Southwest Florida Begins To Hear The Forbidden Word - "Unsustainable" - Thanks To Drought [View All]

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Since January 2006, Southwest Florida has recorded a 20-inch "deficit" in average rainfall. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, citing La Niña conditions, predicts continuing drought into summer 2008 -- at least. During a La Niña, Florida's November through March temperatures average 2-4 degrees warmer; rainfall is up to 60 percent less than normal.

Already, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 58 of Florida's 67 counties as disaster areas. The drought has cost the state's agricultural industry $100 million a month. What it will mean to tourism and building, Florida's other two primary industries, remains uncertain. Alarmed residents are lobbying state legislators to retool the Growth Management Act to better preserve long-range water supplies.

On the local level, water is assuming a higher priority when councils and commissions deliberate building plans and other consumptive uses. In addition, this drought, this year, has fostered a subtle shift that could have a profound influence on future development as regional water authorities -- such as the Peace River/Manatee Regional Water Supply Authority -- assume a greater role in growth-management decisions.

The water authority produces between 18-20 million gallons a day of water for 250,000 customers, primarily in Charlotte and DeSoto counties, and North Port. Nearly all that water comes from the Peace River. Unfortunately, the river will soon be too low and too slow, to provide that water. The authority is prohibited from drawing water unless the river is flowing faster than 130 cubic feet per second. In August, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, or Swiftmud, issued an emergency order lowering that bar to 90 cfs. It extended the emergency in November.

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http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsstory.cfm?pubdate=123007&story=tp1ch5.htm&folder=NewsArchive2