In January 2010, farmers in the Dover/Plant City area pumped large quantities of groundwater to protect their crops. This combined pumping dropped the aquifer level 60 feet and caused more than 750 temporarily dry wells for neighboring homeowners. Pumping groundwater for freeze protection is a best management practice for strawberry, citrus, and other industries and is authorized by water use permits. However, the farmers were responsible for fixing hundreds of the dry wells. Amendments to Chapter 40D-2, F.A.C., are being made as part of a rulemaking package, which will also include amendments to Chapters 40D-1, 40D-8, and 40D-80, F.A.C., to prevent a similar situation. Amendments to Chapter 40D-8, F.A.C., will establish a minimum aquifer level. The District has determined that the actual levels are below the proposed minimum aquifer level. As required by Section 373.0421, F.S., amendments to Chapter 40D-80, F.A.C., will establish a minimum aquifer level recovery strategy for the Dover/Plant City area. This will be accomplished by the proposed water use permitting rule amendments to Chapter 40D-2, F.A.C., included in the rulemaking package, Particularly, amendments to Chapter 40D-2, F.A.C., will establish a Water Use Caution area in the Dover/Plant City area and will establish associated water use permitting requirements to limit groundwater pumpage for frost/freeze protection in the area. Additionally, the amendments will revise and update District water use forms to be used in that area.