Northwest Florida Water Management

District

81 Water Management Drive, Havana, Florida 32333-4712

(U.S. Highway 90, 10 miles west of Tallahassee)

Douglas E. Barr (850) 539-5999 • (Fax) 539-2777

Executive Director

FOR RELEASE: December 3, 2010

FOR INFORMATION: Ron Bartel, Director, Division of Resource Management

Faith Eidse, Public Information Specialist

Water Management Plan is Strategic

Havana, FL— A plan to accomplish the District’s vision of protecting and

managing water resources sustainably for residents and natural systems was

approved this week. The Northwest Florida Water Management District

Governing Board endorsed its first annually-reviewed Strategic Water

Management Plan (SWMP), which replaces a former multi-year document. The

plan describes District responsibilities, objectives, strategies, financial

resources and success criteria.

Plan objectives focus on high leverage activities that will make a

significant difference for water supply, flood protection, water quality and

natural system functions. The plan also enhances accountability by annually

evaluating outcomes and progress toward goals.

“Our strategic priorities are both practical and forward looking,” said

Executive Director Douglas Barr. “They are based on financial resources

GEORGE ROBERTS PHILIP K. McMILLAN STEVE GHAZVINI PETER ANTONACCI STEPHANIE BLOYD
Chair Vice Chair Secretary/Treasurer Tallahassee Panama City Beach
Panama City Blountstown Tallahassee

JOYCE ESTES TIM NORRIS JERRY PATE RALPH RISH

Eastpoint Santa Rosa Beach Pensacola Port St.Joe
available to achieve our goals. Activities for each major strategy are assigned

to specific District divisions to further increase ownership and accountability.”

(MORE)

Add 1-- Water Management Plan is Strategic

“Each strategy is applied to an issue with a defined target,” said Ron

Bartel, Director of the Division of Resource Management. “The annual update

will ensure that the plan remains valid, based on current water resource

challenges and financial resources.”

Among the major priorities are alternative water supply development,

consumptive use permitting, environmental resource permitting, flood hazard

mapping, reuse of reclaimed water and restoration of watersheds.

The public is invited to comment on the plan through January 10, 2010 at

the District’s website,

http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubs/swmp2010/swmp2010.html

###