State water managers are asking residents and visitors in developed areas to cut down on water use because much of the state is in a moderate drought.
But some environmental groups said they want to see more cutbacks from farming, the No. 1 user of water in our area.
“By far and away the largest water user in the west coast area is agriculture,” said Bob Verrastro, with the South Florida Water Management District, the state agency in charge of permitting water usage. “Just over half of the water used is for agriculture. Public water supply is about 23%, so just some interesting facts about the Lower West Coast region.”
Gene McAvoy, with the University of Florida’s agriculture extension in LaBelle, said the area grows more sugarcane than corn, soybeans, tobacco and peanuts combined, and that the industry was moving toward the Fort Myers area.
Sugarcane consumes the most water of any crop grown in South Florida, and the industry is expected to stay stable in size over the next 23 years in terms of acreage.
“The announcement at the end of the meeting asking urban water users to conserve water during the current rainfall deficit seemed biased without broadening the ask to other sectors that use water, especially the biggest user of water in the planning area, agriculture,” said Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani, after the meeting “Have any use restrictions been required for agriculture during the current rainfall deficit?”
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