Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced that it will hold a public meeting/workshop to discuss the proposed Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) and Recovery Strategies for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and associated priority springs. The meeting is on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, at 9:45 a.m. in the Alachua County Administration Building’s Jack Durrance Auditorium, Room 209, Second Floor, 12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, Florida.

Click to View Agenda

Useful backup materials:
Draft Recovery Strategy.pdf
Draft Chapter 6242.pdf

This is also being advertised as a Alachua County Commission Special Meeting.   This allows multiple County Commissioners to participate in the discussion while complying with the Florida Sunshine Laws.

“The State is acknowledging that excessive groundwater pumping in North Florida is harming the Santa Fe and Itchetucknee Rivers and their world class springs,” stated Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Director Chris Bird, “The proposed action includes a water recovery plan that can be a foundation for restoring flow to the springs and balancing the regional water budget.” 

View the video of the MFL and Recovery Strategies discussion at the 1-14-14 Alachua County Commission meeting