Archive for June 2011

SRWMD urges water conservation as drought persists

June 15, 2011 Front Page, Outdoors Comments Off
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As drought conditions continue to worsen, the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) urges all water users to eliminate non-essential uses of water.

“We had the ninth driest May since 1932, and the upper Aucilla, Suwannee and Santa Fe basins experienced rainfall deficits of nearly 25 inches compared to an average year,” said Megan Wetherington, District senior professional engineer.

Several months of below-average rainfall has led to record-breaking low flows on the upper Suwannee River, including the Suwannee River at White Springs with records going back to 1906. Gages on the upper Santa Fe reported that flow has ceased. Coastal rivers fell to much below normal after five months of near-normal flow, and all 16 District-monitored lakes were below their historical average level.

Groundwater levels fell in 92 percent of monitored wells. Levels in the Santa Fe Basin were near the 15th percentile for the period of record, meaning that almost 85 percent of the time they have been higher than they are now. In the Suwannee River basin, levels fell to the 22nd percentile.

According to the most recent drought report, the National Weather Service classified drought conditions in the Suwannee River basin as severe. The Florida Division of Forestry estimated the fire danger for most of the area as high or very high.

The District has taken the following actions to urge the public to cut back on water use:

Water Shortage Advisory: Declared by the District’s Governing Board in December 2010, the advisory asks all users to voluntarily reduce water consumption indoors and outdoors until further notice.

“The advisory simply calls upon all of us to take voluntary steps to reduce both indoor and outdoor water use during times of drought and until conditions recover,” said Jon Dinges, District director of water supply and resource management.

Once drought conditions improve and groundwater and surfacewater levels rebound, the governing board may cancel the Water Shortage Advisory. Should conditions worsen, however, the governing board may impose mandatory water-use restrictions.

Landscape Irrigation Rule: Adopted into Florida Administrative Code in January 2010, the rule requires homeowners, businesses, and others to limit lawn and landscape watering to two days during daylight saving time and one day per week during standard time. Irrigation should not occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“The landscape irrigation rule is a year-round conservation measure aimed at stretching our water supplies for the long term,” Dinges said.

The advisory and irrigation rule applies to residents within the District’s boundaries, which means all of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union counties, and portions of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson, Levy and Putnam counties.

For more information, contact the District at 386.362.1001 or 800.226.1066 (FL only).

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Red, White, and Tuna Open at the Local Rural Area Theater

June 15, 2011 Around Madison Comments Off
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Get into the spirit of Independence Day early this year when the hilarious hit “Red, White, and Tuna” opens at the RAT (Rural Area Theater) in downtown Madison. If you caught last summer’s smash hit, “Greater Tuna,” you’ll love this sequel where many of your favorite, or not so favorite, characters return to celebrate Tuna’s 10-year high school reunion. If you missed last year’s performance, you won’t be lost as newcomers arrive in Tuna (the third smallest town in Texas), and the action and fun pick up where last summer left off.

The fun kicks off when three Tuna locals compete for the coveted title of reunion queen. Vera Carp, the leader of the Smut Snatchers of the New Order, is currently leading the competition. But that won’t stop Didi Snavely, local used arms dealer, and Pearl Burras, local eccentric, from pulling out all the stops to ensure victory. The end result is a hilarious twist, as Vera, and all of Tuna, are stunned by the newly elected “queen.”
In the meantime, Stanley Bumiller comes back home to bask in the glory of his successful neo-taxidermy spray-paintings of road kill. Town drunk R.R. Snavely, who hasn’t been seen in a few years, mysteriously shows up, claiming to have been whisked away by a U.F.O. All the while local animal activist Petey Fisk is busy protesting the upcoming Varmint, Critter and Pest Fest.

And in the midst of all of this mayhem, romance has blossomed between local radio personality, Arles Struvie, and his dearest baby, Bertha Bumiller. Their marriage is imminent, if only they can quit arguing over where to spend their honeymoon.

Excellent acting, along with creative costuming, brings these characters, and many more, to life. Donn Smith and Justin Webb reprise their roles from the original “Tuna” hit and Alberto Rosario joins the cast this year. Each actor portrays multiple characters, playing both male and female roles.

This show is directed by Jessica Webb with costume design by Judie Baldwin (RATT pact co-founders). Dawn Renner will keep everything running backstage as stage manager, and Tim Dunn is coordinating lights and sound. Performance dates are Thursday, June 23 through Sunday, June 26. A Texas bar-b-q picnic, prepared by Cheryl Abercrombie, will be served during intermission. Reservations are recommended. For more information, or to reserve your seats, visit the theater’s website at www.rattpact.com or call 850-673-9585.

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