Success & Progress

On July 23 2015, the FWC has issued the following email notifying interested people of their decision not to raise the flood trigger for the proposed Zone 8 of the Santa Fe River as was originally considered.  This was done specifically because of the public input and thus we see success in our endeavors to influence our governing agencies, at least in this instance.Dear Meeting Attendee,

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) held two public meetings to specifically discuss proposed rule changes on the Santa Fe River on April 29 and July 9, 2015.  In combination, approximately 103 persons attended the meetings.  The public comments at those meetings predominantly voiced support for dividing the river into multiple zones and opposition to the proposal to raise the flood trigger in the proposed zone 8 (which would extend from a point downstream of Wilson’s Spring to the Suwannee River) from 17 feet to 18 feet.  None of the attendees who spoke on the subject supported staff recommendation to raise the trigger in the proposed zone 8.

FWC has revised its proposal to take into account the public input received at the meetings and will present the proposal at the FWC Commission meeting to be held in Ft. Lauderdale on September 2-3, 2015.  Staff will recommend that the river be divided into four independent zones with separate speed restriction triggers to more accurately address the public safety needs during various high water events occurring within the basin.  FWC staff will also update the maps to reflect the described subdivision of the river.  The proposed changes will also include the datum change referenced at both meetings.  All three of these proposals were met favorably by the meeting attendees.  FWC staff will not be recommending that the flood trigger for the proposed zone 8 be raised from 17 feet to 18 feet.

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