Phyllis Saarinen: History repeats itself with Santa Fe River’s decline

Robert Knight's Nov. 10 column described the indifference of Florida’s water management districts and Department of Environmental Protection to the deteriorating condition of the Santa Fe River, the largest tributary of the Suwannee River and an important recreational asset of North Central Florida.

That indifference is reminiscent of a mid-1980s experience: Concerned with flow declines in the Wekiva River (an Outstanding Florida Water, like the Santa Fe) in Seminole County. Friends of the Wekiva River showed senior staff at St. Johns River Water Management District a U.S. Geological Survey report detailing drastic 30-year flow declines in the first magnitude Wekiva Spring as well as lesser springs that support the Wekiva River.

From the report, the flow declines were clearly attributable to the large-scale, district-permitted withdrawals of the horticulture industries that were up-gradient of the spring. The Wekiva River is a major tributary to the St. Johns River and supports the function of tens of thousands of acres of state wildlife preserves.

The response of the district’s senior staff? They said that they saw no problem.

A year or so later, Seminole County government funded a major aquifer evaluation of their drinking water well field, a project that was rightfully the responsibility of the district. The aquifer evaluation documented the decline of the aquifer level and its saltwater intrusion.

The response of the district’s senior staff? That the internationally recognized consultant was not qualified to do that work.

Former Gov. Rick Scott's politicization and defunding of the water management districts and DEP accelerated the long-term deterioration of those critically important agencies. Scott showed no concern at all for Florida's future water supplies, so important to the continued existence of the state as we know it.

Are Gov. Ron DeSantis's celebrated environmental appointments more than a feel-good smoke screen? Will DeSantis deliver essential reforms to the water management districts? Will he be able to move the Florida Legislature to provide funding adequate for the districts and DEP to fulfill their responsibility so critical to Florida's future?

Only if citizens tell the governor and legislature that sustainable, high-quality water supplies and clean springs and rivers are important to them.

Phyllis Saarinen lives in Newberry and serves on the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission from 1987-1991.