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jum 1319 BOOK 77 F�0,E 16 E. Request for County_ Participation in St. Johns River Water Management -6 st ct V�ieil'Plugging_Program The Board reviewed memo from Community Development Director Keating: TO: James Chandler County Administrator FROM: Robert M. Keating, AICP RAAK Community Development Director DATE: May 30, 1989 SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR COUNTY PARTICIPATION IN ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WELL PLUGGING PROGRAM It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at their regular meeting of June 13, 1989. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS: Several months ago, the.staff of the Management District (SJRWMD) contacted abandoned artesian wells in the county. ;.. both the county and the district for �.z. Probably the most important reason .,-.,.,degradation of the surf icial aquifer St. Johns River Water county staff regarding These are a concern to a number of reasons. is the water quality which occurs with the introduction of the high chloride water from artesian wells percolating into the shallow aquifer. Although the. --district does not know the specific number of uncapped artesian wells existing in Indian River, it estimates that there are a substantial number. Many of these are located in old groves. Because these wells have no cost to the property owner, there are no financial incentives for property owners to pay the cost of plugging these wells. Currently, SJRWMD offers a cost sharing program for property owners willing to plug their wells. Through this program, the district pays half the cost of the well plugging program. However, only half of the cost may exceed $600 to the property owner. That has resulted in few property owners using this program. To get more wells plugged, the district has instituted a cost-sharing program with local governments, whereby the property owner bears no cost. At present, the district has cost sharing programs with Brevard and Seminole Counties. These have been relatively successful in plugging free flowing wells. In Brevard and Seminole counties, the county's share of the program costs have been $50,000 and $30,000, respectively on an annual basis. SJRWMD estimates that Indian River County's share of a well plugging program -would be $30,000 annually. To fund the county's portion of the cost, $30,000 has been put in the community development department's 1989-1990 budget. If this appropriation is approved and participation in the well plugging 16