Local governments

Local government assistance:

Managing a resource we all need and share

Intergovernmental coordinators at the St. Johns River Water Management District work with state, federal and local elected or appointed officials and their staffs to address and manage water resource issues on a local basis.

The District’s partnerships with the state and local governments are as varied as the communities within the District, but primarily focus on increasing community awareness of water resource topics, distributing accurate information about those resources, ensuring sound water resources policy and assisting communities that have water resource concerns.

Alternative water supply

A cost-share funding program is available to assist with construction costs of alternative water supply projects identified in the District Water Supply Plan (DWSP). The identification of projects in the DWSP does not guarantee funding assistance through this funding program. Projects will be evaluated for cost-share funding based on consideration of the 12 factors described in 373.1961(3)(f) and (g), Florida Statutes (2005). Also, the District may add evaluation factors as appropriate. District staff will evaluate the potential projects and recommend projects for inclusion in the cost-share funding program. The District’s Governing Board will select the projects for inclusion in the program.

Water conservation

The District partners with local governments and water supply utilities to implement an annual mass media water conservation public awareness campaign. The campaign is designed to broaden the reach of water conservation messages and to communicate clear, concise and consistent messages that will ultimately change water use behaviors.

Stormwater management

Funding is available to support stormwater management projects. These efforts must improve water quality by contributing to the achievement of pollutant load reduction goals (PLRGs) or total maximum daily load (TMDL) allocations for identified priority pollutants.

Flood credit assistance

The goal of the District’s program is to provide documentation on as many credits as possible to local governments. The credits can result in flood insurance premium reductions of up to 45 percent.

Data are available from the District to assist communities in receiving credits from the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS). Local governments also receive indirect credit resulting from the District’s public information projects that advise residents of flood hazards, the availability of flood insurance and flood protection methods.

Flood protection/emergency response

The District’s flood protection program complements local government efforts by focusing on regional flood issues and permitted stormwater systems. Non-regulatory activities include elimination or resolution of regional flood problems through planning and research, floodplain mapping, local government technical assistance, and construction and operation of regional flood control facilities, when necessary.

When local governments are faced with a flooding emergency, the District partners with other state agencies to assist in emergency response and recovery efforts.

Public education

The District cooperates with local governments and school boards to create countywide and site-specific public education programs, such as the Watershed Action Volunteer (WAV) Program. The WAV Program is a highly successful partnership that promotes responsible environmental stewardship to the public.

Surface water partnerships

The District works closely with local governments to plan and implement projects that restore natural systems. Restoration project areas include the following:

• Upper St. Johns River Basin
• Middle St. Johns River Basin
• Lower St. Johns River Basin
• Indian River Lagoon
• Ocklawaha River Basin
• Lake Apopka
• Little Wekiva River Basin
• Lake Jesup
• Orange Creek Basin
• Northern Coastal Basin

Wellhead, aquifer and groundwater protection

A cost-sharing program is available for local governments and private landowners to plug abandoned artesian and resource-threatened wells. Participation in this program can help reduce or eliminate the costs associated with well plugging. The District assists in identifying local wellhead protection areas and helps local governments develop programs to protect those areas.

Land acquisition

Local government partnerships are very important to the success of the District’s land acquisition program. About 60 percent of District lands are managed in cooperation with other agencies, and 98 percent of those properties are open to the public.

In addition, acquisition projects have been implemented to create stormwater treatment areas and to address regional water supply issues. Staff can help identify priority land acquisition areas, recommend state grant programs and submit potential acquisition areas to the District for consideration.

Permit assistance

Local governments that anticipate needing a permit for any type of project are encouraged to request a pre-application conference with the District. District permitting staff welcome the opportunity to meet in advance of a permit application submittal to discuss any concerns or information needs. Local governments can also request information on permits being applied for in their area.

Planning assistance

Florida growth management laws require coordination between local governments’ land use planning and the water management districts’ water supply planning.

District planners help local governments with water supply availability and related water resource issues throughout the comprehensive plan amendment and evaluation and appraisal report (EAR) processes. The District encourages local governments to contact the District for assistance when preparing an amendment or EAR.

Informative resources on a variety of water resource-related topics are available either from the District’s website or by contacting a District intergovernmental coordinator. Available information includes:

• Maps of public lands, floodplains, aquifer recharge areas, wetlands, potential surface water quality program areas, priority water resource caution areas, regionally significant habitat, geographic information systems (GIS) atlases and data descriptions, as well as a county-by-county listing in a Water Resource Atlas.
• Current and historical water quality and quantity data — collected throughout the District — and, in some areas, interagency agreements have been developed to coordinate sampling efforts.
• Videos and printed materials on topics such as waterwise landscaping, water conservation and stormwater management.
• The District’s E-Permitting Web function, which allows users to easily access complete permitting information, including permitting rules, application forms and application handbooks, as well as regulatory agenda and staff reports.
• The District’s Potable Water Availability Worksheet, designed to help local governments evaluate their water supply availability, based on infrastructure, permitted allocation in consumptive use permits, rate of consumption, and source.
• Water resource data and information such as water supply and demand modeling, GIS mapping, and model ordinances on topics such as floodplain and stormwater management, water-efficient landscaping, and protection of shoreline, surface water, groundwater, wetlands and wellheads.
• The District’s Five-Year Land Acquisition and Management Plan, showing District conservation lands and the location of Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) projects within the District.
• The District’s Recreation Guide to District Lands, explaining the purpose of land acquisition by the District and promoting public recreational opportunities on District lands.