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Issues & Public Policy : Water & Natural Resources


Reports

South Florida Water Management District: August Agricultural Highlights Report

SFWMD Governing Board Prioritizes Land Purchase Above Quality/Storage Projects

South Florida Water Management District: June Agricultural Highlights Report

EPA extends deadlines for enacting new Numeric Nutrient Criteria in South Florida waters, dispersed storage and budget developments covered in this report

South Florida Water Management District Report: February 

Cold weather affecting crops, District begins strategic planning, dispersed storage and more

 

December Agricultural Highlights Report

 

South Florida Water Management District Report: October 2009 

WRAC, Project & Lands Committee Both Endorse Dispersed Storage

 

South Florida Water Management District Report: September 2009

 

South Florida Water Management District Report: August 2009

South Florida Water Management District has a full governing board

South Florida Water Management District Report: July 2009 

South Florida Water Management District Forms an ‘Ag Team’

South Florida Water Management District Report: May 2009

In this report: US Sugar land purchase plan approved; dry conditions worsen

South Florida Water Management District Report: April 2009

In this report: Governor Crist Announces Reduced Version of U.S. Sugar Acquisition Plan

Southwest Florida Water Management District Report: April 2009 

In this report: Water shortage orders, free workshop for growers, Closshey reappointed to WMD

 

Florida Farm Bureau Federation Expands Opposition to Water Management District Purchasing U.S. Sugar Lands

During their February meeting, the Board of Directors of Florida Farm Bureau asked staff to increase efforts in opposition to South Florida Water Management District’s attempt to purchase 183,000 acres of land owned by U.S. Sugar Corporation for $1.34 billion.

The board stood by statements given in a December press release regarding the acquisition.

Southwest Florida Water Management District Report: February 2009

Water Shortage Orders
Due to continuing drought conditions throughout the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), approximately half of the counties within the 16-county region are currently under a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage.

Deadline Approaching for Lake Okeechobee Service Area Water Users

Irrigation permits using surface water from Lake Okeechobee or its tributaries for landscape, golf course, nursery, livestock, improved pasture and agricultural uses need to be renewed to avoid losing the legal right to use this water.

Lake Okeechobee Service Area Water Use Permits Must Be Renewed

The South Florida Water Management District has begun the Water Use Permit (WUP) renewal process for the Lake Okeechobee Service Area (LOSA).  LOSA includes portions of Palm Beach, Martin, Glades, Okeechobee, Lee and Hendry counties as shown in yellow on the following graphic.

South Florida Water Management District Agricultural Highlights: December Report

South Florida Water Management District Votes to Counter Sugar Offer

Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Report: December 2008

Modification of turfgrass restrictions, merging of the Northwest Hillsborough and Hillsborough River Basin Boards covered in this report

Southwest Florida Water Management District: November Report

Report covers: water restrictions for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas; merging of the Northwest Hillsborough and Hillsborough River Basin Board and rainfall data.

South Florida Water Management District: November 2008 Ag Highlights

 

South Florida Water Management District: September 2008 Ag Highlights 

Report topics cover: Abundant Rainfall Lifts South Florida Out of Two Year Drought, Crop Damage Isolated and Delayed, Florida Farm Bureau Closely Watching Lake Releases, ‘River of Grass’ Acquisition Update

Southwest Florida Water Management District August Report

FARMS Program rule update and SWFWMD On-Line User Survey covered in this report.

U.S. Sugar/SFWMD Land Acquisition Update

Behind-the-scenes negotiations are still taking place between U.S.
Sugar Corporation and the South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD).  SFWMD has 75 days from June 24th to secure an acceptable
contract between the two parties to submit to the governing board.  At
that time, all negotiations become public.

Southwest Florida Water Management District Report- July 2008

Rule Amendments to Improve Flow Meter Accuracy

South Florida Water Management District ag highlights- July 2008 

U.S. Sugar/SFWMD Land Acquisition
On June 24th, Florida Farm Bureau issued the following statement regarding the announcement of the sale of U.S. Sugar’s land to the state of Florida.

South Florida Water Management District ag highlights - June 2008
Florida Farmers Welcome EPA’s Clarification of Water Transfer Rule

Southwest Florida Water Management District Report- June 2008
In recognition of new Federal rules regarding mitigation, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is considering enhancements to Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) criteria. . . 

South Florida Water Management District
Water Conditions Once Again Approaching Critical Status After Early April Rain...

Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Report
Due to drought-related coordination efforts between Florida’s water management districts, the districts are seeking statewide consistency in year-round water conservation measures... 

South Florida Water Management District April Agricultural Highlights Report
Unusual wide-spread spring rainfall has given the South Florida Water Management District governing board a margin of confidence to back off of stringent Modified Phase III water restrictions...

Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Report
Due to drought-related coordination efforts between Florida’s water management districts, the districts are interested in seeking statewide consistency in year-round water conservation... 

South Florida Water Management District March Agricultural Highlights Report
Water Shortage Workshops Provide Information Exchange... Favorable Rainfall Helps South Florida Water Supply... 

Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Report
In July 2006, presentations regarding the Southern Water Use Caution Area Recovery Strategy brought about several concerns pertaining to the use of reclaimed water... 

South Florida Water Management District February Agricultural Highlights Report
As south Florida approaches the mid-point of the dry season, computer models from the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center indicate a deepening of the drought throughout the region... 

Southwest Florida Water Management District Report
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Reclassification of the Alafia River... Water Shortage Actions... 2008 Rainfall (in inches)... 

January Agricultural Highlights Report for South Florida Water Management District
As reported in last month’s newsletter, Phase III water use restrictions are now in place for all sixteen counties within the jurisdiction of the South Florida Water Management District... 

Extreme Water Shortage Declared – Phase III Restrictions Upcoming in January
In response to dwindling water supplies across south Florida, the South Florida Water Management District governing board has voted to implement Phase III water-use restrictions... 

Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Report
Rainfall during the 4-month wet season (June through September) was statistically normal within the northern and central regions of the Southwest Florida Water Management District...

South Florida Water Management District - November Agricultural Highlights Report
The SFWMD is modeling to determine the flow of water coming in and going out of basins within the Northern Everglades... 

Drought

Water Issue Links

DEP’s site offers an overview of the drought currently affecting the state
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/drought/

Drought portal for South Florida Water Management District
http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid= 1874,9496104,1874_19616129&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Southwest Florida Water Management District’s drought information
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/drought/

St. Johns River drought information
http://sjr.state.fl.us/irrigationrule/droughtreports.html

Suwannee River Water Management District drought information
http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us/realtimeriverlevels/realtimeriverlevels.asp

Northwest Florida Water Management District drought information
http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/hydrology/drought/NWFWMD-Drought-Report-Nov27_07.pdf