The Department hereby establishes the following minimum flows
and levels in accordance with Section
373.042, F.S.
(1) Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and
Associated Priority Springs: The minimum surface water flows for the Lower
Santa Fe and Ichetucknee River and Associated Priority Springs are provided
below:
(a) The minimum surface water flows for
the Lower Santa Fe at the Santa Fe River near Ft. White, FL (USGS Gage No.
02322500) are:
1. 3, 101 cubic feet per second
(cfs) for a flow duration frequency of five percent,
2. 2, 523 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a
flow duration frequency of 10 percent,
3. 1, 768 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a
flow duration frequency of 25 percent,
4. 1, 214 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a
flow duration frequency of 50 percent,
5. 920 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 75 percent,
6. 749 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 90 percent,
7. 672 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 95 percent,
The minimum flows expressed above were derived from baseline
and minimum flow duration curves, shown on Figure 1a below, which were based on
a period of record of daily mean flows from October 1, 1932 to September 30,
1990 at the Santa Fe River near Ft. White, FL (USGS Gage No. 02322500). Only
the flows and associated frequencies listed in subparagraphs (1)(a)1.-7.,
above, are the established minimum flows.
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here to view image
(b) The minimum surface water flows for the
Ichetucknee River at U.S. Highway 27 (USGS Gage No. 02322700) are:
1. 473 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of five percent,
2. 448 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 10 percent,
3. 386 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 25 percent,
4. 343 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 50 percent,
5. 318 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 75 percent,
6. 282 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 90 percent,
7. 246 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a flow
duration frequency of 95 percent,
The minimum flows expressed above were derived from baseline
and minimum flow duration curves, shown on Figure 1b below, which were based on
a period of record of daily mean flows from October 1, 1932 to September 30,
1990 at the Ichetucknee River at U.S. Highway 27 (USGS Gage No. 02322700). Gaps
in the flow record prior to 1975 were filled using linear interpolation. Gaps
in the flow record from 1975 through 1990 were filled using a simple linear
regression where flow was a function of groundwater levels at SRWMD well ID No.
S041705001. Only the flows and associated frequencies listed in subparagraphs
(1)(b)1.-7., above, are the established minimum flows.
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here to view image
(c) The minimum surface water flows for the
Priority Springs are established as a percent reduction from the median
baseline flow contribution of each spring to the flow at the respective river
gages listed in paragraphs
62-42.300(1)(a) and
(b), F.A.C.:
1. Lower Santa Fe River Priority Springs:
a. Santa Fe Rise: Eight percent,
b. ALA112971 (Treehouse): Eight percent,
c. Hornsby: Eight percent,
d. Columbia: Eight percent,
e. Poe: Eight percent,
f. COL 101974 (Unnamed): Eight percent,
g. Rum Island: Eight percent,
h. July: Eight percent,
i. Devil's Ear (Ginnie Group): Eight percent,
j. GIL.1012973 (Siphon Creek
Rise): Eight percent.
2.
Ichetucknee River Priority Springs:
a.
Ichetucknee Head: Three percent,
b.
Blue Hole: Three percent,
c.
Mission: Three percent,
d. Devil's
Eye: Three percent,
e. Grassy Hole:
Three percent,
f. Mill Pond: Three
percent.
(d)
Pursuant to Section
373.0421, F.S., the Department
hereby adopts and incorporates by reference Section 6.0, entitled Supplemental
Regulatory Measures, effective date June 10, 2015. Copies of Section 6.0
entitled Supplemental Regulatory Measures are available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05105,
or on the Department's website at
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/waterpolicy/pubs.htm.
The Minimum Flows and Levels adopted in paragraphs
62-42.300(1)(a) through
(c), F.A.C., above, and the Section 6.0
Supplemental Regulatory Measures adopted herein are inseverable, shall be
construed as a whole, and are adopted simultaneously pursuant to subsection
62-40.473(5),
F.A.C.
(e) Upon completion of the
North Florida Southeast Georgia Regional Groundwater Flow Model currently under
development, the Department, in coordination with the Suwannee River Water
Management District and the St. Johns River Water Management District, shall
re-evaluate the Minimum Flows and Levels and the present status of the Lower
Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Associated Priority Springs pursuant to
Section
373.0421(3),
F.S., using the best available scientific or technical data, methodologies, and
models. No later than three years from the publication of the final peer review
report on the North Florida Southeast Georgia Regional Groundwater Flow Model,
or by December 31, 2019, whichever is earlier, the Department shall:
1. Publish a Notice of Proposed Rule to
strike paragraphs
62-42.300(1)(a) through
(d), F.A.C., and re-propose for adoption
Minimum Flows and Levels for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and
Associated Priority Springs and any associated recovery or prevention
strategies; and,
2. Adopt the
proposed rule in accordance with the timeframes provided in section
120.54(3),
F.S.
