April 2, 2007

ISSUE 1160

DISTRICTS PROPOSE SPECIAL RULES FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA

The demand for high quality, inexpensive groundwater is exploding in central Florida to support a rapidly growing population. Recognizing that groundwater resources are insufficient to meet future demand, the three big water management districts have undertaken a cooperative effort to head off the problem through improved modeling, planning, and regulatory changes designed to force utilities to develop alternative supplies.

The water management districts (SJRWMD, SWFWMD, and SFWMD) recently designated all or portions of Lake, Orange, Seminole, Polk and Osceola Counties as the Central Florida Coordination Area (CFCA) and each district is now proposing modified water use rules for their respective portions of the region. The plan is for each district to develop consistent rules so that water users who are proposing to increase their water usage beyond their projected demand in 2013 will be treated equitably and resource competition will be minimized.

While the focus of this effort is clearly on the water utilities, other large water users could also be affected by the proposed draft rules under limited circumstances. Agricultural groups including FFVA are closely monitoring draft rule language being proposed by each district to ensure that your interests are protected. We continue to emphasize that growers have limited ability to develop alternative supplies when compared to utilities, and that growers must have the flexibility to change crops and water usage based on market conditions that are beyond their control.

For further information, please contact the FFVA Government Affairs Office at (850) 521-0455.

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