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-80, Florida Administrative Code are being made as part of a rulemaking package, which will also include amendments to Chapters 40D-1, 40D-2, and 40D-8, 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. 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., that are part of this rulemaking package, and non-regulatory mechanisms including assistance in offsetting ground water withdrawals for frost/freeze protection through the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program. Amendments to Chapters 40D-1 and 40D-2, F.A.C., will add new forms and list updated forms as it relates to water use permitting in the Dover/Plant City Water Use Caution Area being proposed in companion proposed amendments to Chapter 40D-2, F.A.C.