Don't Sleep on water as a scarce natural resource

While much attention has been on oil and gas as scare natural resources, water deserves attention as well. this scenario will continue to play out across the country and world.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - North and central Florida aren't feeling very neighborly at the

moment as they battle over water from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers to meet central Florida's exploding population demands.

Central Florida plans to take millions of gallons of water a day out of the rivers, angering north Florida residents and officials who say that could cause grave environmental damage, particularly to the north-flowing St. Johns.

"It is madness. We do not believe there is surplus water in the river," said Neil Armingeon, a St. Johns riverkeeper. The position is a privately funded advocate for the river. "We are not going to stand by and let the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers be degraded."

North Florida cities such as Jacksonville, St. Johns County and a river advocacy group all say the plan would destroy the delicate balance of saltwater and freshwater needed to preserve critical biological habitat and submerged vegetation.....