The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed "minimum flows and levels(Minimum Flows and Levels)":/mfl (MFLs) for the upper and middle Withlacoochee River at a public workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The workshop will be held from 6:30 to approximately 9 p.m. at the "District's headquarters(Google map)":http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=2379+Broad+Street,+Brooksville,+FL…, 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.
The upper and middle segments of the Withlacoochee River extend from River Road east of Dade City near the Green Swamp to the SR200 bridge east of Holder near Tsala Apopka Lake.
The state Legislature requires the District to set MFLs for priority water bodies within the District. A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment.
During the workshop, District staff will review the regulatory framework and the technical basis for the proposed MFLs. The workshop will also provide an opportunity for local governments, citizens and others to be part of the development of minimum flows and levels for the river.
Public comment gathered at the workshop will be summarized and presented to the Governing Board when staff submits the results of an ongoing independent peer review in the coming months. Following consideration of the comments and peer review report, the Governing Board may choose to adopt the MFLs into District rules. Governing Board meetings are open to the public where brief oral comments are permitted on meeting agenda items.
Written comments are also welcome and can be submitted via mail or email to Jason Hood, environmental scientist, no later than Oct. 29. The addresses are 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 or Jason.Hood@watermatters.org.
A draft report containing information on the development of MFLs for the Withlacoochee River is available on the District's web site. To locate the report, visit "WaterMatters.org/projects/mfl/":/projects/mfl/ and click on the "MFL documents and reports" link. For more information, please contact Jason Hood at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4192.
The upper and middle segments of the Withlacoochee River extend from River Road east of Dade City near the Green Swamp to the SR200 bridge east of Holder near Tsala Apopka Lake.
The state Legislature requires the District to set MFLs for priority water bodies within the District. A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment.
During the workshop, District staff will review the regulatory framework and the technical basis for the proposed MFLs. The workshop will also provide an opportunity for local governments, citizens and others to be part of the development of minimum flows and levels for the river.
Public comment gathered at the workshop will be summarized and presented to the Governing Board when staff submits the results of an ongoing independent peer review in the coming months. Following consideration of the comments and peer review report, the Governing Board may choose to adopt the MFLs into District rules. Governing Board meetings are open to the public where brief oral comments are permitted on meeting agenda items.
Written comments are also welcome and can be submitted via mail or email to Jason Hood, environmental scientist, no later than Oct. 29. The addresses are 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 or Jason.Hood@watermatters.org.
A draft report containing information on the development of MFLs for the Withlacoochee River is available on the District's web site. To locate the report, visit "WaterMatters.org/projects/mfl/":/projects/mfl/ and click on the "MFL documents and reports" link. For more information, please contact Jason Hood at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4192.