SRWMD budget focused on core mission, springs protection and restoration LIVE OAK, FL, September 24, 2013 – The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) Governing Board on Sept. 24 adopted the Fiscal Year 2013-14 budget of $29.2 million and a millage rate of 0.4143, the same millage rate as last year. The budget will allow the District to continue meeting its core missions of protecting water supply, water quality, natural systems, and providing flood protection without raising taxes. A key emphasis in the budget is springs restoration and protection. With the help of more than $11 million in State appropriations, the District is devoting about 45 percent of the budget to springs projects that will help maintain spring flows, improve water quality, and increase water supplies. Two strategic springs projects are the Ichetucknee Springshed Water Quality Improvement project and the Middle Suwannee River Restoration and Aquifer Recharge project. The Ichetucknee Springshed Water Quality Improvement project will reduce the City of Lake City’s wastewater nutrient loading to the Ichetucknee River by about 85 percent by converting the City’s sprayfield into wetlands to provide additional wastewater treatment. The Middle Suwannee River Restoration and Aquifer Recharge project will rehydrate about 4,000 acres of wetlands and 1,500 acres of ponds, which will increase groundwater supplies in the region. The project will benefit numerous springs along the Middle Suwannee River. The budget also includes State funding for the minimum flows and levels program, water quality improvement projects, and management and natural system protection activities. Federal funding is included in the budget for the Risk Map program to provide quality data that increases public awareness to reduce future flooding vulnerability. Other program highlights include continuation of: • Minimum flows and levels (MFLs) program • North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership • Suwannee River Partnership • Agricultural Team • Santa Fe and Suwannee River nutrient reduction and irrigation retrofit program • Data collection, management, monitoring, and analysis “The District is pleased to have a budget that demonstrates our commitment to water resource protection for the benefit of our citizens and natural systems,” said District Executive Director Ann Shortelle. “The budget reflects the District’s commitment to springs and water supply enhancement projects.” A copy of the budget is posted on the District’s Business and Financial page at mysuwanneeriver. ###
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 23:30:18 +0000
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