Cynthia Barnett on Florida's Water Crisis
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Suwannee-St. Johns Group Sierra ClubNewsletter Published monthly except June and August from Gainesville, Florida VOLUME 42 • NUMBER 7 • September 2012 GENERAL MEETING Cynthia Barnett on Thursday, September 6, 7:30 p.m. NEW LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Florida’s Water Crisis Fellowship of Gainesville 4225 NW 34th Street, Gainesville that flows to our taps, irrigates our BY SSJ SIERRA CLUB BLUE REVOLUTION: food and produces our electricity. A WATER ETHIC FOR And most don’t realize their fresh- mericans (and Floridians) AMERICA & FLORIDA see water as abundant and water sources are in trouble. CYNTHIA BARNETT cheap: We turn on the fau- In her talk, “Blue Revolution: A Water Ethic for America & Florida,” award-win- AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST Acet and out it gushes, for less than a ning journalist Cynthia Barnett describes penny a gallon. We use more water an illusion of water abundance that has than any other culture in the world, encouraged everyone, from homeowners to much to quench what’s now our farmers to utilities, to tap more and more. largest crop – the lawn. Yet most She proposes the most important part of cannot name the river or aquifer the solution is also the simplest and least expensive: a shared water ethic among citi- zens, government and major water users. Cynthia Barnett is a long-time journalist who has reported on freshwater issues from the Suwannee River to Singapore. Her newest book, “Blue Revolution,” was named by The Boston Globe as one of the top 10 sci- ence books of 2011. The Globe describes Ms. Barnett’s author persona as “part journalist, part mom, part his- torian, and part optimist.” TAKE NOTE! The Los Angeles Times writes that she “takes us back to the origins of our water in much the same way, with SSJ Sierra Club General Meet- much the same vividness and compassion as Michael ings are now being held in a Pollan led us from our kitchens to potato fields and NEW LOCATION! feedlots of modern agribusiness.” Ms. Barnett’s first book, “Mirage: Florida and the Starting September 6, all Gen- Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.,” won the gold eral Meetings will take place at medal for best nonfiction in the Florida Book Awards the Unitarian Universalist and was named by The St. Petersburg Times as one of Fellowship of Gainesville at the top 10 books that every Floridian should read. 4225 NW 34th Street. WHEN THE RIVERS RUN DRY .................................................... 2 INNER CITY OUTINGS UPDATE .................................................. 4 UPCOMING SSJ SIERRA CLUB OUTINGS .......................................... 7 2 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club September 2012 Chair’s Corner: When Rivers Run Dry BY DAVE WILSON beautiful Bidwell Park gracing 3,670 acres freshmen called the Common Reading Pro- of downtown real estate. We also discovered gram. In 2008-09, this program featured hile Sierrans in North that Chico State University (CSU) has in- the book “When the Rivers Run Dry” by Central Florida are fo- stituted an innovative cultural project called Fred Pearce. I am willing to bet most of you cused on Adena Ranch, the Book in Common, where everyone in missed this event. While Mr. Pearce gave Wthe Silver River and the slime the community reads the same book. While an excellent talk on his research, I doubt crimes taking place in our beautiful the University of Florida has the Common it had much impact on the local water cri- Reading Program, CSU’s has widespread ses. Instead, it took the Herculean efforts springs, water will continue to be support through events sponsored by the of local environmentalists (including Bob a worldwide issue during the 21st County, City and Butte College. Graham, Bob Knight, Guy Marwick, John century. The book chosen this year is Robert Glen- Moran, Brad Rogers of the Ocala Star Ban- My wife and I observed the water prob- non’s “Unquenchable: America’s Water Cri- ner and Cynthia Barnett) working over- lem first-hand a few weeks ago on a visit to sis and What to Do About it.” Professor time to generate enough pressure to force the West Coast when we drove a rental car Glennon contends that we are spoiled and Adena Springs to reluctantly reduce their from chilly San Francisco to my cousin’s re- lazy, and we get the government (and poli- consumptive use application by 60 percent tirement pig roast in Chico, Calif., at the cies) we deserve when we passively stand (from 13.2mgd to 5.2mgd). northern end of the Sacramento Valley. As by and watch others squander a valuable My plans for expanding water awareness my wife fiddled with the controls of an un- resource. this fall include several outings to endan- familiar vehicle, the temperature outside Without trying, we uncovered water sins gered springs and rivers led by Tom Morris rose from 60 to 107 degrees. Big agriculture of every stripe including sprinkler systems and Rob Hopkins. Since some of the prop- was all around