Regional Water Meeting Tonight: SRWMD, SJRWMD & DEP getting their act together in a state with no state wide water policy
Posted March 06, 2012 11:45 pm
Charlie Hauder, left, (SRWMD) and Hans Tanzler (SJWMD)
recently appeared at the homeless Columbia County
Commission.
By Stew Lilker
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The Suwannee River Water Management District, the St. Johns Water Management District and the and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a public meeting tonight, March 7, from 6–8 p.m. at Alachua City Hall, 15100 N.W. 142nd Terrace, Alachua, to bring stakeholders together to discuss water supply issues in north Florida.
According to a press release from the SRWMD, the meeting will be an opportunity to share progress made and projects planned as part of the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership (Partnership) — an initiative to protect natural resources and ensure cost-effective and sustainable water supplies.
A website with details about the Partnership is here.
The water management districts and DEP will begin the formation of a stakeholder committee that will serve in an advisory capacity to the districts and DEP. The committee will include representatives of groups and entities from throughout the region. Input will be sought at the meeting on potential committee members.
“The districts and DEP have been working closely together on north Florida’s regional water supply issues,” said Hans G. Tanzler III, executive director of the St. Johns District. “We’ve made progress and it’s now time to further involve our stakeholders as we continue our forward momentum.”
SRWMD Assistant Executive Director, Charlie Houder, who has apparently replaced the District's experienced and widely respected Executive Director, David Still, in a palace coup, said, “Partnerships are critical to protecting our shared water resources.”
“Getting Florida’s water right, in terms of water quality and water supply is crucial to the future of our state and one of our top priorities at DEP,” said DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration Greg Munson. “The North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership is a great step to helping us better understand and manage our water resources.”
