House approves St. Johns license plate honoring King
By Steve Patterson
For the St. Augustine Record
On March 24, 2010
A specialty license plate to finance St. Johns River research and access was approved unanimously by the Florida House Tuesday as a measure honoring the late Sen. Jim King.
"Jim King was a friend of many of the people in the House a well as the Senate," said Rep. Lake Ray, R-Jacksonville, who sponsored the bill.
King, a Jacksonville Republican, was a longtime river advocate who pushed for the new plate through the last day of last year's session.He died of cancer in July.
As a tribute, King's name was written onto a boat being paddled across the river in the plate's design.
Drivers who want the plate would pay an extra $25 per year fee that would raise money for the nonprofit St. Johns River Alliance. The group would be required to use the money for purposes including programs to improve public connections to the river and grants for research.
Legislation to create the plate was stalled last year by concerns about a series of other proposed license plates. Ray said King succeeded in getting the St. Johns plate split off from the others on the last day of the session, but the same couldn't be done in the House.
"He was over there with me on the last day of the session, trying to help me get it passed," Ray said.
Also Tuesday, the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee approved the bill.
"Its next stop is the floor of the Senate," Ray said. "I think it's definitely on its way."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Manatee Season
Wildlife officers target manatee speed zones
By Dinah Voyles Pulver
For the Daytona Beach News-Journal
March 20, 2010
While state and federal officials warn boaters to be wary of manatees venturing out for food in area waterways this weekend, they'll be patrolling for boaters violating laws designed to protect the animals.
Marine officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan a joint effort today and Sunday to enforce manatee speed zones on area waterways.
The effort is planned to coincide with a time of year when the animals are most vulnerable, the agencies said. With temperatures warming, manatees are moving north from South Florida and venturing farther afield in the St. Johns River from their warm-water refuge at Blue Spring State Park.
Boaters should wear polarized sunglasses and watch for large, tell-tale circular ripples manatees create in the water, said Chris Roszkowiak, a wildlife commission captain. Watercraft-related incidents account for up to 20 percent of the annual manatee deaths in Volusia and Flagler counties.
Manatee zone boundaries are marked by large posted signs and buoys, white with orange lettering. Boaters must follow federal and state rules.
Federal fines range up to $25,000 and can carry a sentence of up to six months in prison.
dinah.pulver @news-jrnl.com
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/03/20/wildlife-officers-target-manatee-speed-zones.html
By Dinah Voyles Pulver
For the Daytona Beach News-Journal
March 20, 2010
While state and federal officials warn boaters to be wary of manatees venturing out for food in area waterways this weekend, they'll be patrolling for boaters violating laws designed to protect the animals.
Marine officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan a joint effort today and Sunday to enforce manatee speed zones on area waterways.
The effort is planned to coincide with a time of year when the animals are most vulnerable, the agencies said. With temperatures warming, manatees are moving north from South Florida and venturing farther afield in the St. Johns River from their warm-water refuge at Blue Spring State Park.
Boaters should wear polarized sunglasses and watch for large, tell-tale circular ripples manatees create in the water, said Chris Roszkowiak, a wildlife commission captain. Watercraft-related incidents account for up to 20 percent of the annual manatee deaths in Volusia and Flagler counties.
Manatee zone boundaries are marked by large posted signs and buoys, white with orange lettering. Boaters must follow federal and state rules.
Federal fines range up to $25,000 and can carry a sentence of up to six months in prison.
dinah.pulver @news-jrnl.com
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/03/20/wildlife-officers-target-manatee-speed-zones.html
Friday, March 19, 2010
Nassau County plans to raise rates of heavy water users
County to raise rates for heaviest water users
By Ryan Smith, News-Leader
The Nassau County Commission unanimously adopted Monday a resolution approving a new conservation rate
structure for Nassau-Amelia Utilities.
NAU provides water utility services to the south end of Amelia Island.
While the average water utility customer should see no change in water and sewer bills, heavy water users will see an increase, according to County Coordinator Ed Sealover.
