Purpose
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-1, F.A.C., are being made as part of a rulemaking package, which will also include amendments to Chapters 40D-2, 40D-8, and 40D-80, F.A.C., to prevent a similar situation. Effective and complete implementation of the current phase of the management strategy for the Dover/Plant City area frost/freeze crop protection pumping is dependent on each of the proposed amendments to Chapters 40D-1, 40D-2, 40D-8 and 40D-80, F.A.C. Particularly, amendments to Chapter 40D-1 will add new forms and list updated forms as it relates to water use permitting in the Dover/Plant City Water Use Caution Area (DPCWUCA) being proposed in companion proposed amendments to Chapter 40D-2, F.A.C.