Overview
Minimum flows are limits established by the District’s Governing Board for surface water courses that are intended to prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area that may be caused by water withdrawals. The District is developing new minimum flow standards for the Upper Peace River.
The Upper Peace River, the northernmost section of the Peace River, begins at the confluence of Saddle Creek and the Peace Creek Canal, just north of Bartow. From there, it flows south through Polk County into Hardee County, reaching Zolfo Springs.
To develop the draft minimum flows, District staff conducted extensive research, collecting a comprehensive set of data, including historical water levels and flow rates, instream habitats, water quality, and information on wildlife diversity and abundances. Minimum flows are established by the District’s Governing Board following an independent scientific peer review and careful consideration of public and stakeholder input.
Independent Scientific Peer Review Process and Public Input
District staff are preparing draft minimum flows for the Upper Peace River. The report, along with 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, will be facilitated using web-based teleconferences and a web forum, and will include opportunities for public comment.
Prior to initiating peer review, the District is seeking stakeholder input for potential peer review panelists. Please submit your recommendations to Lei Yang, PhD, PE, chief professional engineer with the District’s Natural Systems & Restoration Bureau via email at Lei.Yang@WaterMatters.org or by U.S. mail at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, Florida 34604 no later than September 2, 2025. 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 to discuss the proposed minimum flows, and public input may similarly support report revisions. Final draft minimum flow report, 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 2026
- District Governing Board meeting: Fall 2025; draft minimum flows report provided prior to peer review initiation
- Peer Review: Fall 2025
- Public Workshop: Fall 2025
- District Governing Board meeting: Spring 2026; final minimum flows report, peer review panel findings and public comment summaries will be presented with a request to initiate rulemaking