"What the county is doing is adopting a water conservation rate program that has been suggested by St. Johns River Water Management District," Sealover said Thursday. "For the most part, people will not see an increase on their water bills. But people who are heavy, heavy users of water - and I don't mean bathing or washing clothes; I'm talking about irrigation of lawns - then you will pay more."
According to Sealover, customers who don't use much water will actually see their bills go down slightly. Customers using 5,000 gallons per month or less should see a $1 to $5 decrease in their monthly bills. Average users may see a few cents' decrease.
Those who use 11,000 gallons or more per month, however, will see marked increase as usage goes up - anywhere from around 99 cents for 11,000 gallons to more than $35 for 30,000 gallons.
The resolution adopting the new rate structure will take effect after approval by the Florida Secretary of State's Office.
rsmith@fbnewsleader.com
Story created Mar 18, 2010
http://www.fbnewsleader.com/articles/2010/03/18/news/00newsawaterratesrise.txt
By Ryan Smith, News-Leader
The Nassau County Commission unanimously adopted Monday a resolution approving a new conservation rate
structure for Nassau-Amelia Utilities.
NAU provides water utility services to the south end of Amelia Island.
While the average water utility customer should see no change in water and sewer bills, heavy water users will see an increase, according to County Coordinator Ed Sealover.
"What the county is doing is adopting a water conservation rate program that has been suggested by St. Johns River Water Management District," Sealover said Thursday. "For the most part, people will not see an increase on their water bills. But people who are heavy, heavy users of water - and I don't mean bathing or washing clothes; I'm talking about irrigation of lawns - then you will pay more."
According to Sealover, customers who don't use much water will actually see their bills go down slightly. Customers using 5,000 gallons per month or less should see a $1 to $5 decrease in their monthly bills. Average users may see a few cents' decrease.
Those who use 11,000 gallons or more per month, however, will see marked increase as usage goes up - anywhere from around 99 cents for 11,000 gallons to more than $35 for 30,000 gallons.
The resolution adopting the new rate structure will take effect after approval by the Florida Secretary of State's Office.
rsmith@fbnewsleader.com
Story created Mar 18, 2010
http://www.fbnewsleader.com/articles/2010/03/18/news/00newsawaterratesrise.txt
River Clean Up This Weekend!!!
Big St. Johns River cleanup on Saturday
BY JIM WAYMER • FLORIDA TODAY • March 19, 2010
Along the St. Johns River, litter cleanups always seem to deliver a few surprises.
During a Feb. 27 cleanup at Sarno Lakes, volunteers found snakes under mattresses, a propane tank with a beehive inside and a 9 mm handgun with its numbers filed off.
"We called the sheriff's department and they made it a crime scene," said Barbara Venuto, environmental programs coordinator for Keep Brevard Beautiful, a non-profit group.
The group expects a few more surprises this Saturday when volunteers fan out along the river's floodplains to gather more things that don't belong.
Keep Brevard Beautiful still needs volunteers for Saturday's four cleanup sites.
While the cleanups are safe events, Venuto said volunteers should be on guard.
"I think everyone needs to be aware that you are entering habitat where there are alligators and snakes," she said.
People leave behind a litany of items.
High waters may hide many items, said Leroy Wright, a long-time river advocate.
"It's near flood stage out there now. It's really high," he said. "I think a lot of that stuff is gong to be submerged."
The cleanup never ends, nor does Wright's desire to protect the river.
Even the prospect of snakes and alligators won't keep him away.
"I'm looking forward to getting out there," he said.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/3190326/1006/Big%20St.%20Johns%20River%20cleanup%20on%20Saturday
BY JIM WAYMER • FLORIDA TODAY • March 19, 2010
Along the St. Johns River, litter cleanups always seem to deliver a few surprises.
During a Feb. 27 cleanup at Sarno Lakes, volunteers found snakes under mattresses, a propane tank with a beehive inside and a 9 mm handgun with its numbers filed off.
"We called the sheriff's department and they made it a crime scene," said Barbara Venuto, environmental programs coordinator for Keep Brevard Beautiful, a non-profit group.
