Extreme water shortage declared in the region
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – The Suwannee River and St. Johns River water management districts have updated water shortage declarations for each of their portions of Alachua County and surrounding areas due to ongoing drought conditions and declining aquifer water levels.
The following water conservation actions are required and apply to wells and water supplied by a public or private utility:
- Landscape irrigation is limited to one day per week, between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
- Homeowners’ associations may not require additional watering of landscapes.
- Non-essential water uses are prohibited, including fountains and washing of streets, sidewalks and driveways.
- Pressure/soft washing for aesthetic reasons is prohibited.
Residents are asked to postpone planting new landscapes until the rainy season arrives, as the establishment period requires additional water, and establishment irrigation is currently limited, which may hinder landscape success.
“While we have experienced some rainfall in recent weeks, it will take considerably more to replenish our aquifer,” said Stacie Greco, water resources manager for Alachua County Environmental Protection Department. “Conserving water helps protect our regional water supply and local spring and river flows.”
Learn more about the water shortage and further watering restrictions for the region, at the Alachua County Water Resources or St. Johns River Water Management District websites.
There are three large tracts that primarily comprise the 104 acre listing for a high megawatt data center development site.
05855-000-000 | 69.12 acres |
12705 NW US HWY 441 | Owned by Lithium Nickel Asset Holding Company I, Inc (a foreign profit corporation registered in Delaware…aka a shell company)
05855-004-000 | 21.04 acres | 12871 NW US HWY 441 | Owned by IIP-FL3, LLC (a foreign profit LLC registered in Delaware…aka a shell company)
05855-004-001 | 12.92 acres | 12895/12887 NW US HWY 441 | Owned by IIP-FL3, LLC (a foreign profit LLC registered in Delaware…aka a shell company)
The 12.92 acre tract, known as Phoenix Park, was sold in 2019 by Phoenix Commercial Park, LLP to Harvest DCP of Florida, LLC for $6,450,000. Phoenix Commercial Park, LLP was managed and held under Virginia H. Johns, LLC with Virginia H. Johns signing as its manager (per recorded RE documents I viewed). Harvest DCP utilizes a corporate agent registration company to obscure the name of its principals/owners and its actual location…aka a shell company.)
Harvest DCP in turn sold this tract to another shell company, IIP-FL3, LLC, in 2021 for $23,800,000.
These three tracts total 103.08 acres, nearly matching the realtor’s listing of 104.13 acres. Without a current survey or more info it’s hard to know for sure but I’d venture to guess that the remaining 1.05 acres are the two adjacent tracks currently owned by Mitch Glaeser’s The Laser Investment Group, LLC. Laser also bought those two little lots from Johns’ Phoenix Commercial Park, LLP in 2018 for $378,000 (for a little over one acre).
Virginia Johns is currently a governor appointed board member for the Suwannee River Water Management District. She is also on the City of Alachua’s Planning and Zoning Board. She’s held both positions for years. Reread this paragraph please.
These properties are also serviced by Duke Energy with damn near unlimited amperage capacity.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Virginia and her family (Hipp) owns hundreds of acres just across 441 from this 104 acre site.
I don’t understand the point you’re trying to make. They had money and land so they sold it and made more money? 🤔
Position on SRWMD creates a perception of conflict of interest thereby leading to distrust of Government.
We don’t vote for WMD board and are at the whims of Tallahassee.
The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) needs to recharge the Floridan Aquifer to meet future water demands and maintain Minimum Flow Standards on the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers. Meanwhile, SJRWMD, through Jacksonville’s 120–180 MGD consumption, has a surplus wastewater disposal challenge.
The Plan
SJRWMD and SRWMD approved elements of the WFNF project in November 2025. It includes a proposed approximately 90-mile pipeline to transport highly treated reclaimed water from facilities in the Jacksonville metropolitan area to wetlands within the Suwannee River Basin for aquifer recharge. The project proposes to recharge the Floridan Aquifer with more than 40 million gallons per day (MGD).
Cost & Funding
The project is estimated to cost between $1.0 and $1.1 billion, including approximately $400 million in funding from JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority). The remaining ~$300 million would likely come from FDEP (state taxes), with the balance potentially from the districts themselves.
This is amazing we are in a critical water shortage however there’s a water bottle company at Jeannie Springs that pumps 1,000,000 gallons a day out they need to shut this place down. I didn’t see anything about not watering damn golf courses.either
Ginnie Springs.
How long until the county commission starts shutting off water to entire neighborhoods in order to make sure there is water available for the imported criminal homeless population?
Ridiculous comment even for our low bar here.
famous and enduring sentiment the classic aphorism: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”.