New irrigation rules for strawberry growers seem inadequate. Sinkhole dangers remain.

[madfloridian]

Sinkholes can happen when the aquifer is low because of drought, followed by heavy rain. They have always been common when growers used irrigation systems to keep their crops from freezing. Last year was one of the worst ever with our long cold spells. In fact according to the St. Pete Times last January, strawberry farmers "pumped nearly 1 billion gallons of water a day out of the aquifer during the 11-day cold snap this month, causing 85 reported sinkholes in the region and about 700 complaints of dried-up or damaged residential wells, according to figures released Tuesday by the Southwest Florida Water Management District."

They lowered the aquifer by 60 feet.

Scary stuff.

SO the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWIFTMUD) decided to make some rules to keep the growers from depleting the aquifer this year.

In my opinion the rules are a joke and do nothing to slow down the sinkhole formation.

From WUSF:

New Water Pumping Rules on Way for Farmers

The Southwest Florida Water Management District studied the problem - and eleven months later, they took action. The board voted unanimously to enact several restrictions on pumping.

Most of them won't take effect until February - but one emergency resolution takes effect this week. It says farmers who cause homeowners' wells to go dry have to compensate them more quickly.

The regulations don't specifically address sinkholes. January's overpumping opened up the earth beneath an elementary school entrance, an off-ramp on Interstate 4 and more than eighty other sites in eastern Hillsborough County. But Moore says the water district won't hold farmers responsible for sinkholes - saying there was no way they could prove pumping created the underground fissures.

There's "proof", and then there's overwhelming evidence.

Here's the kicker. Look at the timeline.

They mandate that farmers reduce their groundwater pumping by 20 percent over the next decade. Also, major water users will be required to install meters, so Swiftmud officials can monitor withdrawals during future freezes.

Only 20% over a 10 year period. That's not much improvement. Present growers will be grandfathered in, only new growers will have follow the new rules.

Inadequate.

There is a major sinkhole at a landfill just about 10 miles from the strawberry capital of the world, Plant City....give or take a mile or two. It is feared this sinkhole will leak into the aquifer. Not good.

No worsening of landfill sinkhole.


The sinkhole is 60 feet deep and 80 feet wide. It stretches across 108 feet.
TBO.com

The sinkhole is 60 feet deep and 80 feet wide. Including cracks it stretches across 108 feet.

County officials said the size and depth of the sinkhole has not changed since Thursday.

State regulators have given their Hillsborough County counterparts until Wednesday to submit plans to repair and stabilize the sinkhole.

The county has been taking water samples from groundwater monitoring wells at the landfill and four surrounding private wells. The state requested monitoring at two more private wells and also wants surface water samples taken at three sites.

Those nearby are concerned about well water, and I would say there should be more concern that just those nearby. It could contaminate the aquifer.

From ABC Action News:

Sinkhole under landfill causes concern over well water

There is a news video at the link.

Persaud says he needed a filter to get rid of the sulphur smell in his water. But in the Hillsborough County neighborhood that used to be an orange grove, wells are a way of life. And Persaud’s way of life may be threatened, after a sinkhole opened underneath a county landfill not far from here.

...We've learned the Department of Environmental Protection is involved. There's concern from environmental experts about a five-foot thick clay liner that buffers buried garbage and if it’s been compromised. The county says an additional 100-foot natural earth buffer lies underneath that, buffering the Florida Aquifer.

"When it rains and there's waste in that landfill, the water that filters through the waste and is collected at the bottom of the landfill is considered leachate," said Ana Gibbs, spokesperson for Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Whether leachate or contaminated liquid has gotten into groundwater is still unknown
but soon the county will find out.

Sinkholes are so common that precautions should just be automatic and part of life here. But rules have been forgotten for those with influence. Twice a whole lake drained in central Florida...the first time they were permitted to draw water from the aquifer to refill it. I am not sure about the 2nd time. I heard they were doing it, just not publicizing it. Nice homes, money and influence.


From the Lakeland Ledger. Residents wait for sinkhole repair.

From 2007:

Lake drained twice by sinkhole should NOT refill from Florida aquifer.

LAKELAND - Scott Lake is still not back to its old self. The 285-acre private lake is waiting for a permanent fix - and rain showers to fill it back up - after a gator-gulping sinkhole drained it in June.

