City of High Springs joins Alachua County and sends letter expressing concern about Mill Creek Sink developments in City of Alachua

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – At their August 22 Regular Meeting, the High Springs City Commission decided to send a letter to the City of Alachua declaring High Springs as a third-party intervener in the upcoming discussions about the four planned Tara residential developments. A dye trace study and other evidence indicate that wastewater outflow from these proposed neighborhoods in the City of Alachua will travel to Hornsby Spring at Camp Kulaqua and surrounding areas in High Springs.

During Citizen Requests and Comments, High Springs resident Bryan Buescher raised concerns about a possible new source of water pollution. Buescher said, “The City of Alachua has painted a target on our backs by moving forward on a development that is going to impact probably the most significant ecological feature of Alachua County, and that’s Mill Creek Sink. And the reason why it’s impacting us here in High Springs is because of a geological feature called ‘The Cross-County Fracture.’ And what that fracture does – it allows water to go from Mill Creek Sink, over by Sonny’s on 441 and I-75, directly to Hornsby Spring [at Camp Kulaqua].”

Buescher continued, “The main thing, I think, is that there’s also a 372-acre recharge field that’s planned by the Water Management District, and that is within the City of High Springs, and it’s directly on the path. I mentioned a dye trace study when I was here last time, and that dye trace study showed that within five days, water entering Mill Creek Sink shows up at Hornsby, and it takes more than 150 days for it to clear, meaning it can have a substantial impact on our community.”

Buescher said he had new information: the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners recently drafted a letter to the City of Alachua stating that they are an affected party to possible water pollution of the Mill Creek Sink, and they are requesting affected party status. Buescher said this is significant because their request includes not only the 192-acre Tara Forest West development but also a few other adjacent planned developments, totaling 378 acres.

Buescher concluded, “What I’m here tonight to do is to urge you to join Alachua County in sending a letter to the City of Alachua requesting affected party status and perhaps even significant affected party status. Thank you.”

Pointing to a map, Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth asked, “That’s the Suwannee River Water Management property, right? So are they getting involved in this? Because I know exactly where this property is at, and that’s going to go through their property. Are they okay with that water, being potentially polluted, coming to High Springs like this?”

Buescher responded, “My understanding with the Suwannee River Management is they basically have a directive to approve growth.”

Bloodsworth continued, “Where do we as High Springs have any say or fight in this? Looking at that diagram,…  that water is… going right under that Suwannee River Water Management property, going right through the northern part of High Springs, just missing Bailey Estates, and going to Camp Kulaqua/Hornsby Spring. Where do we have any fight to do anything about this? Does anybody have any direction?”

Acting City Attorney Kiersten Ballou said her office could research how Alachua County proceeded, and she could bring back a report to the next meeting about whether or not High Springs would have standing as an affected party.

Responding to Bloodsworth, Buescher said the County is preparing to make a presentation to the City of Alachua in late September. [Editor’s note: At the August 22 Alachua County Commission Special Meeting, the County Manager told the board they will hear a presentation from their staff on September 24; the City of Alachua has indicated that no action will be taken on the development until a final plat is submitted, in a few months.]

Another member of the audience, a diver who had conducted the dye trace study mentioned by Buescher, said, “My gut feeling on this thing is it needs to be looked at very very carefully. It’s got the potential to pollute a lot of groundwater.”

Mayor Katherine Weitz asked, “And in this path is our own wellfield? Our own potable water supply wells, right?” Bloodsworth responded, “Not very far. I guess Memorial Field would be the closest well.” Weitz continued, “It’s all pretty connected. So that’s my concern.”

Commissioner Tristan Grunder asked if they could send the letter and decide to “pull back” later. Attorney Ballou said they just wouldn’t go to the quasi-judicial hearing for the plat approval if they chose not to participate.

Ballou suggested, “My only concern is that you all don’t know for certain that you’re an affected party at this point in time, and I wouldn’t want to advise you in getting cross with another City without true harm and knowledge of it.”

Grunder responded, “That dye test is – …  I would call that pretty damning evidence… My personal preference would be we fire off a letter just letting them know, and if they get upset about it, well I’m sorry, that’s not their water. It’s ours.“

Weitz said, “I think it offers us the opportunity just to open up a dialogue.”

Weitz suggested directing the City Attorney to draft a letter including data such as USGS maps showing the directional flow of water.

Ballou said sending the letter would give High Springs “better footing” as a third-party intervener than just showing up at the quasi-judicial hearing, and City staff would have time to develop data about the negative impact on High Springs before the hearing.

Grunder made a motion to direct the City Attorney to write a letter to the City of Alachua letting them know that High Springs will be a third-party intervener. Bloodsworth seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.

Another commenter said he is the president of a cave diving association with over 800 members around the world. He reminded everyone that High Springs is a global destination for cave divers who come here to enjoy the water quality and contribute to the local economy.

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