The District reevaluated minimum flows for the Lower Peace River and developed new minimum flows for Lower Shell Creek. The minimum flows for the Lower Peace River became effective in 2021 and minimum flows for Lower Shell Creek became effective in 2022.
Overview
Minimum flows are limits for flowing water bodies established by the District Governing Board to help prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area that may be caused by water withdrawals.
The District has previously established minimum flows for the Lower Peace River in DeSoto and Charlotte counties in 2010. Minimum flows were not established for Lower Shell Creek at that time. An initial reevaluation of the minimum flows for Lower Peace River was completed in 2015 and it identified ongoing and proposed data collection efforts intended to support a more comprehensive reevaluation.
In support of the comprehensive reevaluation, revised minimum flows for the Lower Peace River and Lower Shell Creek were developed using the best information available, as required by the Florida Statutes. The recommended minimum flows were also based on all relevant environmental values identified in the Florida Water Resource Implementation Rule for consideration when setting minimum flows.
The original 2010 minimum flows report, 2015 reevaluation report for the Lower Peace River, and the current draft report on the recommended minimum flows for the Lower Peace River and Lower Shell Creek are available on the District’s Minimum Flows and Levels Documents and Reports page.
Stakeholder Outreach, Peer Review Panel Meetings and Public Workshop
Staff has met with stakeholders to discuss and solicit feedback on the recommended minimum flows for the Lower Peace River and Lower Shell Creek.
In addition, the draft minimum flows report and all scientific data and technical methods used to support the development of minimum flows were subjected to scientific peer review. A panel of three independent, recognized experts in the fields of hydrology, hydrogeology, limnology, biology and other scientific disciplines reviewed the recommended minimum flows and prepared a summary report of their findings for consideration by the District Governing Board.
Meetings conducted by the peer review panel were facilitated by the District as web-based teleconferences. The web-based teleconferences included opportunities for public comment on the review process. Details about the peer review panel’s work was accessible through a web forum.
A public workshop was held in October 2020 to solicit additional stakeholder input on the recommended minimum flows for the Lower Peace River. A similar public workshop on the recommended minimum flows for Lower Shell Creek was held in November 2021. Information about MFL public meetings was available at the District’s MFLs Public Meetings page.
All public comments were summarized and shared with the District Governing Board for their consideration when reviewing the recommended minimum flows.