Session to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 29
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public comments to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) to be established for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District, as well as the establishment of water reservations, the District has announced.
Among the water bodies are the Myakka and Peace rivers, the District website shows.
“Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year,” a news release explains.
The District will hold a virtual public meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, the release says. “Members of the public may join the meeting via Microsoft Teams.” To do so, the release adds, click on this link to register: https://bit.ly/MFLPriority. “Use of the Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Teams,” the release notes.
To join the meeting by telephone only, the release continues, dial 786-749-6127; when prompted, enter the conference ID: 121-548-175#.
“A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources or environment,” the release explains. “A water reservation defines a quantity of water set aside from the water use permitting process for the protection of fish and wildlife or public health and safety,” the release points out.
“The District’s Governing Board establishes MFLs and reservations” as part of its efforts to achieve a balance between meeting water needs and sustaining Florida’s natural systems, the release says.
“The adopted minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule for 2023 is available on the District’s website. The draft 2024 list will be published on the site following the Governing Board’s Aug. 27 meeting and will be considered for approval at the Board’s Oct. 22 meeting, the release adds.
Written comments on the draft priority list and schedule may be submitted to Gabe Herrick, lead environmental scientist, at gabe.herrick@watermatters.org, or — no later than Sept. 7 — to 2379 Broad St., Brooksville, FL, 34604, the release notes.