South Florida Water Management District Agricultural Highlights: January Report

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.

All individual and major general water use permits for irrigation withdrawals from Lake Okeechobee or its tributaries must be renewed by February 28, 2009. 

The water management district has 412 permits on file that need to be renewed.  Notification information has been sent to all permit holders.  As of Thursday, January 8, only 17 renewal applications have been received by the water management district.  If you are a permit holder in LOSA, please start the application process as soon as possible.  If you have not received renewal information from the water management district, please notify them by calling 800-547-2694.

The water management district has scheduled an informational workshop to explain the renewal process on January 22 at 10:00 a.m.  The workshop will be at the district’s Okeechobee Service Center, 205 North Parrott Avenue (Suite 201) in Okeechobee.  Permit holders will learn more about the renewal process, processing fees, deadlines and be able to obtain assistance with any problems or questions.  The district’s Okeechobee Service Center can be reached at 863-462-5260.

Once again, permit holders in LOSA should start the repermitting process as soon as possible. 

‘River of Grass’ Acquisition Update

On December 16, the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board approved a deal to purchase 180,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corporation for $1.34 billion contingent on being able to obtain acceptable financing.  Under Delaware state law where U.S. Sugar is incorporated, they are required to accept competing offers from other potential buyers for 60 days which ends on February 22.  The Water Management District has the option to match any competing offer.

Legal challenges to the deal have been filed by Florida Crystals Corporation stating that the purchase of U.S. Sugar’s land will expend cash flow and cause all other Everglades projects to come to a halt.  Florida Farm Bureau is also extremely concerned about the future of numerous projects that help with water supply as well as improving water quality.

During the January Governing Board meeting, Dale Brill, Director of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development (OTTED) presented an update on OTTED’s involvement in the economic stimulus and transition of communities on the south end of Lake Okeechobee.  Mr. Brill noted that major initiatives and economic stimulus in these communities remains a top priority.    OTTED will be developing a community advisory council and performing a baseline economic study and dynamic model.  Mr. Brill noted that OTTED will have meetings in the communities from February 2 – 4.  Public comment or additional information can be directed to the OTTED office at 850-487-2568.

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Make Slight Adjustment to Lake Okeechobee Releases

Current low flow releases have been adjusted to allow an average of 650 cfs (cubic feet/second) at the S-79 structure that flows into the Caloosahatchee River.  Pulse type releases will be up to 1350 cfs on a daily basis but the seven day average will be 650 cfs.  This adjustment has been made to address rising salinity levels in the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary.  Low flow releases into the St. Lucie River at S-80 are not needed and were discontinued in December. 

Florida Farm Bureau Federation is giving input on regularly scheduled conference calls with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that deal with the operation of Lake Okeechobee.  The main focus for Florida Farm Bureau remains to be water supply throughout the dry season, understanding that the needs of other water users and the environment have to be balanced as well. 

The lake level is currently 13.64 feet which is almost four feet above the level on this date last year.  Although Farm Bureau’s position is to hold as much water as possible during the winter and spring, the low flow releases being made will not negatively impact agriculture with the current lake level.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the implementation of the recently revised Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule.  This schedule controls lake levels by taking into account various inflows into the lake and outflow needs by agriculture, municipalities and the environment. The schedule was revised in 2008 due to the constraints caused by integrity concerns of the Herbert Hoover Dike that surrounds the lake.

District Seeks Public Comment on Water Reservation (Plan)

The South Florida Water Management District has published proposed rule language for the Picayune Strand and Fakahatchee Estuary in the January 9 issue of Florida Administrative Weekly (www.flrules.org).  Public comment will be accepted until January 30 and the governing board anticipates holding the rule adoption hearing at the February governing board meeting.

The Picayune Strand and Fakahatchee Estuary are located in southwest Florida, east of Naples as shown on the following map.

The water management districts in Florida are required to develop water reservations that protect fish and wildlife as noted in Chapter 373.0361(2) and 373.223(4), Florida Statutes.  The Picayune Strand and Fakahatchee Estuary reservation is the first to be brought through the rulemaking process by the water management district.  As reservations are developed for other planning regions in south Florida, the concerns and rights of permitted users of water within and adjacent to the regions must be considered and given sufficient magnitude.  Farmers must be given the latitude to grow different crops that will allow them to remain solvent.  These crops may require lesser or greater quantities of water and varying times and types of irrigation.  Florida law specifically states “all presently existing legal uses of water shall be protected so long as such use is not contrary to the public interest” (373.223 F.S.).  The viability of commercial agriculture is critical to Florida and thus within the public interest.

The next region to be considered for a water reservation will be the Kissimmee River and the Upper Chain of Lakes.  Farmers and ranchers in this area are encouraged to be involved in the rulemaking process.

Water Management District Governing Board Appointments

Each of the state’s five water management district governing boards has one or more seats where the appointment expires on March 1, 2009.  In the South Florida Water Management District, the appointment expiring is held by Melissa Meeker of Martin County.  Ms. Meeker’s seat is an ‘at large’ seat that must be held by a resident of St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Dade or Monroe County. 

Florida Farm Bureau encourages those that understand the importance of agriculture to the State of Florida to apply for this position.  Agriculture is a major water user and contributor and has been without representation on the board since last June.  Florida Farm Bureau is thankful to board members Mike Collins and Charles Dauray for standing up for agriculture over the past half year during many heated debates without direct representation.

Florida Farm Bureau encourages Governor Charlie Crist to fulfill his duty by appointing an agriculturalist to the present open position as well as considering the vital role of agriculture to Florida when making his appointment in March.