The Northwest Florida Water Management District is working with FEMA to create updated flood maps for counties in northwest Florida. For an updated schedule, broken down by county, please click here. For more information on the flood-map project, visit the District’s Flood Information Portal.
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NOTICE: Bluff Springs Road and Bluff Springs Recreation Area to close
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NOTICE: Bluff Springs Road and Bluff Springs Recreation Area will be closed beginning Monday, October 31st due to a bridge replacement project. This project entails replacing the bridge at Pritchett Mill Creek. Weather permitting, the project is anticipated to be completed by March 2017. Upon completion, both the road and recreation area will reopen to the public. Thank you for your patience.
District adopts 2016-17 budget focused on springs, water resource protection
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PANAMA CITY – The Northwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board on Sept. 22 adopted a $62.2 million budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17, which begins Oct. 1. The budget represents an increase of $6.5 million from Fiscal Year 2015-16.
More than half of the District’s budget – $31.5 million – is directed to restoring and protecting springs throughout northwest Florida. The budget also includes funding for water supply and water development assistance to local communities, and improving the water quality in the Apalachicola River and Bay system.
While the District funds many of its operations through the collection of ad valorem taxes and timber sales, the state also provides significant operational support and funding for projects that protect the region’s water resources.
“Thanks to the support of Secretary Steverson and DEP, Governor Scott, and the Legislature, the District is able to make significant strides toward completing projects that will make the greatest positive impact on the region’s natural resources,” said Governing Board Chairman George Roberts.
Included in the newly adopted budget are the following highlights:
* $31.5 million for springs projects. This funding will enable the District to implement springs restoration projects for Wakulla Spring, Jackson Blue Spring, and springs associated with the Holmes and Econfina creek systems.
* $9.5 million for water supply and water resource development assistance to continue support for cooperative grant projects across northwest Florida. This funding also supports the collaborative efforts with Bay County, Gulf Power, and Panama City to expand reclaimed water use in Bay County.
* $2 million for monitoring and technical assessments to develop Minimum Flows and Levels for the St. Marks River Rise, Wakulla Spring, Sally Ward Spring, Jackson Blue Spring, the Floridan aquifer in coastal Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties, and the Lower Yellow and Shoal River system.
* $2 million for watershed restoration. This funding will facilitate continued efforts to protect and restore water quality and estuarine habitats in the Apalachicola River and Bay system through the implementation of cooperative stormwater retrofit projects and other best management practices. This funding will also support focused project planning to benefit watersheds across northwest Florida.
After Hurricane Hermine, all District campsites now open
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With the re-opening of Christoff’s Landing and Florida River Island, all recreation sites within the Northwest Florida Water Management District are now available for public use. To make a camping reservation, please visit the District’s Recreation page.
District extends successful Mobile Irrigation Lab program
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HAVANA – The Governing Board for the Northwest Florida Water Management District recently approved funding for the Mobile Irrigation Lab program for a 13th year.
The Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL) helps the agricultural community of northwest Florida increase irrigation efficiency, conserve water resources, and reduce nutrient loading while also reducing operating costs. Since implementing the MIL program in 2004, the District has increased water savings to approximately 9.25 million gallons per day.
The District’s Governing Board approved $71,125 in funding for the program in Fiscal Year 2016-2017. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services also provided $82,364 to help fund the program while the National Resources Conservation Service provided $61,450 in in-kind budget expenses. The total annual cost for the Mobile Irrigation Lab service is approximately $215,214.
“The Mobile Irrigation Lab and programs like it are at the very core or our mission to protect and preserve the natural resources of northwest Florida,” said George Roberts, chair of the District’s Governing Board. “We are grateful for the support from DACS and the NRCS to help continue this highly successful program.”
Since 2004, the MIL program has completed 777 evaluations, covering an irrigated area of over 57,000 acres. MIL evaluations are free and voluntary with the team providing irrigation system checks, meter calibration checks, and irrigation consultations to agricultural producers.
