St. Johns River district outlines Black Creek recharge plan and Water First reclaimed‑water project

The St. Johns River Water Management District told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on Dec. 10 that traditional groundwater sources likely cannot meet projected demand across North Florida and the district is pursuing regional projects and conservation to close a significant supply gap.

Corey Hermley, strategic planning basin coordinator for the Lower St. Johns River Basin, said the district’s regional water supply planning shows “groundwater demand will increase by 135,000,000 gallons per day” by 2045 and that the district must pursue a mix of conservation, aquifer recharge and alternative supplies to avoid “unacceptable impacts to natural systems.”

Hermley described the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project as an aquifer‑recharge effort that will divert water in wet weather to recharge the Upper Floridan aquifer and help raise lake levels in Lake Brooklyn and Geneva. “The project will divert up to 10,000,000 gallons per day from the South Fork of Black Creek during wet weather or high flow periods,” he said, and added that withdrawals will be limited to a small share of the creek’s flow (no more than 4% at any one time) and are permitted only when flows meet minimum thresholds.

Hermley also highlighted the Water First North Florida project, now in predesign, which would route reclaimed water currently discharged to the St. Johns River to a constructed treatment wetland and then into strategic recharge locations. “The Water First North Florida project can meet the water needs of the region in conjunction with water conservation for the 20‑year planning horizon and beyond,” he said, adding the project’s design contemplates routing about 40,000,000 gallons per day of reclaimed water to recharge sites.

Commissioners and other attendees asked about implementation details, regulatory limits and alternatives. Commissioner Mike Gay asked whether utilities could rely on deep‑well injection or expanded reclaimed‑water systems, and Hermley said many utilities are increasing reclaimed‑water capacity but storage and infrastructure gaps remain; he called deep‑well injection a frequently less‑expensive near‑term option but said recharge or reuse is preferable where feasible.

Hermley said many projects are regional and cooperative, and that water supply plans are updated at least every five years to reflect growth and changing conditions. He recommended that commissioners and city staff consult the North Florida regional water supply plan and supporting appendices, which he said are available on the district’s website.

Because the commission lacked a quorum the body took no formal action on any permits or ordinances during the meeting. The district’s planning work and project designs will continue and utilities in the region will weigh hookups or alternatives as the Black Creek and Water First projects move forward.