Central Florida Water Initiative Meeting

The Central Florida Water Initiative is a collaboration of different stakeholders and regulators to look at the sustainability of the water resources at the conversion points of three water management districts in an area that includes southern Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Polk counties. The three water management districts, along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), regional public water supply utilities and other stakeholders are collaborating to develop a unified process to address central Florida’s current and long-term water supply needs.  One of things that Jim Fletcher (County Extension Director of Osceola County who sits on the committee) has been trying to do, is make sure agriculture is represented at the the table.  Part of the continuing efforts of this planning initiative is the development of a solutions planning team that represent all the interests in the 5 county area.  Jim was selected to serve as the agriculture representative on the committee. Part of the charge of this committee is to make sure all interests have been heard as the initiative moves forward.  Robert Beltran, Executive  Director for SWFWMD is the chair person of this solution team.  Mr. Beltran would like to meet with the agricultural industry as a whole to make sure he understands and can report all the issues.  If you are interested in attending the meeting with Robert Beltran and CFWI it is on April 16, at 1:30-3:30 pm at the UF Osceola County Extension Service, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee, Fl 34744.  For more information please call 321.697.3000.  You may want to visit the Central Florida Water Initiative website http://cfwiwater.com/  to get more information prior to the meeting.