http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5215/t/3187/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1359

Proposed Surface Water Withdrawals
Threaten Manatees and Their Habitat
Send a quick online letter or attend meeting!

On April 13th, the Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) in Florida will vote on whether to grant a permit to Seminole County to withdraw 5.5 million gallons of water per day from the St. Johns River to help meet Seminole County's consumptive water demands. The water would be conveyed with a water transportation pipeline between the St. Johns River and the proposed Seminole County Yankee Lake Surface Water Treatment Facility. Over time, daily withdrawals from the St. Johns could increase to an astounding 55 million gallons per day. Such large water withdrawals could lead to algae blooms, loss of wetlands, and increased saltwater intrusion into the river. Manatees live in the St. Johns River, and Blue Spring, the winter home of many of Save the Manatee Club's manatee adoptees, is located just north of the proposed withdrawal site on the river. Water withdrawals in such large amounts from the river could negatively affect Blue Spring's water quality and quantity and compromise the hundreds of manatees using the spring as a warm-water winter refuge.

The St. Johns River was designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an American Heritage River. In 2008, American Rivers, a national conservation organization, called the St. Johns the 6th most endangered river in America. Please make a donation now to support our aquatic habitat conservation work and our efforts to protect this unique river system.

The SJRWMD has been supportive of the proposed water withdrawal plan. If the Seminole County permit is granted, other counties will certainly begin asking to tap into the St. Johns and other rivers around the state to supply unsustainable amounts of water to their growing communities. We cannot allow the health of natural treasures like the St. Johns River or Blue Spring to be compromised by Florida's poorly planned growth and refusal to appropriately value water. We must demand more rigorous water conservation practices and oppose wasteful water use both indoors and outdoors.

What You Can Do: Please click on this link to send a quick online letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board members, telling them that you oppose the proposed surface water withdrawals and support more rigorous water conservation measures.

Attend the SJRWMD Board of Governor's meeting in Palatka, Florida on April 13th at 1:00 p.m. to voice your opposition to these surface water withdrawals. The meeting will be held at the SJRWMD Headquarters located at 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, FL 32177. Get more information on the meeting and view the agenda.​

Please donate now to help us protect the river system and to support our aquatic habitat conservation efforts. Thank you for your help and support!

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5215/t/3187/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1359

I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed St. Johns River surface water withdrawals and transportation pipeline and ask that the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board deny Seminole County's permit application during the April 13, 2009 meeting.  The proposal, which would allow 5.5 million gallons of daily water withdrawals and could eventually increase to 55 million gallons per day, threatens the health of the St. Johns River, its tributaries, associated springs, and its many species of flora and fauna. The St. Johns River is a vital resource and was designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an American Heritage River. In 2008, the national nonprofit group, American Rivers, named the St. Johns River the 6th most endangered river in America. I am also concerned that approval of this permit could lead to other proposals for additional surface water withdrawals from surrounding counties.  Such withdrawals are a temporary solution to a much larger problem in Florida -- irresponsible water usage.  As a state, we must increase our conservation efforts and reduce our water consumption.  Tapping into natural treasures like the St. Johns River and our other rivers and springs is unacceptable.  Such short-sighted plans could easily result in long-lasting and devastating impacts to the environment and must not be allowed.  Please demonstrate that you value the St. Johns River and our water resources by denying Seminole County's permit and focusing your efforts on methods to cut per capita water usage among your consumers.

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5215/t/3187/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1359