LIVE OAK, FLA., MAY 15, 2024 – The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) Governing Board this week recommended eight projects to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for springs funding.
The eight projects – four local government projects and four projects to a non-profit organization – total more than $66 million. This funding request is part of FDEP’s springs and watershed restoration program which provides funding for projects that improve the quality and quantity of the state’s water resources. FDEP works with the water management districts, local governments, and other stakeholders to identify and implement springs projects that achieve these goals.
"For our small communities and cooperators, this funding is often key to whether a project moves forward or not. Without it, our area would struggle to implement critical water supply, water quality and land conservation projects, causing our natural resources to suffer and growth to stall," said Hugh Thomas, executive director of the District.
Projects include:
- Ladson Tract Conservation Easement – Jefferson and Taylor counties – This $1.6 million project would include purchase of a conservation easement on the Ladson Tract and would protect surface water critical to Nuttall Rise, a first-magnitude spring, as well as the Wacissa and Aucilla rivers. This match funding request was made by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
- Eikel Farm Ichetucknee – Columbia County – Alachua Conservation Trust will apply this $402,750 along with matching funds from the NRCS cost-share program for the acquisition of 179 acres in the Ichetucknee Springs Priority Focus Area to protect and manage private land to benefit water and wildlife.
- Evergreen Ponds – Columbia County – This $721,502, 451-acre land conservation easement is a 50% match for NRCS funds providing water resource protection in the Ichetucknee Springs Priority Focus Area. This funding request was made by Alachua Conservation Trust.
- Devil’s Ear Recharge – Gilchrist County – A request for $660,000 by Alachua Conservation Trust will provide a match to the NRCS funds for the conservation easement of 355 acres of high recharge soils and managed pasture in the Devil’s Ear Priority Focus Area for water resource protection.
- City of Newberry Regional Water Quality Improvements – Alachua County – This $49 million project will allow the City of Newberry to remove septic tanks and upgrade to advanced wastewater treatment systems to meet required compliance limits.
- Trenton Alternative Water Treatment Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements – Gilchrist County – This multi-year project will expand the current wastewater treatment facility and reduce 5,411 pounds of total nitrogen per year to the groundwater. The Town of Trenton requested $2.3 million for the first year of the project.
- Bronson Septic Tank Phase Out Project, Phase 3 – Levy County – This multi-year project will remove 270 septic systems, which will be converted to central sewer. The project will reduce 1,611 pounds of total nitrogen per year to the groundwater in the Silver River and Upper Silver River/Rainbow Spring Group and Rainbow River BMAP. Bronson has requested $1.2 million for the first year.
- Bascom Norris / 100A Septic to Sewer Project – Columbia County – As part of this multi-year $9.3 million funding request, 119 septic systems will be converted to central sewer to reduce more than 1,100 pounds of total nitrogen per year in the Ichetucknee Springs Priority Focus Area. Completion of this project will also prevent the installation of up to 79 new septic systems.
The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties.
For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
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