Residents will need approval for work on the shore and lake bottom from the DEP. The plan is not yet in the DEP pipeline, according to a spokeswoman for the agency.

Residents will also need to deal with the Southwest Florida Water Management District if they want to drill a well to refill the approximately 1 billion gallons of water sucked down the thirsty sinkhole.

"Plugging the hole has to come first," said Curry.

The residents made the lake private and denied any outside access to it, even got the city to do fencing for them at boat landings.

I don't know how this came out, but I fear they were once again allowed to get water from the aquifer.

[madfloridian]

1. A "Christmas sinkhole story" from South Florida. More aquifer abuse.

http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2010/12/water-mis-management-in-florida-heres.html

"This one is from Broward County where waterway residents were rudely woken when backyards collapsed into the adjacent canal. David Fleshler wrote the story. The line that woke me up: "... the city was waiting to hear from the insurance companies' engineers on the possible cause."

Here is one possible cause; damage to the Biscayne aquifer through excessive water withdrawals. ie. draining wetlands supported by porous limestone. The photo tells the story. Just a day ago, local news reported a sinkhole swallowing a school bus near Tampa. Draining fragile aquifers that used to be Florida wetlands has been great business for Florida developers and land speculators and Big Ag."

...."Fleshler writes, "Sinkholes form when the limestone underlying the land is dissolved by water and forms a cavity, into which the overlaying land collapses." He might have added how dewatering aquifers serves special interests; ie. the tyranny of consumptive use permits and their role in turning sinkholes into a litigation frenzy. ("Sinkhole Claims Threaten to Engulf Florida Insurers", Wall Street Journal Sept. 21, 2010).

..."I'd guess that Florida's drained aquifers are just giving out, in some places. Like the edges of canals. Or in sandy counties where an abundant aquifer marked by fresh water, crystalline streams, and incredible wildlife have just plain disappeared into the hands of developers and farmers pumped for every dollar their campaign contributions were worth. And they were worth a lot: the entire state of Florida is sinking under their weight".

[pokercat999]

2. Wonder what that former lake-front McMansion is worth

now?

[madfloridian]

3. I have been looking for info past that last incident.

I have not been able to find anything new. Which tells me they figured some way to refill the lake the 2nd time.

[madfloridian]

4. The lake I mentioned is listed in Top Ten Drained Lakes

on a site called Webecoist in an article called The Sinking Feeling.

Over halfway down with more pictures. No updated info, but the pictures of the various lakes are interesting.

http://webecoist.com/2010/07/27/that-sinking-feeling-the-top-10-drained-lakes/

"Scott Lake is a 291-acre natural lake in Lakeland, Florida, 30 miles east of Tampa. Like Lake Delhi, Scott Lake is owned by the surrounding homeowners who are once again asking state authorities to refill the lake and preserve their property values. Yes, “once again” – Scott Lake has drained before, in the early 1970s, caused by sinkholes opening up in the porous limestone bedrock that lies beneath the lake.

n June of 2006, as many as 4 sinkholes suddenly opened in the lakebed and before you could say “Great Scott!”, Scott Lake was drained. Since then a heated controversy has arisen over demands from wealthy owners of lakeside property that water from Florida’s freshwater aquifer be used to refill the lake. This wasn’t a problem in 1974 but today, water is in short supply as Florida’s population puts increasing strain on the state’s fresh water supplies."

[Johnny Morales]

5. Don't stress I'm sure the Republican Governor and Republican legislature will develop "common sense"

private enterprise led solutions to this problem. Being a private enterprise solution means it won't cost the state a dime, and won't require any oversight, because business people are inherently honest.

No doubt their solution will actually end up being an abundant revenue producer, which could potentially allow the Republican legislature and Governor to.... yes, you guessed it, taxes can be cut.

The Republicans of course have legions of evangelicals on their side. Already the legion of evangelicals/born again types in this very religious state are hard at work praying for that solution, some holding regular vigils 24/7 hoping to feel some holy mercy and get the solution from their Republican State leadership.

[madfloridian]

6. Ok, now I am really stressing.

Just hearing Scott's name and realizing how much power he and the legislature have....eek!

:hi:

There's no one in the state legislature to perform checks and balances.