FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 7, 2014
NWFWMD CONTINUES DATA COLLECTION VITAL TO WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION
TALLAHASSEE – The
Northwest Florida Water Management District, in partnership with the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Geological Survey,
recently began drilling a series of new groundwater-monitoring wells, one of
which is located along the Crump Road entrance to the Miccosukee Greenway. The
wells will be used to collect data crucial to the development of minimum flows
and levels (MFLs) for three priority waterbodies, including Wakulla Springs.
“Establishing
an effective minimum flows and levels program is an important part of the district’s overall effort to ensure the long-term protection and sustainability
of our area’s water resources,” said Executive Director Jon Steverson. “The district remains committed to a meaningful MFL program, based on the best
science and data available.”
Florida’s water management districts
are required by Florida law to set MFLs, which establish water flows, levels,
and limits necessary to prevent significant harm to the water resources or
ecology of an area from water withdrawals. The District is currently working
on MFL development for six priority waterbodies, including St. Marks River Rise
and Wakulla Springs (both first magnitude springs) and Sally Ward Spring (a
second magnitude spring).
“The importance of setting and
maintaining MFLs cannot be overstated,” DEP Deputy Secretary of Water Policy
and Ecosystem Restoration Drew Bartlett said. “The construction of these wells
is imperative for monitoring water resources in northwest Florida. I applaud
the district for making these necessary and unprecedented investments.”
Establishing effective MFLs requires
sound science based on the best information available, including hydrologic,
meteorologic and ecologic data.
The district is working to expand its
monitoring network to collect additional ground and surface water data to help
evaluate St. Marks River Rise, Wakulla and Sally Ward springs. This includes
drilling 14 new groundwater-monitoring wells and establishing nine new surface
water monitoring stations, as well as the continued evaluation and expansion of
the district’s current monitoring network.
Seven of these wells are being drilled
by the FGS, which will provide the district with more detailed geologic data at
a reduced cost. The FGS will collect core samples at these sites, which will
provide valuable geologic information to the district and help support the
development of groundwater flow models.
The FGS is also able to use the
geologic data collected during drilling to support its initiatives related to
potentiometric surface mapping and refined hydrogeological characterization of
the region.
Ultimately, the district’s well
placement and data-collection efforts will provide significant support to an
ambitious, yet realistic schedule for MFL completion. The district’s Fiscal
Year 2014-2015 budget, which began Oct. 1, includes $2.4 million for the
development of MFLs.
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