Insightful op ed in the Gainesville Sun: Jean Wonser: Fragile land unsuited for farming Published: Monday, September 1, 2014 at 6:01 a.m. Headed for home after shopping in Chiefland, it seems prudent to pull over and avoid the water pouring on the state road from an irrigation pivot. The Ford does not need a wash job — it is kept clean with my pride. But wonders never cease: With irrigation, farmers can now grow crops in Florida and take advantage of the warm weather, in spite of lousy sand that naturally wants to grow native plants and pines. It turns out that water management discovers the culprit with no permit is dumping water. Why is this happening? Originally North Florida was forested, with no need for nitrates and irrigation. Cypress was logged from swamp land back in the 1940s and converted to slash pine, a wetland pine. Dry sand hills were clear-cut of that great timber product, longleaf pine. Farmers quit replanting pine and started growing crops such as watermelons that need nitrates and water. A U.S. Department of Agriculture soil survey lists about 98 percent of Gilchrist County as either wetland or deep-drained sand. About 2 percent is listed as prime farm soil with sufficient clay to hold water for plants. If the melons dont work out, farmers can always plant millet for silage to feed cows on their factory farms masquerading as dairies. What is done with manure for several thousand cows confined in barns is another tale. A computer check revealed that the farmer dumping water pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years from the USDA for various projects. A water permit requires just filling out the application, or water managers will fill it out for you. Farming is in the public interest, not the other way around. Dumping water on land unsuited for cropland is now in the public interest. There is a frightening environmental problem in Florida, certainly for North Florida: over-pumping and nitrate pollution. Our fragile land cannot support the present farming practices on land suited to timber. Maybe the governor is unconcerned knowing that predictions of global warming by 2050 may find parts of Florida supporting marine life, at least what is alive after pollution affects the ocean waters. Overpumping is creating disaster in the rivers and springs. During the extended drought, which hopefully is just starting recovery, saltwater intruded into wells along the coast of Levy and Dixie counties. Many experts feel the proposed regulations for minimum flows and levels are insufficient and will only kick the can down the road for later. We know the Santa Fe River basin is already below the proposed minimum flows and levels standard. Just look at that green algae flow. Fertilization and other nitrate sources are impacting our rivers, springs and the Floridan Aquifer. This comes primarily from agricultural uses, but residential use from city sewage systems or rural lots can play a part when poorly located or ill maintained. Officials across Floridas governmental units are experts at passing the buck and avoiding the tough decisions. They each have favorite excuses. But they will have no excuse on payday. The time is now to make those tough decisions. Here are several ideas: Deny permits to irrigate on deep-drained sand fields, as defined by the USDA. Dumping water on sand is easily defined as against the public interest. Develop incentives for everyone to replant longleaf pine. Tax residential units at realistic rates to represent the need for services. Assist economic development to drive suitable jobs and business more appropriate for this new age. Everyone needs to take a vow to respect our only Earth and its environmental resources. Florida already has a statute, 193.441, that states it is in the interest of the state to protect our groundwater from pollution, over utilization and other degradation. Lets act like we believe it. Jean Wonser lives in Gilchrist County. gainesville/article/20140901/OPINION03/140839995/-1/opinion?p=all&tc=pgall
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:20:53 +0000
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