The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year.
Following the directive in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Emergency Order to conduct all public meetings electronically to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the public meeting for the annual update of the District’s Minimum Flows and Levels Priority List and Schedule will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26. The workshop will provide an important opportunity for local governments, residents and the public to be part of the scheduling of minimum flows and levels for priority water bodies.
To join the meeting via Teams, please click here. You can also use this URL to join the meeting: https://bit.ly/39knER3. Use of the Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Teams.
To join the meeting by telephone only, dial 1-786-749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference ID: 765 147 391#.
A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources or environment. The District’s Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving the balance between meeting water needs and sustaining Florida’s natural systems.
The adopted minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule for 2019 is available on the District’s website here. The draft 2020 list will be published on the site following the Governing Board’s August meeting. The revised schedule will be considered for approval at the Board’s meeting in October.
Written comments on the draft priority list and schedule may be submitted to Doug Leeper, MFLs Program Lead, at doug.leeper@watermatters.org or to 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, Florida, 34604 no later than Sept. 23.
For more information, please contact Doug Leeper at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4272.