January Legislative Report continued from page 6
D. Instruct the South Florida Water Management
District to immediately start the next phase
of the Everglades Agricultural Area Storage
Reservoir Project design and ensure the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers approves the project
according to schedule.
E. Expedite key Everglades projects including the
C-44 reservoir and stormwater treatment area,
C-43 reservoir, Tamiami Trail and additional
projects necessary to protect our waterways
and natural resources.
F. W
ork with the South Florida Water Management
District to add stormwater treatment to the
C-43 Reservoir to provide additional treatment
and improve the quality of water leaving this
important storage component.
G. Expedite projects with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to improve management of
Lake Okeechobee, including updating the
Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule
and identifying water quality treatment
technologies to install near water control
structures in Lake Okeechobee.
H.
Direct DEP to establish a septic conversion
and remediation grant program with a local
government match requirement.
I. Instruct all five water management districts
to increase transparency and accountability
by providing data and information to DEP to
support key water quality restoration efforts.
Instruct all water management districts to
review budgets and prioritize available funding
to focus on projects that will help address
harmful algae blooms and maximize nutrient
reductions.
J.
Participate in Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Harmful
Algal Bloom Task Force to provide technical
expertise and assistance studying causes and
impacts of red tide. The DOH is also directed to
participate in FWC’s Task Force to help study air
quality and human health impacts of red tide.
8
DITCHMEN • JANUARY 2019
K.
Continue DEP’s red tide emergency grant
program to support local governments to clean
up their beaches and coastal areas to minimize
the impacts of red tide to residents and visitors.
L.
Partner with Visit Florida and DEO to
identify opportunities within communities
and recommend investments in green
infrastructure, such as wetland treatment
systems, that benefit our natural resources and
local economies by increasing recreational and
tourism opportunities, while improving water
quality.
M.
Engage
local
governments,
industry,
universities and water management districts to
identify and research all viable alternative water
supply sources and provide an assessment of
funding needs critical to supporting Florida’s
growing economy. DEP should take all
necessary steps to establish recurring funding
for an alternative water supply grant program
to help communities plan for and implement
vital conservation, reuse and other alternative
water supply projects.
N. Engage local governments, industry, citizens
and other stakeholders through a targeted
education and outreach campaign that will
focus on the importance of conservation
and reuse efforts and encourage Floridians
to implement essential conservation and
reuse efforts in their homes, businesses and
communities throughout Florida.
O.
Continue to explore every option to stop
Georgia’s harmful upstream water use from
causing further adverse impacts to the
Apalachicola River and Bay.
Section 2: Restructuring to Focus on
Accountability, Transparency, and Science to
Achieve More Now for Florida’s Environment
I hereby direct DEP to implement the following
actions to ensure the agency is making sound
decisions based on the best available science
and providing for accountability and transparency: