The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFL) for lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined.
A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving the delicate balance between meeting human water needs and those of Florida’s natural systems. The District continues to make significant progress in the establishment ofMFL for key water bodies in both the Northern Tampa Bay and Southern Water Use Caution Areas. Water Use (or Resource) Caution Areas are the focus of the District’sMFL program because they represent areas where water resources are already critical or are predicted to be critical within the next 20 years.
Two public meetings will be held. The first meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6:30 p.m., at the District’s Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road. The second meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m. at the District’s Brooksville Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street. The purpose of the meetings is to receive public input on a draft revised priority schedule for establishing minimum flows and levels. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise the schedule each year.
The meetings will afford an important opportunity for local governments, citizens and others to be part of the scheduling of minimum flows and levels for rivers, streams and other flowing waters, lakes and aquifers. The revised schedule will be considered for adoption at the Governing Board’s regularly scheduled meeting in September at the District’s Brooksville headquarters.
The adopted Minimum Flows and Levels Priority List and Schedule for 2004 is available on the District’s Web site at www.WaterMatters.org. on the Water Management Issues page. The draft Priority List and Schedule for 2005 will be available on the District’s Web site by August 30, 2004.
Changes to the draft Priority List and Schedule for 2005 are the result of the District’s desire to maintain its focus and funding on the already extensive list of lakes, streams, springs and aquifers for whichMFL are already being developed. This approach will allow the District to make further progress in establishingMFL for key water bodies in both the Northern Tampa Bay and Southern Water Use Caution Areas by the end of 2006.
Written comments are also welcome and can be submitted via mail or E-mail to B. Terry Johnson, planning manager in the District’s Planning Department, no later than Sept. 17. The addresses are 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville,FL 34604-6899 or Terry.Johnson@swfwmd.state.fl.us.
For more information, please contact Terry Johnson or Paula McCleery at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4400, or 1-800-423-1476, ext 4400.