Black Creek project celebrated

St. Johns River Water Management District officials, Clay County representatives, City of Keystone Heights council members and state officials celebrated the upcoming construction of the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project during a ceremony in Keystone Heights on Friday, Oct. 21.

The water management district said in a news release that the project will take excess water from Black Creek, pump it through a 17-mile pipeline, and eventually discharge it into a passive treatment system that will remove color and minor nutrients. From there, the water will flow into Alligator Creek and ultimately Lake Brooklyn, where recharge to the aquifer will occur through the lake bottom.

“This is a unique project and one that I believe will be used as an example in years to come for how to address water supply needs across Florida,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Board Chair Rob Bradley. “And while aquifer recharge is the primary benefit, I look forward to seeing the areas lake levels recover, bringing the economic and recreational benefits to the residents here in Keystone Heights.”

The district said that while the amount of water pumped each day will vary depending on the water level in Black Creek, the maximum amount of water diverted will not exceed 10 million gallons per day. To ensure the protection of natural resources within the creek, diversions will only be made when there is sufficient flow available.

“This community has been dealing with unstable lakes for over 30 years, so to see this project become a reality is really incredible,” said Save Our Lakes Organization President Vivian Katz James. “I am so thankful to Chair Bradley, the St. Johns River Water Management District and all the funding partners. The community now has an opportunity to see this beautiful lake region recover.”

Funding for the project was provided in the St. Johns River and Keystone Heights Lake Region Projects legislative appropriations over three years beginning in 2017. The total appropriation was more than $48 million, of which nearly $43.4 million was allocated to the Black Creek project. Additionally, north Florida utilities are contributing $19.2 million toward the project. Those utilities include the Clay County Utility Authority, Gainesville Regional Utilities, St. Johns County Utilities, and JEA. The remaining balance will be provided from district funds.