into more user-friendly categories, with redesigned pages to improve navigation. More video and graphic elements have been added to the site, and the monthly WaterWatch newsletter is posted online in the local government section. The WaterWatch page includes separate funding and District meeting links for quick access to detailed information.

The redesigned Web site continues to provide access to permitting information, including a search tool for applications and permits, and pages where you can sign up to be notified about applications and permits. The site also offers online tools to obtain data on rainfall amounts, well levels and river levels. Visitors can also review the District’s annual budget, get information on doing business with the District, and request free publications.

Prescribed Fire Awareness Week observed

The second week of March is annually designated Prescribed Fire Awareness Week to highlight the importance of prescribed fire — the deliberate and controlled burning of woodlands to approximate natural conditions. Prescribed fire aids in restoring and maintaining natural communities, and helps control tree diseases. Prescribed fires also reduce the chances of destructive wildfires by burning off fuels that naturally build up over time, while also helping to control the growth of woody shrubs.

In 2009, despite below normal rainfall during the spring and frequent rains in the summer months, the District’s fire team performed 71 prescribed burns on 19,840 acres across 22 conservation areas.

March is Seagrass Awareness Month

Approximately 2.7 million acres of seagrass meadows grow throughout Florida’s coastal waters and are most abundant in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida Keys, and from Tarpon Springs to Apalachee Bay.

In Florida, sea grasses are protected by law and boaters caught damaging them can face federal and state fines, as well as costs associated with restoration efforts and monitoring. Preserving Florida’s seagrass meadows is critical to protecting marine life, water quality and Florida’s ocean-based economy. Learn more on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Web site.

Lake Jesup Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) for the implementation of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)

In February, District staff provided the Governing Board with an informational update on the BMAP for the Lake Jesup Basin. The BMAP for Lake Jesup identifies actions and efforts needed to achieve the TMDL adopted for the basin. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a specific pollutant that a water body can assimilate while maintaining its designated uses. Lake Jesup is listed as impaired for both nitrogen and phosphorus.

Orange County receives Horizon Award

The Greater Florida Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America has awarded the Orange County Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project its “Municipal Project of the Year — Horizon Award” in the “Less Than $2M” category. The District and Orange County partnered on the project. The ASR project was designed by Barnes Ferland and Associates.

The project was constructed for Orange County Utilities by Wharton-Smith Inc. in 2009 and several features of the project were highlighted for the award. This water supply project was considered a visionary approach to water supply issues in the east-central Florida area and is considered a sustainable solution to meeting the seasonal variability of the public’s drinking water demands without over-stressing the environment. The project was constructed utilizing local subcontractors and methods that were non-disruptive to the public, and was completed under budget and ahead of schedule.

Jacksonville tributary award

The Lower St. Johns River tributary assessment team received a special recognition award for spirit in their work to investigate fecal Coliform impairment from Coastal America Partnership. The team has been working on 75 tributaries in an effort to obtain improved water quality as required by the associated TMDLs. As part of the team effort to identify bacteria sources, sampling is conducted, physical inspections are made on the ground and in the water bodies, and mapping analysis is performed in association with septic tanks, sewer lines and stormwater systems. Partners in this effort include: city of Jacksonville, JEA (water and sewer utility), Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Duval County Health Department and the Florida Department of Transportation.

EPA announces new Web site to help state and local government partners tackle climate change

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new Web site to help state and local governments understand, plan and implement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within their jurisdictions. The State and Local Climate and Energy Program Web site brings together EPA resources to serve as a one-stop shop for government officials seeking information related to climate change and clean energy.