Preserve water flow to precious Florida rivers

By TBO.COM | Staff
Published: November 17, 2012 Updated: November 17, 2012 - 12:00 AM

With the Chassahowitzka River being degraded by rising salinity levels, the Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board decided the other day to allow even more fresh water withdrawals.

Given the original staff proposal to allow withdrawals of as much as 9 percent of the Chassahowitzka's flow, the board's decision to limit any flow level reductions to only 3 percent can be viewed as something of a victory.

But this should hardly be the final word on the protection of the beautiful spring-fed river, which flows through nine miles of wilderness to the Gulf of Mexico.

The river, about 50 miles north of Tampa, has been designated an Outstanding Florida Water. So has the nearby Homosassa River, which also is experiencing increased salinity levels that are hurting flora and fauna.

The district's governing board also set a limit of a 3 percent flow reduction for the Homosassa.

The 3 percent may sound reasonable, but existing withdrawal levels are estimated to be at 1 percent at both the Chassahowitzka and the Homosassa, and both are suffering.

Longtime Chassahowitzka River users such as Mickey Newberger of Lutz report at least a quarter-mile of the river swamp is dying, likely because of an insufficient flow of fresh water.

Many who frequent the Homosassa River report similar deterioration.

Terri Auner, a member of the Homosassa River Alliance, told the Citrus County Chronicle, "If anything, they should be adding water. The Homosassa River is dead. The plant life is gone, and you hardly find fish in there."

During the district board meeting, a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warned that increased withdrawals would threaten manatees, fish and other wildlife in the Homosassa and Chassahowitzka.

The district staff believes the problems are likely the result of rising sea levels, lack of rainfall and nutrient pollution.

Even so, why risk further damage with flow levels that allow additional withdrawals?

The "compromise" is superior to the original proposal, and to its credit, the agency plans to develop "water use cautionary area" rules for Hernando and Citrus County, toughening the requirements for water withdrawal permits. The proposed rules will be presented to the board next year.

The governing board also voted to review the minimum flow levels for the Chassahowitzka and Homosassa every six years.

These steps are positive.

But to save the Chassahowitzka and Homosassa ? irreplaceable resources that profoundly enrich life in Central Florida ? the district is going to have to get far tougher on groundwater withdrawals and force communities to develop alternative water sources.

Source: http://www2.tbo.com/news/opinion/2012/nov/17/naopino1-preserve-water-flow-to-precious-florida-r-ar-567155/

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