Apr
16
Written by:
dwparker
4/16/2009 7:41 AM
On Monday the SJRWMD decided to pull 5.5 million galons of water per day from the SJR. They will eventually pull a lot more. This does not surprise me as SJRWMD has a reputation for putting development first and environment last.
The Saint Johns River (SJR) is slow moving and already abused with run off and discharge from Palatka and Jacksonville industry. Pulling drinking water frm the SJR will reduce this already slow flow and initially reverse the flow. This will turn the lower portion f the SJR into a salt water inlet and/or cesspool for factory and other runoff. This in turn will turn will dramatically change the environment from a fresh water to salt water habitat.
I am also relatively certain that it wil increase already existing salt water intrusion into the wells of residents in Putnam, Saint Johns, Clay and Duval County.
My point is that SJRWMD is not lookiing our for us. They continually make their decisions based on the needs of industry and developers. Florida was not design to support a lot of people. Our continued efforts to make it do so, is self defeating.
Another example of the wisdom of SJRWMD: