The Southwest Florida Water Management District will present its frost/freeze management plan and associated draft rules to the public 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the "Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center(HCC Trinkle Center)":http://www.hccfl.edu/pc/trinkle-center.aspx, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City.
During the 11-day January 2010 freeze event, the combined pumping by Dover/Plant City area farmers dropped the aquifer level 60 feet in some locations, causing 140 sinkholes and impacts to more than 750 wells. As a result, the District held a public meeting and a series of technical work sessions to receive input from local governments, residents, the agricultural community and others on ways to manage future severe freeze events.
The District has developed a management strategy that includes incentives to reduce groundwater use over time, expansion of well construction standards and regulatory limitations on groundwater use in the area. Some of the components of the management plan include:
* Expanding special well construction standards for the Dover/Plant City area
* Enhancing communication for freeze events
* Creating a water use caution area in the Dover/Plant City area
* Creating a new process for allocating dry well complaints
* Increasing incentives for alternative frost/freeze protection methods
* Expanding the data collection network for freeze events
The District's goal is to have all of the major components of the management plan in place before this winter.
For more information on the frost/freeze management plan or the upcoming workshop, visit the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/freeze-management/(Freeze Management)":/freeze-management
During the 11-day January 2010 freeze event, the combined pumping by Dover/Plant City area farmers dropped the aquifer level 60 feet in some locations, causing 140 sinkholes and impacts to more than 750 wells. As a result, the District held a public meeting and a series of technical work sessions to receive input from local governments, residents, the agricultural community and others on ways to manage future severe freeze events.
The District has developed a management strategy that includes incentives to reduce groundwater use over time, expansion of well construction standards and regulatory limitations on groundwater use in the area. Some of the components of the management plan include:
* Expanding special well construction standards for the Dover/Plant City area
* Enhancing communication for freeze events
* Creating a water use caution area in the Dover/Plant City area
* Creating a new process for allocating dry well complaints
* Increasing incentives for alternative frost/freeze protection methods
* Expanding the data collection network for freeze events
The District's goal is to have all of the major components of the management plan in place before this winter.
For more information on the frost/freeze management plan or the upcoming workshop, visit the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/freeze-management/(Freeze Management)":/freeze-management