The MIL provides assistance across all 16 counties in the District with priority given to systems within delineated spring recharge basins in Jackson County and within the Water Resource Caution Area in Gadsden County.
For more information on the Northwest Florida Mobile Irrigation Lab, please visit: https://nwfwp.sgssys.info//Water-Resources/Agriculture/Mobile-Irrigation-Lab.
Williford Spring Now Open
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HAVANA – The Northwest Florida Water Management District celebrated the opening of Williford Spring with a special ceremony last week.
Considered one of the most popular recreation spots in the Econfina Creek Water Management Area, Williford Spring underwent a two-year, $1.66 million restoration effort that focused on improving water quality and clarity and enhancing public access.
Representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Washington County Board of County Commissioners, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department joined the District to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Williford Spring truly is a special place, not just for northwest Florida but for all of Florida,” said Ted Everett, a member of the District’s Governing Board. “We are grateful for the support from Governor Scott, the Florida Legislature, DEP, and FWC to help make this restoration project a success.”
The District first broke ground on the restoration project in May 2014. Nearly 87,500 pounds of sediment were removed from the spring. Stormwater treatment areas were also constructed to reduce the amount of sediment reaching the spring.
Boardwalks, a canoe dock, three picnic pavilions, a public restroom, and entrance steps to the spring were also installed.
“The District takes great pride in investing in projects that people can see and touch,” District Executive Director Brett Cyphers said. “We value our role in protecting and preserving the region’s natural resources while also providing access to citizens so they can enjoy these natural resources.”
Williford Spring is now open to the public from dawn to dusk each day. Visitors can enjoy swimming, hiking, wildlife viewing, picnicking, and the use of a canoe/kayak dock.
For more information about Williford Spring as well as other recreational sites within the Econfina Creek Water Management Area, please visit https://nwfwp.sgssys.info//Lands/Recreation/Area/Econfina-Creek.
Costello, Spring reappointed to District’s Governing Board
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TALLAHASSEE — Governor Rick Scott announced two reappointments to the Northwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board.
Jon Costello, 35, of Tallahassee, is a governmental consultant with Rutledge Ecenia P.A. and an adjunct professor at Florida State University. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University. Costello is reappointed for a term beginning August 2, 2016, and ending March 1, 2020. Costello has served on the District’s Governing Board since Sept. 17, 2012.
Samuel “Bo” Spring, 40, of Port St. Joe, is the managing member of Big Fish Construction LLC. He currently serves as the chair of the Gulf County Planning Development Review Board and as a member of the Bay Building Industries Association. Spring received his bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 2, 2016, and ending March 1, 2020. Spring has served on the District’s Governing Board since Nov. 7, 2012.
The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
District hosts ribbon cutting ceremony for Williford Spring
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The Northwest Florida Water Management District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. (Central) on Tuesday, July 26, to celebrate the re-opening of Williford Spring.
The District first broke ground on restoration efforts at Williford Spring in May 2014.
Williford Spring is located off Strickland Road, which can be accessed from Highway 20 between Highways 77 and 231. (The spring is roughly one mile north of Highway 20.)
For more information, please email jim.lamar@yopmail.com.
District awarded $15.3 million for springs projects
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HAVANA – The Northwest Florida Water Management District received more than $15.3 million for springs-related projects from Governor Rick Scott’s 2016-17 Florida First Budget. The money, which comes through the Department of Environmental Protection, will be used to fund eight springs restoration projects in Bay, Jackson, Leon, Wakulla, and Washington counties.
“Governor Scott, DEP Secretary Jon Steverson and the Florida Legislature have once again shown their commitment to restoring and protecting the springs in northwest Florida,” said George Roberts, Chair of the District’s Governing Board. “The District looks forward to working with DEP, local governments, and other stakeholders to continue our work on springs protection.”
The $15.3 million from DEP is expected to leverage more than $3.7 million in matching funds, bringing the total funding for springs restoration projects to $19.1 million for 2016-17.
