Now that staff has recommended denial of the Seven Springs/Nestle Consumptive Use Permit (CUP), the Governing Board of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) will make the final decision. We need the Board to listen to their own professional staff, the science, the law, and the public by denying the Seven Springs CUP.
As we’ve told you before, Governor DeSantis has left most of Florida’s water management district governing boards with barely a quorum to operate. The same is true of the SRWMD. Only six of the nine Governing Board Seats are filled. These Board Members will likely be under immense pressure from Nestle’s lawyers and lobbyists to reject the staff’s decision and approve a CUP.
These are the moments when we find out who the Suwannee River Water Management Governing Board really serves, the waters and people of North Florida or a multi-national corporation looking to get rich off selling our water.
The SRWMD Governing Board needs to hear from every person who cares about the Santa Fe. This isn’t just about one permit, one company, or one type of water use. It’s about drawing a line in the sand and saying, ‘enough is enough.’ We will no longer recklessly give away our most precious natural resource to anyone with a pump, a pipe, and a dream to make money, while our waters continue to decline.
What can you do?
FIRST, email the Governing Board Members and respectfully request that they follow the recommendation of District professional staff and uphold the law and public interest by denying the Seven Springs Consumptive Use Permit. You will find the email addresses and a suggested message below. Or CLICK HERE to get to a button that will pre-populate the emails and messages for you. (it's an email, so scroll way down to the button that says "Email the board - DENY the permit!")
SECOND, attend the SRWMD Governing Board Meeting at 9:00am next Tuesday, March 10 at the District Headquarters in Live Oak (9225 Co Rd 49, Live Oak, FL 32060). Show your support for protecting Florida’s waters and urge the Governing Board to follow the recommendation of their professional staff by denying the Seven Springs Consumptive Use Permit.
NESTLE
PERMIT
Write to the members of the Suwannee River Water Management Governing Board at the following emails:
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Copy and paste this message and edit as you like:
Dear SRWMD Governing Board,
The professional staff of the SRWMD have rightfully determined that the Seven Springs Consumptive Use Permit does not meet the requirements under Florida law and recommends that you deny the permit. I write today to ask you to follow the science, the law, and the recommendation of your professional staff.
This isn’t about one company, or one permit, it’s about the health of the Santa Fe River and the SRWMD responsibility to protect our waters and act in the public’s interest.
The Santa Fe River is already experiencing significant harm from excessive pumping leading to the degradation of this Outstanding Florida Water and diminished enjoyment for residents and visitors. We must take concrete, meaningful actions to restore the Santa Fe. Denying the Seven Springs CUP is a good start.
Thank you in advance for upholding Florida law and protecting the Santa Fe River by approving the staff recommendation to deny the Seven Springs Consumptive Use Permit.
Sincerely,