Bruce Ritchie
Environmental and agriculture groups raised concerns on Wednesday with draft water bill language presented by a House committee but speakers on all sides praised the chamber for its comprehensive approach on the issue.
The House State Affairs Committee language addresses pollution threats facing springs and Lake Okeechobee and the need for increased water supplies in central Florida.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection would be required to complete an assessment of water quality for the states 33 largest springs, called “first magnitude” springs. DEP also would be required to draw boundaries for springs protection areas and adopt them as rules by July 1, 2016.
But representatives of groups representing fruit and vegetable growers and landscaping professionals said they were concerned about drawing boundaries for all springs when some may not be considered in trouble, or listed as “impaired” by the state.
“We understand how important it is to protect our springs,” said Jim Spratt, representing the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.
“However, the identification of a ‘springs protection zone’ can lead even with the best of intentions to a scenario where you have a circle on a map or a list,” he said. “At some point somebody will say, “Inside the circle you can do this’ or ‘you can’t do this.’”
On the other side of the issue, Sierra Club Florida representative David Cullen said the organization was concerned that the draft does not set deadlines for the state to assess springs for pollution or threats of overpumping.
He said the draft language relies on the regulatory tools used historically while the state has gotten into the problems it has now.
“If we are going to use the same tools, we need to make sure they’re good and sharp before you try and do the job,” Cullen said.
Representatives of agriculture groups and Florida Power & Light Co. praised draft language that would require water management districts to provide priority consideration to the identification of preferred sources for water “self-suppliers,” which can include farms and power plants.
However, Ryan Matthews, representing the Florida League of Cities, said giving that priority to other water users causes heartburn for local governments in rural, economically-distressed North Florida.
Representatives of Audubon Florida and the Everglades Foundation raised concerns about a proposal to replace a South Florida Water Management District permitting program that is used to reduce pollution of Lake Okeechobee with the state’s pollution reduction programs, which the groups said is voluntary.
Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres and committee chairman, said in an interview after the meeting that the state’s process for setting pollution limits and establishing cleanup plans for Lake Okeechobee are adequate to replace the 40-year-old “works of the district” program.
“I’m not sure that we’ll come to a complete resolution on that one way or another,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell told committee members they should expect to vote on a proposed committee bill next week.
The draft bill language and a committee staff analysis is available at www.myfloridahouse.gov.
Bruce Ritchie (@bruceritchie) covers environment, energy and growth management in Tallahassee.