The group expects a few more surprises this Saturday when volunteers fan out along the river's floodplains to gather more things that don't belong.
Keep Brevard Beautiful still needs volunteers for Saturday's four cleanup sites.
While the cleanups are safe events, Venuto said volunteers should be on guard.
"I think everyone needs to be aware that you are entering habitat where there are alligators and snakes," she said.
People leave behind a litany of items.
High waters may hide many items, said Leroy Wright, a long-time river advocate.
"It's near flood stage out there now. It's really high," he said. "I think a lot of that stuff is gong to be submerged."
The cleanup never ends, nor does Wright's desire to protect the river.
Even the prospect of snakes and alligators won't keep him away.
"I'm looking forward to getting out there," he said.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/3190326/1006/Big%20St.%20Johns%20River%20cleanup%20on%20Saturday
JEA looks into water alternative
JEA ponders pumping into aquifer; Utility wants to clean used water and put it back into its source.
By STEVE PATTERSON
Troubled by forecasts it could harm the Floridan aquifer by pumping too much water, JEA is asking whether it can put some water back after using it.
The utility and the St. Johns River Water Management District are looking into the costs and effectiveness of two plans to return sewer wastewater to the ground after carefully cleaning it to a high standard.
One idea involves laying pipelines to carry wastewater to places southwest of Jacksonville where water quickly percolates through the ground and into the aquifer.
The other involves drilling a shaft maybe 2,000 feet deep and injecting the cleaned wastewater into a different aquifer layer below the Floridan. The goal there is to create upward pressure that would maintain Floridan levels, somewhat like slipping a coaster under a wobbly table leg.
The cleaned water would eventually find its way into an aquifer anyway but not as fast, said Karl Hankin, JEA's manager of water and wastewater planning.
"The amount of water we've got on this planet is finite. ... We've probably recycled the water we drink a number of times already," Hankin said.
JEA has lagged behind many communities in using recycled wastewater to irrigate lawns and golf courses, partly because of the cost of laying new pipes through well-established neighborhoods.
As a result, great amounts of cleaned wastewater end up being released into the St. Johns River instead of being reused.
"There is still a lot of reclaimed water that is not presently spoken for," said Kirby Green, management district's executive director.
That wastewater is being viewed as a potential asset now, as the water management district pressures utilities to show how they will meet water demands through 2030 without overburdening the aquifer, their source of drinking water.
Gainesville's utility has returned wastewater to quick-recharge areas for years, Hankin said. He said water is still naturally filtered as it passes through yard after yard of earth, entering the Floridan with no risk of any environmental harm.
But Jacksonville's geology would make that process more complicated.
Most of Northeast Florida's ground contains a barrier, called the Hawthorn layer, that would slow the water's descent, defeating the goal of recharging the aquifer.
To get around that, JEA could run pipes somewhere out near Keystone Heights or other inland points where the Hawthorn layer disappears.
Doing that would cost many millions of dollars, but the exact price isn't known yet. It's likely to be clearer by the time the management district completes a 20-year water supply plan in December.
Hankin said JEA might be able to pour 30 million to 80 million gallons daily into a recharge system. If it injected water directly into a lower aquifer, the utility might handle 1 million to 40 million gallons daily that way, he said.steve.patterson@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4263
(c) 2010 Florida Times Union. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/news_display/142618362.html
By STEVE PATTERSON
Troubled by forecasts it could harm the Floridan aquifer by pumping too much water, JEA is asking whether it can put some water back after using it.
The utility and the St. Johns River Water Management District are looking into the costs and effectiveness of two plans to return sewer wastewater to the ground after carefully cleaning it to a high standard.
One idea involves laying pipelines to carry wastewater to places southwest of Jacksonville where water quickly percolates through the ground and into the aquifer.
The other involves drilling a shaft maybe 2,000 feet deep and injecting the cleaned wastewater into a different aquifer layer below the Floridan. The goal there is to create upward pressure that would maintain Floridan levels, somewhat like slipping a coaster under a wobbly table leg.
The cleaned water would eventually find its way into an aquifer anyway but not as fast, said Karl Hankin, JEA's manager of water and wastewater planning.
"The amount of water we've got on this planet is finite. ... We've probably recycled the water we drink a number of times already," Hankin said.
JEA has lagged behind many communities in using recycled wastewater to irrigate lawns and golf courses, partly because of the cost of laying new pipes through well-established neighborhoods.
As a result, great amounts of cleaned wastewater end up being released into the St. Johns River instead of being reused.
"There is still a lot of reclaimed water that is not presently spoken for," said Kirby Green, management district's executive director.
That wastewater is being viewed as a potential asset now, as the water management district pressures utilities to show how they will meet water demands through 2030 without overburdening the aquifer, their source of drinking water.
Gainesville's utility has returned wastewater to quick-recharge areas for years, Hankin said. He said water is still naturally filtered as it passes through yard after yard of earth, entering the Floridan with no risk of any environmental harm.
But Jacksonville's geology would make that process more complicated.
Most of Northeast Florida's ground contains a barrier, called the Hawthorn layer, that would slow the water's descent, defeating the goal of recharging the aquifer.
To get around that, JEA could run pipes somewhere out near Keystone Heights or other inland points where the Hawthorn layer disappears.
Doing that would cost many millions of dollars, but the exact price isn't known yet. It's likely to be clearer by the time the management district completes a 20-year water supply plan in December.
Hankin said JEA might be able to pour 30 million to 80 million gallons daily into a recharge system. If it injected water directly into a lower aquifer, the utility might handle 1 million to 40 million gallons daily that way, he said.steve.patterson@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4263
(c) 2010 Florida Times Union. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/news_display/142618362.html
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Water restrictions change on Sunday
Twice-a-week watering rules return Sunday
St. Johns River Water Management District rules will change then.
By The Times-Union
on Thursday, Mar. 11, 2010
Twice-a-week watering regulations return Sunday with daylight saving time to the 18 counties within the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Under restrictions adopted a year ago, landscape irrigation is limited to two days a week during daylight saving time, and one day a week during the winter months.
The restrictions were put in place to ensure efficient use of water for lawn and landscape irrigation and to conserve Florida's water. Thirty-six local governments in Northeast and Central Florida also enacted ordinances implementing the district's rule.
Beginning Sunday (with certain exceptions), landscape irrigation restrictions are as follows:
- Wednesday and Saturday for residential landscape irrigation at addresses that end in an odd number or have no address.
- Thursday and Sunday for residential landscape irrigation at addresses that end in an even number.
- Tuesday and Friday for nonresidential landscape irrigation.
- No landscape watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. any day, and no more than one hour is allowed per irrigation zone on each day irrigation occurs.
The restrictions apply to water withdrawn from ground or surface water, private well or pump, or from a public or private water utility.
For more information, visit floridaswater.com/wateringrestrictions.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-03-11/story/twice_a_week_watering_rules_return_sunday
St. Johns River Water Management District rules will change then.
By The Times-Union
on Thursday, Mar. 11, 2010
Twice-a-week watering regulations return Sunday with daylight saving time to the 18 counties within the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Under restrictions adopted a year ago, landscape irrigation is limited to two days a week during daylight saving time, and one day a week during the winter months.
The restrictions were put in place to ensure efficient use of water for lawn and landscape irrigation and to conserve Florida's water. Thirty-six local governments in Northeast and Central Florida also enacted ordinances implementing the district's rule.
Beginning Sunday (with certain exceptions), landscape irrigation restrictions are as follows:
- Wednesday and Saturday for residential landscape irrigation at addresses that end in an odd number or have no address.
- Thursday and Sunday for residential landscape irrigation at addresses that end in an even number.
- Tuesday and Friday for nonresidential landscape irrigation.
- No landscape watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. any day, and no more than one hour is allowed per irrigation zone on each day irrigation occurs.
The restrictions apply to water withdrawn from ground or surface water, private well or pump, or from a public or private water utility.
For more information, visit floridaswater.com/wateringrestrictions.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-03-11/story/twice_a_week_watering_rules_return_sunday
Monday, March 8, 2010
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