"I think the long term viability of our river and the impact these decisions have long term on the ecosystem of the St. Johns River are critically important," Mayor John Peyton says. "We shouldn't make hasty decisions."

Filing an appeal with the administrative judge was aimed at slowing down a ruling from the St. Johns River Water Management District, charged with deciding the fate of the Seminole County proposal.

Central Florida argues the water is a minimal withdrawal, but necessary to quench the thirst of a booming population.

But, Atlantic Beach Mayor John Meserve is joining Peyton in asking for a comprehensive study.

"It could ruin the shrimping industry and we ought to understand wat the impact will be," Meserve told WOKV. "Before we start making mass permits and go down that road, complete your studies so we can all understand that it won't negatively impact the river."

The St. Johns Riverkeeper is also filing a pair of legal challenges aimed at stopping the Central Florida water withdrawal, concerned taking fresh water out of the river will harm the fragile estuary in Mayport.

Jacksonville and St. Johns counties' officials now have a little more than a week to appeal the most recent decsion.

In making his ruling, the state administrative judge argued he didn't believe Seminole County sihponing a tenth of an inch of surface water daily would create any major impact to the First Coast.