Fla. Admin. Code R. 62-40.520

Current through Reg. 50, No. 244; December 17, 2024

Section 62-40.520 - District Water Management Plans

(1) Each District shall develop a comprehensive water management plan, based on at least a 20-year planning period, which is consistent with the provisions of this chapter and Section 373.036(2), F.S. District Water Management Plans are comprehensive guides to the Districts in carrying out all their water resource management responsibilities, including water supply, flood protection, water quality management, and protection of natural systems. The plans shall provide general directions and strategies for District activities, programs, and rules. They will be implemented by a schedule of specific actions of the District, which may include program development, water resource projects, land acquisition, funding, technical assistance, facility operations, and rule development.

(2) Districtwide water supply assessments shall be developed in accordance with the provisions of Section 373.036(2)(b)4., F.S. The assessment shall determine whether sources of water are adequate to supply water for all existing and projected reasonable-beneficial uses and to sustain the water resources and related natural systems. If it is determined that sources of water are not adequate, the affected area shall have a regional water supply plan developed in accordance with Section 373.0361, F.S. and Rule 62-40.531, F.A.C. The determinations shall be updated at least every 5 years. Within one year of the determination that a regional water supply plan is needed for a water supply planning region, the region shall also be designated as a water resource caution area. Domestic wastewater treatment facilities which are located within, or serve a population located within, or discharge within water resource caution areas shall be subject to the reuse requirements of Section 403.064, F.S.

(3) Based on economic, environmental, and technical analyses, a course of remedial or preventive action shall be specified for each current and anticipated future water resource problem that is identified in the District Plan.

(4) Remedial or preventive measures shall include consideration of measures such as: water supply development projects; water resource development projects; water resource restoration projects pursuant to Section 403.0615, F.S.; purchase of lands; conservation of water; development of alternative supplies such as desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse of reclaimed water and recycling of stormwater and industrial wastewater; enforcement of Department or District rules; and actions taken by local government pursuant to a local government comprehensive plan, local ordinance, or zoning regulation.

(5) District Plans shall also for identify areas where collection of data, water resource investigations, water resource development or conservation projects, or the implementation of regulatory programs are necessary to address water resource problems.

(6) District plans shall address, at a minimum, the following subjects:

(a) District overview;

(b) Water management goals;

(c) Water management responsibilities, including:

1. Water supply protection and management, to include source protection and regional water supply planning,

2. Flood protection and floodplain management. This shall include the District's strategies and priorities for managing facilities and floodplains, and a schedule for District mapping of floodplains,

3. Water quality protection and management for both surface water and ground water. This shall include the District's strategies, priorities, and schedules to develop pollutant load reduction goals and any basin-specific rules as needed to assure that a TMDL is met; and,

4. Natural systems protection and management. This shall reflect the schedule for establishing minimum flows and levels required by Section 373.0421, F.S.

(d) For each water management responsibility, the following shall be included:

1. Resource assessments, including identification of regionally significant water resource issues and problems within the District,

2. Water management policies for identified issues and problems; and,

3. Implementation strategies for each issue and problem, including tasks, schedules, responsible entities, and measurable benchmarks.

(e) Integrated plan, describing how the water problems of each county in the District are identified and addressed;

(f) Intergovernmental coordination, including measures to implement the plan through coordination with the plans and programs of local, regional, state and federal agencies and governments; and,

(g) Procedures for plan development, including definitions and public participation.

(7) A District Water Management Plan is intended to be a planning document and is not self-executing.

(8) At a minimum, District Plans shall be updated and progress assessed every five years. Each District shall include in the Plan a procedure for evaluation of the District's progress towards implementing the Plan. Such procedure shall occur at least annually and a copy of the evaluation shall be provided to the Department each year by November 15 for review and comment.

(9) Plan development shall include adequate opportunity for participation by the public and governments. Districts shall be deemed to have afforded adequate opportunity for participation to the public and governments, by holding public workshops with advance notice by publication as required by law. Districts shall hold public workshops at least 90 days before Plan acceptance or amendment by the Governing Board. At the workshops, a preliminary list of schedules to be included in the Plan shall be presented.

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-40.520

Rulemaking Authority 373.026(7), 373.036, 373.043, 373.171 FS. Law Implemented 373.023, 373.026, 373.033, 373.036, 373.361, 373.0391, 373.0395, 373.042, 373.0421, 373.046, 373.086, 373.103, 373.171, 373.175, 373.185, 373.1961, 373.223, 373.246, 373.250, 373.413, 373.414, 373.416, 373.418, 373.423, 373.429, 373.451, 373.453, 403.0615, 403.064, 403.067, 403.0891 FS.

New 5-5-81, Formerly 17-40.09, Amended 12-5-88, Formerly 17-40.090, Amended 8-14-90, 12-17-91, Formerly 17-40.501, 17-40.520, Amended 7-20-95, 1-7-97, 5-7-05.