Projects were selected based on pollutant reduction, water conservation, resource protection, cost effectiveness, and available matching dollars. The eight selected projects will benefit Cypress, Econfina Blue, Gainer, Jackson Blue and Wakulla springs.
“We are grateful for the continued vision and leadership shown by Governor Scott, Secretary Steverson and the Florida Legislature,” said Brett Cyphers, executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District. “Funding for these projects will allow the District to sustain and expand efforts to protect our unique and priceless springs, while also keeping with our mission to ensure the health and well-being of the residents and water resources of northwest Florida.”
The springs projects include:
Wakulla Springs – Woodville Sewer System Project Phase 1: Awarded $1.5 million from DEP with an additional $1.5 million in matching funds to design and permit a central sewer system in southern Leon County. The system will serve approximately 1,500 homes which are currently on septic tanks. Upon completion of a future phase of this project, the estimated nutrient load reduction is 29,000 pounds of nitrogen per year.
Wakulla Springs – Septic-to-Sewer: Awarded $637,000 from DEP with a $1.9 million local match for a septic-to-sewer project that will connect up to 130 homes currently on septic tanks to the existing central sewer system within the city of Tallahassee and the priority groundwater contribution area for Wakulla Springs. The estimated nutrient load reduction is 2,500 pounds of nitrogen per year.
Wakulla Springs – Advanced Septic Systems Pilot Project: Awarded $1.5 million from DEP for the design and installation of advanced septic systems in two neighborhoods in Leon and Wakulla counties. The estimated nutrient load reduction is 1,500 pounds of nitrogen per year.
Jackson Blue Spring – Agricultural Best Management Practices: Awarded $1 million from DEP with a $333,333 local producer match to continue an agricultural best management practices cost share program in the Jackson Blue Spring basin. The funding will assist approximately 32 producers with retrofits to improve water quality and quantity, helping to protect the first magnitude spring. The project is estimated to reduce nitrogen application by more than 10 percent.
Jackson Blue Spring – Septic-to-Sewer Project: Awarded $3.4 million to design, permit and construct a central sewer service to the Jackson Blue Springs Recreational Area and approximately 82 homes along Blue Springs Road. The project includes removing the public park septic tank at Jackson Blue Spring as well as homes adjacent to the spring-fed Merritts Mill Pond.
Gainer Springs – Group Land Acquisition: Awarded $6 million from DEP for the acquisition of up to 942 acres and spring bank restoration at the first magnitude springs complex along Econfina Creek in northern Bay County through fee simple and conservation easement. The project will help protect natural systems and reduce erosion to Gainer Springs Group.
Cypress Spring – Protection and Restoration: Awarded $1.1 million for fee and/or less-than-fee acquisition of up to 308 acres surrounding this second magnitude spring along Holmes Creek in Washington County. The project also includes limited restoration and public-access improvements.
Econfina Blue Spring – Protection and Restoration: Awarded $200,000 from DEP for public-access improvements and shoreline restoration and protection at Blue Spring Camp, a major camping and recreation site located in Washington County along Econfina Creek.
Including the eight District projects, a total of 35 projects statewide have been selected to receive more than $56.6 million in state funding from Governor Scott’s 2016-17 Legacy Florida Bill and are expected to leverage another $33.1 million in matching funds. This brings the total state and local investment in springs projects to $278.8 million in the past four years.
NWFWMD FY 2016-2017 Water Supply Development Grants
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The District announces the availability of grant funding for water supply development projects that help communities across northwest Florida meet local and regional water supply development needs. The District anticipates making approximately $1 million in grant funding available for this purpose, subject to Governing Board approval of the FY 2016-2017 budget in September.
Proposals are due at District Headquarters by Wednesday, August 10, 2016. The application form and guidelines can be found on the District’s home page by clicking on the “Water Supply Grants” button. For more information, please contact Christina Coger at (850) 539-5999, (800) 913-1518, Christina.Coger@yopmail.com.