Florida Citrus Mutual

TELEPHONE(813) 682-1111 P. O. BOX 89 LAKELAND. FLORIDA 33802
BOBBY F. McKOWN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT May 1981
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Mr. James Tatum
Executive Director
Southwest Florida Water19
Management District
5060 U. S. Highway 41, South
Brooksville, Florida 33512 ;o

Dear Mr. Tatum:

Florida Citrus Mutual has just had an opportunity
to review the specific findings of fact, conclusions
of law, and specific orders in the water shortage
declaration and restriction of water use, Order #
81-19. We have a very substantial concern about the
findings of fact and the specifics of the order as
it relates to agricultural water use. As a result
of the comments made-by Dr. Griffiths, of our staff,
at the regular board meeting in May, we do plan to set
up a discussion conference with members of your staff
and possibly with others to explore the possibilities
for improved procedures in determining the possibility
of a water shortage and in planning the application
procedures that would be used.

"Very sketchy data was presented by the staff con-
cerning current water levels both in the surficial
aquifer as evidenced by lakes and in the Floridan
Aquifer as represented by deep well measurements.
Data was almost totally lacking regarding Polk, High-
lands, DeSoto, and Hardee Counties. The flow of the
Peace River was at a minimum; Crooked Lake was down,
and the water levels in a measured well near Mulberry
were cited. That well was not down as compared with
, historic records for the same date.

Other records from the ridge itself were either
not available or were simply not compared with normal
historic fluctuations for this time of the year. It
may well be that there was a critical water shortage
in areas other than the coastal sections of South
West Florida Water Management District, but the avail-
able data was an inadequate basis for the conclusion
that permanent damage to water resources would be
accomplished if agricultural and industrial utilization
were not curtailed inland from the coast. The small








Mr. James Tatum
May 29, 1981
Page 2

amounts of rain which have occurred alleviate the problem
for citrus irrigators, but do not reduce our concern
about the methodology used by a staff and by the Board.

The citrus growers of the district have always en-
joyed a very good working relationship with the board
and with the staff. We are looking forward to the
meeting which we will set up for sometime in late June.
We thought it was better to get the water shortage out
of the way before we started talking about another one.

We will look forward to the opportunity to work
with you. You certainly have accepted a challenging
position. Please feel free to call upon us at anytime.

Sinc ely yours



Bobby P. McKown
Exec 4ie Vice President

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