The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a virtual workshop Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the virtual workshop is to allow for public comment on recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River in Hillsborough County. These are the first minimum flows being established for this river system and will include both the upper (freshwater) and lower (estuarine) portions of the river.
Members of the public may join the meeting via Microsoft Teams through this link https://bit.ly/LMRMeeting. The Google Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Microsoft Teams. For telephone-only participation, dial 1-786-749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference ID: 827 298 974#.
Minimum flows are limits established by the District’s Governing Board, and required by state law, to protect flowing water bodies from significant harm caused by ground and surface water withdrawals. The District’s scientists use numerous tools to collect, develop and analyze data before recommending a minimum flow. Their work is then evaluated by an independent peer review panel.
During the workshop, District staff will review the technical basis for the recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River. A draft report for the recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River is available for review and is posted at WaterMatters.org/documents-and-reports. Visit the Minimum Flows for the Little Manatee River webpage for more information and a timeline about the process.
Also on the webpage, a virtual public comment card will be open now through Oct. 6, 2023, for the public to submit comments to the District. District staff anticipates presenting the recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River for Governing Board approval this fall.
For more information regarding the recommended minimum flows, please contact Kym Holzwart, Lead Ecologist with the District’s Environmental Flows and Assessments Section at (352) 269-5946. Written comments regarding the minimum flows are also welcome. They can be submitted via mail or email no later than Oct. 6, 2023, to Kym Holzwart, at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 or kym.holzwart@watermatters.org.