There are TWO MAJOR recharge areas for the Floridan aquifer. One is located in the Valdosta, Georgia area and the other one is through Lakes Brooklyn and Geneva in Keystone Heights, Florida. The low water levels of those two lakes reflect the fact that the aquifer is being drawn down at a greater rate than rainfall can resupply the recharge areas. The project is a 17-mile pipeline that will connect Middleburg’s Black Creek to Keystone Heights, Florida. The pipeline will pump a maximum of 10 million gallons per day and is expected to increase the water level at Lake Geneva by 10 feet. Spring Lake is part of the Etonia chain of lakes so too will also be recharged substantially.  

                                                                                          Cost of the Black Creek Project 

The current cost estimate for the construction of the system, including the pump station, pipeline and treatment system, is
approximately $100 million. 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 Clay County Utility Authority, Gainesville Regional Utilities, St. Johns County Utilities, and JEA. The remaining balance will be provided from District funds. The appropriation was championed by Sen. Rob Bradley of Fleming Island (who currently serves as the District’s Governing Board Chairman), Rep. Bobby Payne of Palatka, and Rep. Travis Cummings from Orange Park.