Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard. Photo Credit: Ana Goni-LessanDEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. said Thursday he's concerned that establishing a committee to oversee springs issues could delay department efforts to protect water.
The comments were in response to statements Wednesday from former Sen. Bob Graham in a letter that he and other members of the Florida Conservation Coalition sent to Gov. Rick Scott.
The letter cited dramatic declines in water flows to Silver and Rainbow springs in Marion County. Graham called on Scott to establish a resource planning and management committee as provided for under Florida law to oversee protection of springs in north Florida.
Vinyard said he shares Graham's sense of urgency in dealing with water issues. But Vinyard said establishing a committee could delay department efforts already under way, including two regional initiatives that are holding public meetings scheduled for next week.
"To start from square one with a new committee or commission seems to be an opportunity for delay," Vinyard told The Florida Current. "And what I have is a sense of urgency. I want for both to move forward and move forward quickly."
The Central Florida Water Initiative includes only Seminole, Orange, Osceola Lake and Polk counties. Agencies involved in the initiative are hosting an open house Thursday in St. Cloud.
On Monday, the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership holds its initial stakeholder advisory committee meeting at the St. Johns River Water Management District in Palatka. DEP and the Suwannee River Water Management District also are involved.
A third working group was established three weeks ago to share data on Silver and Rainbow springs, said Jennifer Diaz, DEP's press secretary. The agencies involved are DEP's Florida Geological Survey, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Graham told the Current on Thursday that the lack of setting "minimum flows and levels" to protect Silver Springs shows the state water regulatory system is not working. Adena Springs Ranch has applied to pump more than 13 million gallons per day of groundwater.
Vinyard said he doesn't know why the minimum flows haven't been set for those springs. The St. Johns River Water Management District says it will set minimum flows for Silver Springs in 2013, after the ranch permit could be issued.
After being appointed last year, Vinyard said he established DEP's first Office of Water Policy to improve the sharing of science among the state's water districts.
"Obviously I can't control what was done or not done in the previous 30 years," Vinyard said. "But I share the public's concern."
"We have some of the best scientists, really, in the world on water issues housed in our water management districts and housed at DEP. They certainly have our support to do the right thing to protect these resources. I'm encouraging them to move as quickly as the science allows."
Related Research: Read Monday's letter from the Florida Conservation Coalition.
Reporter Bruce Ritchie can be reached at britchie@thefloridacurrent.com.
