The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County are holding a series of workshops to ask developers, engineers and the general public to review and comment on 22 watershed management plans.
A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common low point, sinkhole complex, or a body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.
During the workshops, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented for review and comment. After addressing the comments, the floodplain information will be used to develop the preliminary flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) for Hernando County, and for floodplain management by county and District regulatory staff.
The floodplain information will help communities manage floodplains and wetlands; flood risks; land and water resources, and planning for emergencies. It will also provide information to homeowners making decisions about protecting their property.
The workshops will be held throughout Hernando County July 9 through Aug. 6. Additional workshops will be held later this year or early next year to solicit public comments and appeals for the Federal FIRM approval process.
For more information, to view the workshop dates, or to find out which watershed you live in, please visit the web page www.WaterMatters.org/floodplain.