Tag Archive for srwmd

SRWMD will recognize schools’ water conservation efforts

March 1, 2013 Education, Outdoors Comments Off

In celebration of Water Conservation Month in April, the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) invites schools within the District’s region to learn about the importance of water conservation. This includes all of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union and parts Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson, Levy, and Putnam.

For their efforts, we would like to recognize participating schools on the District’s website and send a news release about their projects to the local newspapers. The schools’ water conservation efforts will also be recognized at our Governing Board meeting on May 16.

Teachers may visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com/waterconservation to find project and/or lesson plan ideas. Some ideas that might be considered are:
· Create a poster using water conservation tips;
· Write an essay about how to conserve water; or
· Access the water use calculator to estimate their home water use and make a pledge to conserve during the month of April.

Lessons or projects could be done as a class or by individual students and could easily serve as an addition to a science lesson or a science or FFA club project. The District will accept projects from grades K-12.

Please send project descriptions and/or photos of your projects by Friday, April 19 to Vanessa Fultz at vjf@srwmd.org. For more information, please call 386.647.3150.

Share

Groundwater levels rebound in some, but not all regions of SRWMD

July 13, 2012 Uncategorized Comments Off

LIVE OAK, FL, July 13, 2012 – Groundwater levels in most regions within the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) have rebounded following record rainfall, courtesy of tropical storms Beryl and Debby. But the eastern and extreme southern portions of the District are still experiencing low and extremely low groundwater levels, and many counties still have 12-month rainfall deficits of as much as 15-20 inches.

“There were significant improvements in many areas of the District and those improvements are on-going,” said Megan Wetherington, District senior professional engineer. “Other areas did not recover greatly due to the severity of the drought.”

Consequently, District Executive Director Ann Shortelle said it is premature for the District to lift a water shortage order that was declared just weeks before the arrival of the tropical storms and which remains in effect through Sept. 30.

“We certainly understand that in our flooded counties, water conservation may be the furthest thing from most people’s minds,” said Shortelle. “But in other regions of the District groundwater levels remain low and we should all remember that water conservation is vital to protecting our water resources.”

District staff will continue to monitor conditions until longer-term effects of the tropical storms are evaluated and then will make recommendations regarding continuation of the water shortage accordingly, said Shortelle.

Tropical Storm Debby brought up to 26 inches in three days. Average rainfall in the District in June was 18.37 inches, the highest monthly average on record. In the 36 days between May 26 and June 30 – the time period of Tropical Storms Beryl and Debby – a portion of Suwannee and Lafayette counties received up to 48 inches, almost a typical year’s amount of rain.

The majority of rainfall fell in the central areas of the District. Portions of Suwannee, Columbia, and Lafayette counties received up to 33 inches in June. The coastal and outlying areas in the District received as little as 9 inches for the month.

Some areas on the Upper Suwannee River and many lakes and tributaries of the Santa Fe River experienced major flooding. The Suwannee River at White Springs rose 32 feet in two days, cresting at almost 85.3 feet. The Suwannee River at Suwannee Springs crested at almost 70.3 feet. The New River near Lake Butler and the Santa Fe River at Worthington Springs crested with the highest stage since 1992 and both exceeded the 10 percent flood. The Santa Fe at O’Leno State Park crested higher than any recorded flood since 1980.

By the end of June, levels in all but two District monitor wells had risen. Wells near the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers rose to their highest levels since previous floods. Eighteen percent of monitor wells were above normal, 34 percent were normal, 13 percent were below normal, and 34 percent were in the lowest 10 percent of records.

The three-month outlook issued by the Climate Prediction Center calls for above-normal precipitation and temperatures through September.

The District’s June hydrologic conditions report is available at http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us/archives/35/June2012_TSDebby_Hydroconditions_Report.pdf

Share

Water use restrictions go into effect June 13

June 13, 2012 Front Page, Outdoors One comment

Water restrictions for all users within the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) are in effect June 13 through Sept. 30. The District’s Governing Board voted on May 29 to adopt a Phase III Water Shortage Order in response to low water levels brought on by long-term drought.

Under the order, restrictions, and some exemptions, will apply to residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial users within the District’s boundaries. This includes all of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union counties, and portions of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson, Levy and Putnam counties.

The restrictions mostly target outdoor water use, particularly lawn and landscape irrigation which usually accounts for half of household use. Following is a list of some of the restrictions that apply:

Lawn & Landscape Irrigation:

Watering of existing lawns and landscapes is limited to one day per week and is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Designated watering days are determined according to an even-odd address numbering system as follows:

· House addresses ending in 0 or 1 may only irrigate on Monday.

· Addresses ending in 2 or 3 may only irrigate on Tuesday.

· Addresses ending in 4 or 5 may only irrigate on Wednesday.

· Addresses ending in 6 or 7 may only irrigate on Thursday.

· Addresses ending in 8 or 9 may only irrigate on Friday.

· Residences with no address (community common areas, etc.) may only irrigate on Friday.

While watering with sprinklers and irrigation systems is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., watering with a hand-held hose with nozzle is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For new lawns and landscapes irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and watering is limited to the minimum amount required for establishment of lawn. After the first 60 days following planting, the rules for established lawns and landscapes take effect.

Treated wastewater irrigation and irrigation for home vegetable gardens are exempt from the restrictions.

Agricultural Irrigation:

Overhead irrigation by high pressure/high volume systems is prohibited between noon and 9 p.m. No off-site application or irrigation water on non-targeted areas is allowed.
There are no restrictions on the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and on low pressure/low volume irrigation systems.

Many of the area’s farmers and producers implement water conservation plans and have retrofitted their irrigation systems to increase efficiency and reduce total water use. Systems that have been certified by an independent irrigation laboratory within the past five years prior to the effective date of a water shortage order to be as efficient as practicable or are compliant with applicable water conservation best management practices are not restricted.

Golf Courses & Recreational Uses:

Greens and tees may be watered any day but not between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Watering of fairways, roughs, and non-play areas on the front nine holes of the course is allowed on odd-numbered days but is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Watering of fairways, roughs, and non-play areas on the back nine holes of the course is on even-numbered days but is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Use of water for recreational purposes shall be reduced to the greatest extent practicable.

Other Outdoor/Indoor Uses:

Car washing is limited to once per week on the designated watering day for the location. Fundraising and commercial car washes and the washing of emergency and other first responder vehicles are exempt. Outside pressure cleaning is restricted to only low-volume methods. Outside aesthetic uses of water is prohibited (fountains, for example). Inside aesthetic uses of water is prohibited. Washing or cleaning streets, driveways, sidewalks, or other impervious areas with water is prohibited except to meet federal, state, or local health or safety standards.

Commercial/Industrial & Water Utilities:

Mining, manufacturing, processing plants, bottled water plants, and power companies must adhere to certain restrictions and are encouraged to reduce all non-essential uses of water. Water utilities must adhere to certain conservation measures.

To review the restrictions in their entirety, visit the water shortage page on the District’s website at www.mysuwanneeriver.com/watershortage. A variance form to request relief from one or more of these regulations is also available on the website.

Share