Changes in Water Changes in Water ManagementManagement

Changes in Water Changes in Water ManagementManagement

Jeff ColeJeff Cole

Director of Communications and Director of Communications and Intergovernmental ProgramsIntergovernmental Programs

St. Johns River Water Management DistrictSt. Johns River Water Management District

Responding to FeedbackResponding to FeedbackResponding to FeedbackResponding to Feedback

• PublicPublic

• LegislatureLegislature

• GovernorGovernor

• Department of Environmental Department of Environmental ProtectionProtection

• Local governmentsLocal governments

• Business communityBusiness community

• Agricultural interestsAgricultural interests

Mission StatementMission StatementMission StatementMission Statement““We will ensure the sustainable use and We will ensure the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the state of the people of the District and the state of Florida.”of Florida.”

Core missions:Core missions:

•Water supplyWater supply

•Flood protectionFlood protection

•Water quality and natural systems Water quality and natural systems protection and improvementprotection and improvement

•Organizational effectivenessOrganizational effectiveness

ChangesChangesChangesChanges

• Property tax reductionProperty tax reduction

• Budget reductionBudget reduction

• Staff reductions Staff reductions

• Contractual services reductionContractual services reduction

• Agency reorganizationAgency reorganization

• Focus on improvement to customer Focus on improvement to customer service and assistance to service and assistance to stakeholdersstakeholders

Agency PrioritiesAgency PrioritiesAgency PrioritiesAgency Priorities

• Flood protection and restoration Flood protection and restoration projects projects

• Water supply planningWater supply planning

• Monitoring water quality, quantity Monitoring water quality, quantity and environmental trendsand environmental trends

• Land managementLand management

• A streamlined and enhanced A streamlined and enhanced permitting processpermitting process

Agency PrioritiesAgency PrioritiesAgency PrioritiesAgency Priorities

Maintain commitment to completing major Maintain commitment to completing major District projects: District projects: •GIS imagery and land use/land cover mapping GIS imagery and land use/land cover mapping •Fellsmere Water Management Area Fellsmere Water Management Area •Canal 1/10 Rediversion Canal 1/10 Rediversion •Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration •Groundwater resources assessment – aquifer Groundwater resources assessment – aquifer performance testing, modeling and data performance testing, modeling and data enhancements enhancements •Flood control structure rehabilitation Flood control structure rehabilitation

Agency PrioritiesAgency PrioritiesAgency PrioritiesAgency Priorities

Maintain commitment to major Maintain commitment to major cooperative funding projects: cooperative funding projects: •MFLs prevention-recovery strategy MFLs prevention-recovery strategy (water resource development and/or (water resource development and/or AWS projects) AWS projects)

•Water quality and ecological Water quality and ecological restoration projects restoration projects

•Water Conservation and Demand Water Conservation and Demand Management projects Management projects

Funding in Central FloridaFunding in Central FloridaFunding in Central FloridaFunding in Central Florida

• RestorationRestoration

– Middle St. Johns River BasinMiddle St. Johns River Basin

– $30 million$30 million

• Land acquisitionLand acquisition

– $137 million $137 million

• Cooperative projects in Seminole and Orange Cooperative projects in Seminole and Orange countiescounties

– $91 million$91 million

– Reclaimed water, stormwater management Reclaimed water, stormwater management and water supply planning and water supply planning

Permitting StreamliningPermitting StreamliningPermitting StreamliningPermitting Streamlining

• Proactively provide assistance to permit Proactively provide assistance to permit applicantsapplicants– Increased proactive communications with Increased proactive communications with

applicantsapplicants– Increased use of online permitting Increased use of online permitting – Reduced and simplified permit categories Reduced and simplified permit categories

and reporting requirementsand reporting requirements– Establishment of pre-application meetings for Establishment of pre-application meetings for

potential applicantspotential applicants– Enhanced outreachEnhanced outreach

• Amend rules to reduce the burden on permit Amend rules to reduce the burden on permit holdersholders

Protection of EnvironmentProtection of EnvironmentProtection of EnvironmentProtection of Environment

• Protecting water resources and Protecting water resources and natural systems remains a prioritynatural systems remains a priority

• Streamlining and efficiency Streamlining and efficiency measures will not negatively impact measures will not negatively impact the environmentthe environment

• Monitoring the health of water Monitoring the health of water resources, preventing unacceptable resources, preventing unacceptable impacts and restoring resources impacts and restoring resources where needed will continuewhere needed will continue

Water Supply PlanningWater Supply PlanningWater Supply PlanningWater Supply Planning• District water supply planning roleDistrict water supply planning role• Floridan aquifer systemFloridan aquifer system

– Primary drinking water sourcePrimary drinking water source– ““2013” date2013” date

• Alternative water suppliesAlternative water supplies– Brackish groundwaterBrackish groundwater– Ocean water desalinationOcean water desalination– Surface waterSurface water– Reclaimed waterReclaimed water– ConservationConservation