This year, the District is scheduled to adopt minimum flows for Horse Creek and Charlie Creek, two tributaries to the Peace River.
Overview
Minimum flows are limits established by the District’s Governing Board for surface watercourses that are intended to prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area that may be caused by water withdrawals.
Independent Scientific Peer Review Process and Public Input
District staff are preparing draft minimum flow reports for Horse Creek and Charlie Creek. These reports and the scientific or technical data, methodologies, models and assumptions used to support development of the proposed minimum flows will be voluntarily subjected to independent scientific peer review. The review will be conducted by three recognized experts in fields relevant to the development of minimum flows. All peer review panel meetings will be listed on the District’s calendar, facilitated using web-based teleconferences and a web forum and include opportunities for public comment.
Prior to initiating peer review, the District is seeking suggestions for potential peer review panelists. Please submit your recommendations to Senior Environmental Scientist Kristina Deak, PhD, with the District’s Natural Systems & Restoration Bureau via email at Kristina.Deak@WaterMatters.org or at 7601 US 301, Tampa, Florida, 33637, no later than Feb. 24. Qualifications of recommended panelists for the peer review and their contact information should be included in all submittals. Please include your name, email address, phone number and whether you are representing yourself or an organization.
The peer review panel will provide comments and recommendations to the District, which may require report revisions or additional technical analysis to address. Following the peer review, a public workshop will be held for discussion of the proposed minimum flows, and public input may similarly support report revisions. Final drafts of minimum flow reports, peer review findings and public input will be summarized for consideration by the Governing Board when they are asked to initiate rulemaking to adopt the proposed minimum flows into District rules.
Tentative Schedule
- Stakeholder outreach and meetings: Ongoing throughout 2023
- District Governing Board meeting: Spring 2023; draft minimum flows reports provided prior to peer review initiation
- Peer Review: Spring – Summer 2023
- Public Workshop: Summer 2023
- District Governing Board meeting: Fall 2023; final minimum flows reports, peer review panel findings and public comment summaries presented with request to initiate rulemaking