Resolution No. 08-01RESOLUTION N0.08-O1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH EXPRESSING
CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL OF WATER FROM THE
ST. JOHNS RIVER SYSTEM; URGING THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO STUDY THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF
SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWALS AND ENSURE THAT NO
UNACCEPTABLE IMPACTS TO THE RIVER WILL RESULT; PROVIDING
FOR SUBMITTAL OF COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, growth in the Orlando and surrounding areas will require more water than
the Floridan Aquifer can supply by the year 2013, and
WHEREAS, the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers have been identified as potential
sources of water which would be less expensive than other alternatives such as desalinization,
and
WHEREAS, Florida's water belongs to all of us, but use of that water also brings with it
the responsibility to maintain a healthy environmental balance for all that share in it's use, and
WHEREAS, it is the state mandated responsibility of the St. Johns River Water
Management District (SJRWMD) to ensure that we all live up to our obligations for responsible
environmental stewardship of our shared aquatic resources, and
WHEREAS, large-scale withdrawals of water from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers
may have serious environmental impacts on downstream communities, and
WHEREAS, one potential impact of the withdrawal of water is through increased
salinity which could impact recreational and commercial fishing as well as the shrimping
industry, and
WHEREAS, another potential impact is the increased concentration of pollutants
including nitrogen for which state and federal environmental regulations require that a Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) be set to protect the rivers, and
WHEREAS, cities and counties in Northeast Florida are expected to spend over a billion
dollars in this region alone to meet the TMDL limits presently contemplated and those
expenditures will have a serious economic impact on virtually everyone in the region, and
WHEREAS, any additional expense caused by failure to meet TMDL standards, as a
result of water withdrawals by upstream communities would place an unfair economic burden on
the Northeast Florida region to support growth in the Orlando area and those costs may be
beyond the ability of some cities and counties to fund, and
WHEREAS, the SJRWMD is aware of these concerns and has begun studies to
determine the amount of water that can be safely withdrawn, and
WHEREAS, the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers can only provide ashort-term solution
to anever-increasing need for water but cannot fulfill the need in the long term, and
WHEREAS, all of these factors have caused significant public concern and have focused
the attention of government and civic leaders in Northeast Florida on these issues,
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Atlantic Beach City Commission as follows:
SECTION 1. Intent and Purpose
That the City of Atlantic Beach joins with other local governments in the region in
opposing any additional water withdrawal from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers, and asks
that the SJRWMD deny future withdrawal permits unless and until
a. A thorough and complete scientific investigation of the possible effects of the water
withdrawals from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers be completed by the
SJRWMD, and
b. That the SJRWMD invite outside agencies such as private consultants, other
institutions engaged in similar scientific research, and private environmental interest
groups to participate in the study so as to provide peer review and open discussion of
both the methods and results of the investigation with the hope of arriving at a
consensus of the effects of water withdrawals proposed, and
c. That the results of such study be made available and be widely distributed to the
public prior to any permits being issued by the SJRWMD for withdrawal of water
from the rivers and give public and private interests ample time to study said results,
and
d. Water conservation measures be fully studied, implemented and utilized in the areas
proposed to receive the water withdrawals prior to any additional withdrawals being
commenced.
SECTION 2. Sustainability for the Long-Term
The City of Atlantic Beach encourages and supports the SJRWMD and recipient water
suppliers to study and implement additional methods of water conservation, desalinization and
limitations on future growth to balance the need for water with available supplies for the long
term so that balanced solutions will be in place prior to taking additional water from our rivers in
the short term.
SECTION 3. Distribution
The City Clerk is authorized and instructed to send copies of this resolution to members
of the St Johns River Water Management District Governing Board, the Duval Legislative
Delegation and to Governor Crist.
SECTION 4. Effective date
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
Adopted by the City Commission of Atlantic Beach, Flori~ Khis+l4th day of January, 2008.
S `IvI~SERVE
and esidina Officer
A EST:
DONNA L. BUSSEY, CMC
City Clerk
to form and correctness:
C. ~ENSEN, ESQUIRE