Adena Spring Ranch in Ocala FL wanting 13.2 million gallons of water per day in Ocala

This is the letter incase people can download it.

Florida Executive Committee
Rudy Scheffer, Chair Craig Diamond Beverly Griffiths Stephen Mahoney Debbie Matthews Tom Larson
Marian Ryan
April 2, 2012
Mr. Hans G. Tanzler III, Executive Director St. Johns River Water Management District P.O. Box 1429
Palatka, FL 32178-1429
RE: CUP Application #2-083-129419-1 Adena Springs Ranch

Dear Mr. Tanzler,
The Sierra Club Florida has deep concerns regarding the pending consumptive Use Permit application for Adena Springs Ranch and the significant negative impacts this project could have on the water quality and quantity of Silver Springs, the Silver River and the Ocklawaha River Aquatic Preserve.
A 50-year retrospective study of Silver Springs revealed the following:
• NO3-N has increased by 176%
• Water clarity has decreased
• Nighttime dissolved oxygen has declined by about 19%
• Total plant and algal biomass increased by 88%
• Ecosystem productivity declined by 27%
• Insect productivity declined by 72%
• Fish biomass declined by 96%
• Silver River flows have declined by about 50% since 1965 - a reduction of 480 cfs
Sierra Club Florida ● 111 Second Ave. NE, Suite 1001 ● St. Petersburg, FL 33701 floridasierraclub.org
The Adena Springs Ranch property is located in a high risk area for these premier ecological resources:
• It is very near the Ocklawaha River Aquatic Preserve
• It is within the Silver Springs Groundwater Basin
• It is in or near the highest recharge area for Silver Springs
The Adena Springs Ranch CUP, if granted, would allow for 13 MGD to be pumped from within the springshed of Silver Springs. The size of this withdrawal is totally unacceptable given the well documented ecosystem declines and risk factors mentioned above.
Also of concern is the fact that the District’s groundwater flow models apparently do not accurately predict the observed declining flows at Silver Springs. In addition, research to set a Minimum Flow and Level (MFL) for Silver Springs is still being conducted by both the SJRWMD and the SWFWMD using slightly different methodologies. We believe that a CUP of this size should be denied until such time that the MFL studies of both water management districts are complete and a MFL is determined for Silver Springs.
We urge you to follow Florida law and protect the water quality and quantity of Silver Springs as well as the Silver River and Ocklawaha River - both Outstanding Florida Waterways.
Please notify us of any agency decisions regarding this permit and its review processes.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Marian Ryan, Conservation Chair 863-293-6961
Copies to:
Governing Board Members
Sierra Club Florida Executive Committee Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Sierra Club Florida ● 111 Second Ave. NE, Suite 1001 ● St. Petersburg, FL 33701 floridasierraclub.org

By remains, I mean other than the hot dogs, dog food etc. There has to be quite a lot of blood and other matter that is disposed of somehow. I assume it's disposed of in a manner that will let it leach into the ground water. You don't throw stuff "away" anymore, away is a place. I'll bet they have some kind of holding pond in mind?

I'm pretty sure they find a way to sell every thing but the moo.


Don't mistake this as support for the place, because I oppose it completely.

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Originally Posted by a64pilot

By remains, I mean other than the hot dogs, dog food etc. There has to be quite a lot of blood and other matter that is disposed of somehow. I assume it's disposed of in a manner that will let it leach into the ground water. You don't throw stuff "away" anymore, away is a place. I'll bet they have some kind of holding pond in mind?

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I cant find any plan to deal with the waste

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Originally Posted by undercov31

I'm sure your correct, its all about money (greed). I have seen the cave diving community fight issues before and its impressive when we want to get something done. So I still have hope

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muz1OcEzJOs

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Originally Posted by undercov31

I cant find any plan to deal with the waste

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I think the plan is for my family to drink "Beef Broth". I live about 2 miles through the woods from this. This area is covered in lakes and ponds. Because of our man-made drought, Most are either already dry, or they are so low that they are becoming useless for typical recreational water sports. The economy around here depends almost entirely on these activities, and considering how low the water levels are without the pumping, it doesn't take a genius to see where we are headed.
Please Let our elected officials know that we consider the protection of our waters one of our most important issues.
As far as the water management districts go, A number of district employees have lost their jobs because they refused to grant permits that they felt were not in accordance with our laws. Florida has some of the most progressive water laws in the the country, but our current political climate results in non enforcement. The Gainesville Sun recently ran an article about our Governor Suspending the head of the wetlands protection agency for not allowing a wealthy rancher to get wetland credits for planted pines.
If we make water a bigger issue than whether a candidate is liberal or conservative, maybe we can make things better. VOTE!
See You Saturday!

http://wateractionteam.org/adena_ranch_map.pdf
From what I can see they will put in 134 wells.

This is a good site for a lot of info
http://wateractionteam.org/

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Originally Posted by Gene Powell

I think the plan is for my family to drink "Beef Broth". I live about 2 miles through the woods from this. This area is covered in lakes and ponds. Because of our man-made drought, Most are either already dry, or they are so low that they are becoming useless for typical recreational water sports. The economy around here depends almost entirely on these activities, and considering how low the water levels are without the pumping, it doesn't take a genius to see where we are headed.
Please Let our elected officials know that we consider the protection of our waters one of our most important issues.
As far as the water management districts go, A number of district employees have lost their jobs because they refused to grant permits that they felt were not in accordance with our laws. Florida has some of the most progressive water laws in the the country, but our current political climate results in non enforcement. The Gainesville Sun recently ran an article about our Governor Suspending the head of the wetlands protection agency for not allowing a wealthy rancher to get wetland credits for planted pines.
If we make water a bigger issue than whether a candidate is liberal or conservative, maybe we can make things better. VOTE!
See You Saturday!

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My family has a place off Lake Kerr and the water leave 2 yeas ago was about 8 FT at the end of the dock and 3 weeks ago it 4 INCHES. Its sad time when you cant put the boat in to do any water sports and the hurts the town of Salt Springs

I hate to be a pessimist, because really I'm not, (nor am I a "tree-hugger"), but what I do know is there have been people out to rape, pillage and destroy our wonderful state of Florida for many decades and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any. I wonder how bad things have to really get before actual (legitimate) changes and protections are put in to place...?

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Originally Posted by mdax

Considering the head of the suwanee water management district is a cattle rancher I'd bet that this will be approved no matter what it might do to water levels or quality...

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Is this an elected position, or appointed? In either case FL residents can protest the conflict of interest. Either by bringing it to the attention of the voters, or the attention of whoever appointed him.