Suwannee River Partnershipnrli.ifas.ufl.edu/practica/classxi/Thomas.pdf0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 Jun-54...
Transcript of Suwannee River Partnershipnrli.ifas.ufl.edu/practica/classxi/Thomas.pdf0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 Jun-54...
Water Supply and Water
Quality Issues in
Suwannee River Basin and
Awareness within the Ag
Community
Practicum Decision
Suwannee Basin
Regulatory Challenges for Agriculture
Suwannee River Partnership
Practicum Process
Suwannee River Partnership Goal
Evolving Issues
Lack of Awareness Regulatory agencies lack of outreach FDACS perception that Presumption of Compliance was valuable Ag not aware regulations are coming
Survey being developed by UF Center for Public Issues Education
Water Supply and Water Quality Issues in Suwannee River Basin and
Ag’s Awareness of Them
Jefferson Madison
Taylor
Hamilton
Suwannee
Lafayette
Dixie
Levy
Alachua
Gilchrist
Columbia
Baker
Bradford
Union
Ware
Clinch
Worth Coffee
Charlton
Tift
Irwin
Colquitt
Brooks
Dooly
Thomas
Echols
Berrien
Wilcox
Lowndes
Crisp
Cook
Turner
Atkinson
Lanier
Ben Hill
0 20 4010
Miles
Florida /Georgia
Suwannee Basin 9,950 sq. Miles
57% of basin is in GA
Most freshwater springs worldwide
Suwannee River has the 2nd highest annual average discharge in Florida
> 200,000 acres in ag production
More than 7,000 farms
Over $5 billion in total economic impact
Exceeds 17,000 jobs for direct employment
More than 31,000 jobs related to agriculture
Water Quality
Water Quantity
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FDEP Established in Fall 2008
0.35mg/L Nitrate Nitrogen
Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Santa Fe BMAP adopted March 2012 Suwannee BMAP scheduled for later 2012
EPA’s Numeric Nutrient Criteria
Water Resource Caution Areas
To provide research based solutions that
protect and conserve the water resources
within the Suwannee River Water
Management District by emphasizing the
implementation of voluntary or incentive-
based programs
Involve Everyone in the Solution
Voluntary adoption of BMPs for all Ag Commodities
Develop Quality Assurance Programs
Provide supporting education programs
Recognize Participants (CARES)
Irrigation System Upgrades
Emphasize Crop Education Irrigation and Nutrient Mgt. at Grower Field Days
90% of Dairies participating 99% of Poultry participating 75% of Row Crop
At 50 lbs N/acre reduction
Estimated reduction in lbs of N applied per year 5,598,150
(2,799 tons @ $400/ton = > $1.1m
2010 SRP involved with BMAP process for SF Poor Ag stakeholder attendance during development
2010-2011 SRP involved with SRWMD in Water Supply Planning
Poor Ag stakeholder attendance during process
Level of awareness in the industry and how can the SRP get Ag better informed
SRP Coordinator takes new position Personal and Personnel challenges
SRP Executive Committee Chair resigns
Program Challenges Regulatory mindset
Consumptive Use Permit Petitions
BMAP Restoration Focus Area (RFA)
Water Use Monitoring and Reporting--January 2012
Water Shortage-- April 2012
UF Center for Public Issues Education developed survey Surveys administered at workshops
Mailout and Internet survey to be conducted 2012
Water Use Monitoring meetings
February 2012 SRWMD GB First meeting Feb 24th 2 productive hours and 3rd hour was a challenge
Separate people from the issue Defining Positions
Second meeting Mar 28th Murphy’s Law Cost still issue April 2012 SRWMD GB meeting “Stakeholder meeting brought new innovative ideas to the table” “Thinking out of the box”
Santa Fe BMAP Signing RFA meetings to start
Water Quality Other person is cause of problem Not a perceived threat
Water Quantity Ag--Why does SRWMD need water use data
Align water use with allocation Paying for water What benefit does data provide? Distrust
SRWMD—Need data to quantify resource Doesn’t Ag value availability of low cost water
Broadened perception and ability
Envision some of the upcoming challenges
Organize efficient productive meetings
“Government Mentality” issues
SRP’s future
Survey results will help focus May 1st meeting
Follow up water use reporting meetings
Phase III Water Shortage Well Permitting Policy BMAP
SF Administrative Challenge Suwannee Basin
Florida Leaders Organized for Water (FLOW)
Thank You NRLI and the Project
Team!