The Governing Board hereby establishes the following minimum flow. The Governing Board finds that the following minimum flow is the limit at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area.
The minimum flow for Wakulla Spring and Sally Ward Spring, combined and undivided, is 539 cubic feet per second and is calculated as the sum of the Wakulla Spring Average Flow and the Sally Ward Spring Average Flow. The minimum flow of 539 cubic feet per second represents an allowable flow reduction of 9.9%, or 59 cubic feet per second, from the baseline period value of 598 cubic feet per second. The baseline period is October 23, 2004, to December 31, 2019.
The District will evaluate the minimum flow for Wakulla Spring and Sally Ward Spring every five years as part of the regional water supply planning process to determine the extent to which the sum of the Wakulla Spring Average Flow and the Sally Ward Spring Average Flow has been reduced due to withdrawals as of the date of each evaluation. Each evaluation will be completed using flows beginning on October 23, 2004, and include a review of:
Each evaluation is independent from and not a determination of water use permit compliance or environmental resource permit compliance. Permit compliance is a regulatory function that is not within the scope of this subsection.
Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 40A-8.041
Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113 FS. Law Implemented 373.042, 373.0421, 373.103 FS.
New 5-18-21.