|
on
mmwmmcmmmm
wmmxasmmorm
mm
mmnowmmn
by
John H. Shim-field, Director
oride mpertnent of Ueter heourcee
W 19. 1959
The propose]. to conetruct e canal ecroee Florian, in the vicinity of
cone, Florian, hee long been e dream of any prominent Florian citieene.
Since ite tiret propoeel, however, there hen, liheviee, been may eitieene
the have looked on the project can coneidenhle liedvime, ace-Lama pri-
nriILy by her of deetmction of amend veter neeom-cee in Centre]. m.
m econaic Jmitioetion {or e um]. an be up]; covered by othere,
but the conservation end protection of veter reeoureee ie e nutter or vitel
concern to the oride Depertnent of Hater Reecurcee. We hue nede en inveet-
intion or the prohehle effecte of the contraction of the canal on the enter
neourcee or the etete end theee mtee win our findings end oonclueione.
1. Surfeee Ueter. The eppmxilete looetion or the pmpoeed cenel ie
etched on the attached choc: shoving, by Deane of rough .118, the principle
street and the pieecaetric eurteee or the principle erteeien aquifer 11:: the
entine state. The cut]. will. follow the St. John end 0mm rivere to the
vicinity of Silver Springe, v1.11 then turn wet emu the (Dental Ridge to
the Uithlecoochee River in the vicinity of new syringe end thence into
the Gulf of hxioo.
-2-
The two mace etrem. thus intercepted, have wide fluctuation of new
upstream from the points of interception, but both are fed by urge opt-incl
discus-sing at the" points and thus have I dependable base flow. The Okla-
vehe River upetreea for: Silver Springs bu e recorded minim- dioohu'ae of
33 eta smile Silver Springs has a. recorded minimum dilohnrae of 350 cu.
he Hithluoochee River upstream from Reinbov Sprlm has I aim recorded
discharge of 1% cr- vhile Rainbow Spring- hoe I minim recorded clinch-ran
of 315 on.
During drought periodn, upstream: sections of both Itrem m novigeble
by all boots only with greet difculty end ground voter resources ere lov-
emd by leakage into tho rivcrn. 0n the other hand, during flood periods,
the upper mine of both stream suffer comideroble huge, due in port to
the lock of capacity for discourse thru dovnetreu nches. Authoriutioe of
flood contml projects on both the chum River and tho Vithloooochee River
ere even now being nought by local interacts. The improvement of the lover
reaches of these etxem in the came of construction of the Crou Florida
urge Gen-l will anteriolly reduce requirements for om for these flood
control project: vhen they ere undertaken.
It in our opinion that construction or the provooed emu-State lone
Coal vill beneficially effect both dry weather end flood ttege conditions
in both eta-us. Proposed etructureo at points or interception will provide
an opportunity to hold voter in the rivor bod during periods o: 11: flov and
emerged channels will improve runoff thru the lover reaches during flood
periodn.
.3.
2. Ground water. Since the proposed location of the canal is in the
trough oi the pietonetric surface of the artesian aquifer, into which ground
water discharge: both free the north and from the south, we are of the opin-
ion that the canal will have little, it any, detrimental effect on ground
water conditions. It is our understanding, that the anal is to be operated
so that the surface of the vater within the canal will reuin at the sue
elevations an the ground water. Under these conditions we om Dune! no
njor ground water problems- It is our understanding, that present plans call
ibr two dens vith locks for the passage of hosts and two additional locks
east or the Central Ridge section, and two locks along the Vithlacoochee Riv-
er, west of the ridge. The opportunity to improve runoff due-113 vet periods
and to maintain a relatively fixed water level in the upper sections of the
canal during dry periods, will, in our opinion, only smooth out extrane peaks
and valleys in the fluctuation of ground water levels inediately adjacent
to the canal.
3- W-
(a) It is recognized that flood prevention benefits can, at best,
be only incidental in a navigation proJoct of this magnitude. however, these
benefits are none-the-less iaportant to the residents of the area traversed
by the canal route. The substitution of flood prevention benefits for pmv-
ioue objections Which vere based on the belief that the project posed a po-
tential threat to the water resources or the area is a significant acne-plieh-
nent. The State or Florida can now Join the Federal Govern-eat in assuring
the residents of the region that their interests will not be neglected or
seriously threatened.
(h) It in nonessended that this project be implemented by the appropri
ation or hands at the earliest possible date.
PAGE 1
.....pren .'.a sesources a Florian, in .be -:1einity of y p:-ominist Floride cui r.eml. i ike-ide teer. "'Imr'y citi Ze.S able misgivings, xcasioned prir rescurces in Cental Florida. will be eriply :oerd oy echers, rer.aurces iEi a D'atter Of vltal ensrees. We have maal an invest. racil-n of the es.r-al cr. the unter ri;'e Cur findirg M-d eenclusions utimi
PAGE 2
-< alors of M1 h strears g:-e r.avigable 7 Rid ("''o-liid '-11.'-"! re5(l'4rdP5 al"e 10-2, ..be other hulid, dur1rg fined periods, -r conti.-terat]e dar..sge, due in nar-. to ra dowr.rtreer rea:sien, Au*.hario.1er. o: La'-Eba River aga i br: 'lli.blacco;~nep illve: ".Preat.[1. Taf: 1-iprove"'lent of et-,e ] eve y -of gr,3ru ::. Een a r se cy,-x.E. ye rm
PAGE 3
2.~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~ ...... .....~c h mpsdlcainG teCnl st
|
