Item 8BAGENDA ITEM # 8B
OCTOBER 12, 2009
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Technical Symposium on Withdrawals from the St. Johns River
SUBMITTED BY: Donna Kaluzniak, Utility Director
DATE: October 2, 2009
BACKGROUND: On January 14, 2008, the City Commission passed Resolution 08-01 to express
concern about the proposed withdrawal of water from the St. Johns River and urging the St. Johns
River Water Management District to study the effects and ensure no unacceptable impacts from such
withdrawals.
On September 23-24, 2009 staff attended a symposium held by the St. Johns River Water
Management District (SJRWMD) for the scientists investigating potential cumulative effects of
surface water withdrawals from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers.
This multi-year, $2.1 million project includes over 60 scientists with national standing working in
seven workgroups:
• Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Modeling
• Biogeochemical
• Nutrients & TMDL
• Benthic Macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects and crustaceans)
• Littoral Zones (aquatic plants)
• Ichthyofauna (fish)
• Wetlands
The National Research Council (NRC), a research arm of the National Academies that serves as
advisor to the nation on science, engineering and medicine, is peer reviewing the entire study.
Phase I of the project, a course analysis, was completed last year. The NRC reviewed Phase I and the
technical working group is currently addressing the NRC's comments. Phase II is a 23-month effort
to refine the analyses and is underway. A draft of Phase II should be complete in the Summer of
2010, with a final report scheduled for December 2010.
Because Phase II is not complete, the scientists have no conclusions yet, but there are some
indications:
• Tentatively, it appears that three regions of the river respond differently to withdrawals.
o Effects on the Lower St. Johns River seem insubstantial, with minor salinity effects or
possible changes to submerged aquatic vegetation
o Effects on the Middle St. Johns River appear to be very small. Changes in retention
AGENDA ITEM # 8B
OCTOBER 12, 2009
time (water age) may promote algae blooms.
o Effects on the Upper St. Johns River aze mostly due to changes in water levels, which
could affect wetlands, floodplains and soils.
More information and copies of the slide presentations from the symposium are available on the
SJRWMD's web page. Go to www.sjrwmd.com and click on "River Water Withdrawals."
BUDGET: No budget impact. For Commission information only.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff will continue to monitor the results of the study.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Copy of Resolution 08-01
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
2
AGENDA ITEM # 8B
OCTOBER 12, 2009
RESOLUTION NO.08-01
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, aad
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 (TI~IDLs) 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 'I'MDL 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
AGENDA ITEM # 8B
OCTOBER 12, 2009
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 fluid, 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 an ever-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 Purnose
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 SJRWIVID deny fugue 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. $ushiasbitity for the Lon=-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.
AGENDA ITEM # 8B
OCTOBER I2, 2009
SECTION 3. Diatribation
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~q, Khis~ 14th day of January, 2008.
S `1~~SERVE
and idinA Officer
A EST:
and
DONNA L. BUSSEY, CMC
City Clerk
to form and correctness:
A C. SEN, ESQUIRE
C' Att ey