Albert G. Joerger took his oath of office Tuesday to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board.
Joerger was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to a newly created seat. The Governing Board was previously made up of 11 seats. Last year the State Legislature added two new seats for a total of 13. Joerger’s term ends March 1, 2011.
The Sarasota resident is the founder and president of the Sarasota Conservation Foundation, which works with landowners and local governments to protect and preserve Sarasota County’s bays, beaches and barrier islands for future generations. The foundation holds conservation easements and owns nature preserves, educates on responsible land stewardship, and collaborates with individuals, organizations and communities.
Joerger feels his extensive background in acquiring lands for conservation as well as his work with public/private partnerships will give him a wealth of experience to draw from when making policy decisions on the Governing Board.
He will also assume responsibility as co chair ex officio of the District’s Manasota Basin Board, which represents Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to manage the water and related resources of west central Florida to meet the needs of current and future water users while protecting the environment. Each Governing Board member also serves as chair ex officio of a Basin Board.
The District has eight regional Basin Boards that provide guidance for local programs that are specific to the watershed basins they protect. The District’s ninth basin, the Green Swamp, is administered by the Governing Board. Basin Boards work with local governments and other entities on water resource projects that have an impact in local communities. Basin Boards often provide partial funding for these projects in partnership with a local government or local cooperator.