In this section

News media

See news releases issued by the District and obtain media contact information.

District blog

Access the current blog and archived editions.

Get the facts

Get the facts about water resource issues in the news.

RSS feeds

Subscribe to RSS (really simple syndication) feeds to receive current and updated information from the District.

Meetings

Access the schedule of District meetings on a variety of subjects, including

• Governing Board meetings
• Agricultural advisory committee meetings
• Water supply planning meetings
• Recreational public meetings

Announcements

• Temporary website outages
• Office closures
• Land closures
• Flooding information
• News and notices from other agencies and groups

District feature publications

Learn more about water resource issues and District programs and projects through the District’s feature publications. Read online or subscribe to receive a paper copy in the mail.

• StreamLines
• Indian River Lagoon Update

February 22, 2012

Public meeting on regional water supply issues to be held March 7

Two water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a public meeting March 7 to bring stakeholders together to discuss water supply issues in north Florida.

The meeting will be an opportunity to share progress made and projects planned as part of the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership (Partnership) — an initiative to protect natural resources and ensure cost-effective and sustainable water supplies. A website with details about the Partnership was launched today at northfloridawater.com. The website will be updated regularly on the progress of the Partnership and upcoming meetings.

The St. Johns River and Suwannee River water management districts and DEP will also announce at the meeting the formation of a stakeholder committee that will serve in an advisory capacity to the districts and DEP. The committee will include representatives of groups and entities from throughout the region. Input will be sought at the meeting on potential committee members.

The meeting will be held from 6–8 p.m. at Alachua City Hall at 15100 N.W. 142nd Terrace, Alachua.

“The districts and DEP have been working closely together on north Florida’s regional water supply issues,” said Hans G. Tanzler III, executive director of the St. Johns District. “We’ve made progress and it’s now time to further involve our stakeholders as we continue our forward momentum.”

Tanzler and Suwannee District Assistant Executive Director Charlie Houder in February and March are meeting with 13 north Florida county commissions to engage them in the Partnership.

“Partnerships are critical to protecting our shared water resources,” Houder said. “Through our work with St. Johns, DEP and the communities and stakeholders throughout the region, we will ensure long-term, sustainable water supplies.”

“Getting Florida’s water right, in terms of water quality and water supply, is crucial to the future of our state and one of our top priorities at DEP,” said DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration Greg Munson. “The North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership is a great step to helping us better understand and manage our water resources, and we look forward to partnering with the water management districts, local governments, and other stakeholders to ensure a sustainable water supply.”

Some elements of the Partnership include:

• Developing a shared tool to predict and assess water resource impacts
• Studying the regional groundwater decline in north Florida
• Creating consistency and coordination in setting minimum flows and levels
• Collecting and sharing science-based data
• Developing a regional water supply plan
• Forming the stakeholder committee to ensure that stakeholders have a meaningful opportunity to provide input

February 15, 2012

Water Supply Impact Study released

The St. Johns River Water Management District has released its report on the St. John River Water Supply Impact Study, the most comprehensive and scientifically rigorous analysis of the St. Johns River ever conducted.

The four-year study resulted in the development of state-of-the-art models and methodologies that can be used in consumptive use permitting, minimum flows and levels development, regional water projects and water supply planning. The tools developed through the study will be applied during the review process for any future river water withdrawal permit applications. The amount of water that may ultimately be withdrawn will depend on the proposed location, design and timing of the withdrawal and numerous permitting criteria that are considered when a permit application is submitted. These tools also can be used by local governments, other agencies, and potentially with other river systems.

Assistant Executive Director announces retirement

After more than 30 years of water resources experience, David W. Fisk has announced his retirement, effective March 9. Fisk joined the District in February 2002 and has served as assistant executive director since June 2003.

Fisk’s varied and extensive experience includes responsibilities for the direction of staff, budget, water use and wetlands permitting, water resources research, environmental restoration, planning, land acquisition, administration, operations, and legislative and interagency coordination. Prior to joining the St. Johns District, Fisk was assistant executive director at the Suwannee River Water Management District, where his duties included acting as a liaison between state and federal governmental bodies and the District.

District General Counsel William H. Congdon, who has worked at the District for 15 years, will serve as interim assistant executive director. Congdon has been a member of the Florida Bar for more than 30 years and has been the lead attorney representing the District in federal court, state court, and in hearings before the Department of Administrative Hearings. Congdon will continue to fill the role of general counsel while handling the assistant executive director’s duties until a replacement for Fisk is hired.

The District is also currently recruiting for a chief financial and administrative services officer. The position, which reports to the District’s Executive Director, will be responsible for the offices of Finance and Administration, Budget and Management Reporting and Human Resources.

Florida Water Star^SM program now offered statewide

The District’s residential water conservation program — Florida Water Star^SM — is now offered statewide, bringing the economic and environmental benefits of water efficiency to homeowners in all of Florida’s 67 counties.

The Florida Green Building Coalition recently agreed to administer the program in the Suwannee River and Northwest Florida water management districts — the two remaining regions where Florida Water Star^SM had not yet been available. The St. Johns River, South Florida and Southwest Florida water management districts administer the program within their respective boundaries.

Minimum flows and levels (MFLs) meeting scheduled for March

The District will hold a public meeting in March to discuss MFLs prevention and recovery strategies for water bodies in northeast Florida.

The Clay-Putnam technical work group will meet at 2 p.m. on March 15 at Trinity Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 3716 S.E. State Road 21, Keystone Heights. Parking for meeting attendees is available on the south end of the complex, near the playground. The Clay-Putnam work group was formed to develop a list of prevention and recovery strategies for lakes Geneva, Brooklyn, Cowpen and Grandin.

Stakeholder meetings are being held in areas where MFLs are currently not being met or are projected not to be met within 20 years. The District’s goal is to work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop long-term comprehensive strategies to achieve the MFLs.