Salty Flow Into Rivers Blamed on Sea Rise

[thelakelander]

The folks who live along the Chassahowitzka and Homosassa rivers have noticed a lot of changes lately. Saltwater fish swimming in what used to be mostly fresh water, as freshwater fish disappear. Trees on the riverbanks toppling over, killed by an increase in salt. Barnacles growing where they never did before.

To them, the cause seems obvious: pumping too much fresh water out of the underground aquifer so people can keep their St. Augustine grass green. Overpumping cuts the flow of fresh water from the local springs into the rivers, allowing salty water from the Gulf of Mexico to begin pushing upstream.

So they were outraged when they found out the Southwest Florida Water Management District may let pumping cut back the rivers' flow even more. According to the agency commonly known as Swiftmud, the Homosassa's flow can be cut by another 5 percent and the Chassahowitzka by 11 percent before causing any "significant harm" to the environment.

"Our position is that you shouldn't take anything away from these rivers," said Brad W. Rimbey, an engineer who has lived near the Chassahowitzka for five years.

The clash turns on an unusual argument. Swiftmud's experts say the increased saltiness of the rivers is not due to overpumping. They contend it's due to climate change. That means it's not a sufficient reason to block more pumping.

full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20110918/NEWS/110919319/1374?Title=Salty-Flow-Into-Rivers-Blamed-on-Sea-Rise-

[buckethead]

The title (theirs, not necessarily yours) is a bit misleading. It initially sounded like a global warming article to me, but as it turned out, the claim is that fresh water taken from the aquifer is allowing salt water further in.  A big problem... and perhaps more immediate. 

[ChriswUfGator]

Especially considering the new pumping permit that was approved for the Saint Johns..