MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

H015
FARMS Back-Plug Program
Project Type WS&R Dev.
AOR(s)
Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Alafia River, Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager BRUMBAUGH, DAVID
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
COUGHLIN, KEVIN, SUMMERALL, LINDA
Description
Punta Gorda's in-stream drinking water reservoir is sustained by Class I surface water bodies comprised of the Shell
and Prairie Creek watersheds. In 2000, the City of Punta Gorda contacted FDEP and the District with concerns for
declining water quality trends observed in the reservoir. Investigations indicated that irrigation pumping from deep
wells was a primary source adversely impacting the watersheds through degraded agricultural runoff, ultimately
leading to a decline in water quality of the Punta Gorda reservoir downstream. In 2002, the Back-Plug Program was
initiated primarily to improve water quality in the watershed systems of the SWUCA. The back-plug program was
included in the Facilitating Agricultural Resources Management Systems (FARMS) Program in 2005.
Benefits
Well back-plugs may become a procedure recommended for agricultural growers wanting to significantly improve crop
yields by decreasing highly mineralized sources of groundwater used for irrigation, and to mitigate potential impacts to
public surface water supplies.
Costs
Qualifying landowners are reimbursed up to a maximum of $6,500 per well for back-plug procedures, with final
amounts of reimbursement determined by borehole dimensions of the back-plugged interval. The Shell, Prairie, and
Joshua Creek (SPJC) watersheds are considered priority areas for this program.
Additional Information
A brochure and webpage is available from SWFWMD summarizing the FARMS Back-Plug Program.
Prior
Funding
Cumulative FY 2009 FY2010
Transfers Funding Funding
District Budgeted - Ad Valorem Based
Revenue
010 General Fund (Districtwide) 646,068 (30,000) 51,054 45,296
0 712,418
011 Alafia River Basin 43,876 0 7,736 10,777
0 62,389
020 Peace River Basin 683,380 0 21,389 23,067
0 727,836
021 Manasota Basin 24,899 0 8,034 11,455
0 44,388
Status As Of: September 02, 2009
Total:
Future
Funding
A total of 63 wells have been back-plugged in the SWUCA overall to date, with 46 of these wells located in the SPJC
priority watersheds. Analytical results for samples collected from the 46 back-plugged wells in the SPJC area indicated
conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) and chloride were decreased by 47%, 47% and 63%, respectively, with
pumping yields reduced by 23% as a result of back-plugging procedures. For the 17 wells in the SWUCA (outside of the
SPJC area), seven wells were back-plugged in the Peace River watershed, six in the Alafia River watershed, two in the
Manatee River watershed, one in the Myakka River watershed, and one in the Horse Creek watershed. Analytical results
for all back-plugged wells combined in the SWUCA indicated conductivity, TDS and chloride were decreased by 46%,
46% and 60%, respectively. Combined SWUCA pumping yields were reduced by 24% as a result of back-plugging
procedures. Routine monitoring results of select back-plugged wells so far have indicated sustained improvements to the
quality of groundwater used for irrigation purposes.
021 - Manasota Basin 204
Total
Funding
$1,547,031