us, and sprinklers abounded. delivering potable water to lawns, sod, erties in question (namely, Adena) are diffi- Until well into the trip, the air condition- sidewalks, golf courses, walnut groves and cult to see from the road, we have initiated a ing was not functioning and somehow she orchards well into the late afternoon when discussion with an outfit based in Asheville, managed to turn on the butt warmer. We the temperature was in the 90s and the hu- NC, called South Wings for a flyover so are talking very hot and very dry. As we ex- midity was near zero. If this scenario sounds plored Chico, we found it to be the cultural familiar, it should. Cont’d on pg. 7 and educational center of the region with As it turns out, UF has a program for FOLDING PARTY Visit the National and Local Interested in hosting a newsletter folding Sierra Club Websites! party? Contact Scott Camil at 375-2563 Suwannee-St. Johns Group Sierra National: www.sierraclub.org Local: http://ssjsierra.org Club Newsletter (UPS 317-370) is Suwannee-St Johns Group Chairs & Executive Committee published 10 months a year, except June and August, by the Suwannee- Chair Dave Wilson 352-377-5250 [email protected] St. Johns Group Sierra Club, PO Box Administrative Dwight Adams 352-378-5129 [email protected] 141693, Gainesville, 32614-1693. Non- Conservation Whitey Markle 352-595-5131 [email protected] Program Chair Melanie Martin 352-246-3084 [email protected] member subscription rate is $5.00. Newsletter Publisher Scott Camil 352-375-2563 [email protected] Periodicals Postage Paid is paid at Events Sherry Steiner 352-375-2563 [email protected] the Gainesville, FL 32608 post office. Legislative Liaison Daniel Vazquez 352-870-6999 [email protected] Postmaster: Send change of addresses ICO Maryvonne Devensky 352-871-1606 [email protected] to SSJ SC Newsletter, P.O. Box 13951, Secretary Linda Pollini 352-246-4545 [email protected] Gainesville, FL 32604, or to ssjsierra. Treasurer Roberta Gastmeyer 352-336-2404 [email protected] [email protected]. Send both Outings Tom Morris 352-373-0741 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Jessica Newman 904-446-5588 [email protected] your old and new addresses. Environmental Education Daniel Freed 352-262-2555 [email protected] PLEASE ADDRESS ALL GENERAL Legal Daniel Vazquez 352-870-6999 [email protected] CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE Newsletter Design Jessica Newman 904-446-5588 [email protected] SUWANNEE-ST. JOHNS GROUP Webmaster Mike Wright 352-372-7975 [email protected] Membership Roberta Gastmeyer 352-336-2404 [email protected] OF THE SIERRA CLUB TO: P.O. Publicity Peter Monte 352-642-2314 [email protected] BOX 13951, GAINESVILLE, FL Fundraising Riley Peck 352-328-6213 [email protected] 32604. September 2012 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club 3 News from the Conservation Chair BY WHITEY MARKLE THE AQUIFER IS ALREADY sumptive Use Permit that comes be- BAKER COUNTY HEROES OVERPUMPED fore the Water Management Districts. But Adena Springs is a landmark case. Thanks to Dave Wilson for doing Dr. Bob Knight said, “The Water Perhaps the good Governor and his ap- the research and connecting with the Management Districts have already pointees (Florida Department of En- people we represent, Allison Brough- permitted too much water consump- vironmental Protection, Florida De- ton and friends, and finding the con- tion.” The springs and rivers simply partment of Agriculture and the Water tact with Dr. Sydney Bacchus (expert can’t stand any further withdrawals Management Districts) will learn that hydrogeologist) in the Baker County from the aquifer. After the panel of we are serious about our water quality sand mine issue. The sand mine was experts from the Adena Springs Ranch and quantity. I believe this is the show- asking for 2.2 MGPD. Thanks to Dr. stated that they were changing their down. Bacchus and Broughton’s efforts, the request from 13.3 million gallons/day To contribute to the legal fund, which mining company has at least temporar- (MGPD) to 5.3 MGPD on Aug. 22 in includes a lot of scientific research and ily withdrawn their application. Ocala, there seemed to be a great sigh data as well as potential litigation, of relief. send contributions to: SLC/ADENA, “BUSYBODIES” Not so. Any further withdrawals ex- 1229 NW 12th Ave., Gainesville, Fla. ceed the amount the springs need to 32601. My favorite of all professors in Urban recover. Planning Law was Dr. Earnest Bartley, Does this mean Adena will reduce CHASSAHOWITZKA HEAD- a tough old Nebraskan. His advice, in a its herd by 60 percent also? The an- SPRING TO BE SCOURED relaxed moment, was, “Busybodies are swer was, “No.” Logically, Adena knew quite necessary in government affairs in all along it didn’t need the proposed The Southwest Florida Water Man- that they have the time to attend all the 13.3 MGPD it requested (after they agement District has authorized $1.3 meetings and to follow issues through dropped their initial request from 27 million to scrape the algaefied sedi- the whole process.” Without them, the MGPD).