by David Ball
Staff Writer
The rows of chairs filled up quickly and several dozen more were carted in to handle the hundreds from the public gathered at the St. Johns County Convention Center at the World Golf Village Friday to listen to local leaders discuss proposed water withdrawals from the St. Johns River.
But at the Northeast Florida Regional Council’s “Water Supply Summit: The Future of the St. Johns River,” there were plenty of seats left empty at the front of the room where the public discourse took place.
Elected and appointed officials from communities along the river discussed Central Florida’s need for drinking water and the St. Johns River Water Management District’s proposal to allow up to 260 million gallons of water a day be diverted from the St. Johns.
“It’s no secret we are looking to Taylor Creek and the St. Johns River,” said Orange County attorney Tom Drage, referring to the first water withdrawal project already being designed.
“We have relied on these assurances (from the Water Management District) as we have invested millions of dollars.”
Drage took the place of Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, who was busy with campaign work for the 2008 presidential races and couldn’t attend. Also absent were Mayor John Peyton and any of the 19 City Council members.
But according to the local officials present, the meeting was a successful one and generated positive discussion on an issue that will likely stay in the forefront for some time.
Here is what some local leaders had to say during and following the summit:
Neil Armingeon, Riverkeeper
“It’s clear to us that this could have a lot of detrimental impacts to Northeast Florida. What came out of it, to me, was that the Government and the citizenry are not comfortable with this idea and we need to proceed with caution.
“There were several other elected officials that didn’t speak from Central Florida that I talked to, and they had good things to say. I received invitations to speak to groups in Lake County, and I view that as a positive.
“One of the criticisms that we’ve had, which has been valid up until recently, is there were no meetings to talk about this stuff, and that’s changed. But people need to realize these projects are still moving forward.
“Locally, we’re going to focus attention on trying to help Jacksonville to pass the ordinance introduced on water conservation. Frankly, that’s going to show a lot.”
John Delaney, president of the University of North Florida and chairman of the St. Johns River Alliance
“Officials from Central Florida need to realize the depth of the passion of people in Northeast Florida.
“But we are not informed about the process. We are not informed about the science because the science isn’t all in yet.
“Obviously, Central Florida is out of water, and in times of high rain and high (water) flow, that water that just goes into the ocean could be consumed as drinking water.
“The fear is there isn’t a trust in government that the number (of gallons of water allowed to be withdrawn) won’t go up.”
Harold Rutledge, Clay County commissioner and president of the Northeast Florida Regional Council
“I think the conversation and dialogue was good. I didn’t have any expectations other than get everyone together and listen to each other. I think everybody had a chance to give their point of view.
“We have so much information given to us, we need to verify it. I don’t think people mislead other people intentionally, but you say something long enough and people take it as truth.
“My next step would be to get together with the regional council from that area and discuss this at the 40,000-foot level and get that dialogue going, open another dialogue with east-central Florida leaders.
“They are facing the problem now we are going to be facing in next 10 to 20 years. We need to find solutions that works for everybody.”
Hal Wilkening, director of resource management for St. Johns River Water Management District
“I think it confirmed some things to me, that folks are very concerned about protecting the river. We are concerned about that, so we have a lot of collective interest.
“It confirmed to us that the studies we’re doing are the ones that people want to see get done.
“I heard loud and clear that the Northeast Florida Regional Council wants to stay very engaged with this issue, and the Water Management District needs to be engaged with the council on the work we are doing.
“The general thing I got was that people are very concerned and want to be very sure that we don’t allocate any water in the future that would harm the river. It seemed like there was a consensus to continue to have a dialogue with elected officials.”
Jim King, Senator
“The only problem that exists is that even after four hours of discussion, that group could not come to any consensus. Some said they would support siphoning off of water if scientists proved it not to be harmful, but even that was challenged by people saying they didn’t want that to be the benchmark.
“I feel very strongly about the fact that taking anything out of this river might harm the sensitive balance of one of the greatest resources Northeast Florida has. But I am also a political and jurist realist. If you can’t beat them back, maybe it’s better to try and find some commonality.
“But even though the Water Management District and Orlando officials have said that’s all (the amount of water) they want and they won’t come back for more, those who still have their noses bloodied from the Craig Field issue know full well that promises made are not always promises kept.”