 | Review of the St. Johns River Water Supply Impact Study: Report 1 (2009)
The St. Johns River -- the longest river in Florida at 310 miles -- supports an extensive and diverse array of ecosystems. However, the St. Johns River Water Management District is seeking new water sources, beyond groundwater, to support a rapidly expanding human population in the watershed. One alternative would be to withdraw 262 million gallons of water per day from the river. To gauge the potential environmental effects, the Water Management District has undertaken a Water Supply Impact Study and has asked the National Research Council to review its scientific aspects and provide advice to the ongoing effort. This report identifies the highest priorities for the District as the impact study continues: to integrate ecological analyses, with each other and with surface water studies; to assemble basic data on sources, sinks, and storage of water and nutrients; and to apply advanced hydrologic and wetland modeling. These measures would allow the District to better understand the effects of the proposed water withdrawal, including the nature and extent of dewatering and partial dewatering that may alter the area's biology.
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