Letters from readers: Time to check the sprinklers
Letters from readers
Time to check the sprinklers
For 22 years, April has been recognized as Water Conservation Month in Florida, a designation to heighten public awareness about the many ways we can reduce our water use until summer thunderstorms arrive.
Each spring, a renewed focus on our lawns and landscapes make it an ideal time to inspect our automatic sprinkler systems and timers. The St. Johns River Water Management District’s seasonal “Did You Set It and Forget It” message is a timely springtime reminder to give your automatic sprinkler system a checkup for leaks, timer adjustments, replacing the rain sensor battery and other maintenance.
But first, it has some cleaning to do.
Excess water from Black Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns River, will be diverted by pipeline into Alligator Creek. From there, it will flow into Lake Brooklyn and eventually percolate into the aquifer, said Dale Jenkins, district director of projects.
“We would do it only under conditions of high wet-weather flow. We can divert up to 10 million gallons a day safely from Black Creek, which would protect the Black Creek system,” Jenkins said. “The primary purpose is a regionally beneficial aquifer recharge. The way we do that is by moving the water, when conditions dictate, into Lake Brooklyn via Alligator Creek after treatment.”
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY A state water agency used helicopters to start a nearly 10,000-acre prescribed fire at a wetland conservation area along the St. Johns River, a spokesperson said.
Land managers began the controlled burn at Blue Cypress Conservation Area outside Fellsmere shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday, and were expected to complete the 9,600-acre fire by the end of the day, said Teresa Monson with the St. Johns River Water Management District.
The agency is tasked with ensuring drinking water and the health of waterbodies and wetlands along the north-flowing St. Johns River watershed that stretches over 18 counties from Indian River County to Nassau County, according to the district.
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