Florida · statute · Fla. Stat. ch. 373 · 248 active provisions
(1) In order to accelerate topographic mapping in this state by the United States Geological Survey, the Department of Transportation is hereby authorized and directed to set aside, to pledge, and to make available annually out of its State Transportation Trust Fund the sum of $30,000; and the Board of Trustees of the…
This chapter shall be known as the “Florida Water Resources Act of 1972.”
(1) The waters in the state are among its basic resources. Such waters have not heretofore been conserved or fully controlled so as to realize their full beneficial use.(2) The department and the governing board shall take into account cumulative impacts on water resources and manage those resources in a manner to ensu…
When appearing in this chapter or in any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant thereto, the term:(1) “Alternative water supplies” means salt water; brackish surface and groundwater; surface water captured predominately during wet-weather flows; sources made available through the addition of new storage capacity f…
(1) All waters in the state are subject to regulation under the provisions of this chapter unless specifically exempted by general or special law.(2) No state or local government agency may enforce, except with respect to water quality, any special act, rule, regulation, or order affecting the waters in the state contr…
The department, or its successor agency, shall be responsible for the administration of this chapter at the state level. However, it is the policy of the state that, to the greatest extent possible, the department may enter into interagency or interlocal agreements with any other state agency, any water management dist…
(1) The department may, at the request of the board of county commissioners of any county, at the request of the governing board of any water management district, or any municipality or water district responsible for the protection of a public water supply, or, having determined by adoption of an appropriate resolution…
(1) FLORIDA WATER PLAN.—In cooperation with the water management districts, regional water supply authorities, and others, the department shall develop the Florida water plan. The Florida water plan shall include, but not be limited to:(a) The programs and activities of the department related to water supply, water qua…
(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Central Florida Coordination Area” means all of Polk, Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties, and southern Lake County, as designated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, and the St. Johns River Water Management Distr…
(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Central Florida Water Initiative Area” means all of Orange, Osceola, Polk, and Seminole Counties, and southern Lake County, as designated by the Central Florida Water Initiative Guiding Document of January 30, 2015.(b) “Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Planning Area” mea…
Upon preparation of an inventory of prime groundwater recharge areas for the Floridan or Biscayne aquifers, but prior to adoption by the governing board, the water management district shall publish a legal notice of public hearing on the designated areas for the Floridan and Biscayne aquifers, with a map delineating th…
(1) Within each section, or within the water management district as a whole, the department or the governing board shall establish the following:(a) Minimum flow for all surface watercourses in the area. The minimum flow for a given watercourse is the limit at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to…
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—(a) Considerations.—When establishing minimum flows and minimum water levels pursuant to s. 373.042, the department or governing board shall consider changes and structural alterations to watersheds, surface waters, and aquifers and the effects such changes or alterations have had, and the constraint…
The department has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter.
The governing board of the district is authorized to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter. Rules and orders may be enforced by mandatory injunction or other appropriate action in the courts of the state. Rules relating to personnel matters shall be made available…
(1) The department may enter into interagency agreements with or among any other state agencies conducting programs or exercising powers related to or affecting the water resources of the state. Such agreements may establish principal-agency or contract relationships; provide for cross-deputization of enforcement perso…
(1) The Legislature finds that:(a) Historically, the Floridan Aquifer system has supplied the vast majority of the water used in the Central Florida Coordination Area.(b) Because the boundaries of the St. Johns River Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, and the Southwest Florida Water…
Subject to appropriation, a grant program for the Central Florida Water Initiative is established within the Department of Environmental Protection.(1) The department, in cooperation with the relevant water management districts, shall provide grants for projects that benefit the Central Florida Water Initiative Area an…
Any water management district is authorized to advise flood control districts or other water management districts of the state in processing matters with the Federal Government and to render such technical assistance as may be helpful to the efficient operation of such other districts.
(1)(a) When it is found to be in the public interest and for the public convenience and welfare, and for the public benefit, and necessary for carrying out the works or improvement of any water management district referred to in this chapter for the protection of property and the inhabitants in the district against the…
(1) At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1976, the state shall be divided into the following water management districts:(a) Northwest Florida Water Management District.(b) Suwannee River Water Management District.(c) St. Johns River Water Management District.(d) Southwest Florida Water Management District.(e) South Florida Wa…
(1) At the time of change of boundaries of the respective districts under s. 373.069(3), 1976 Supplement to Florida Statutes 1975, all contractual obligations with respect to an area being transferred to another district shall be assumed by the district receiving such area; all real property interests owned by a distri…
(1)(a) Any areas within a district may be designated by the district governing board as subdistricts or basins. The designations of such basins shall be made by the district governing board by resolutions thereof. The governing board of the district may change the boundaries of such basins, or create new basins, by res…
(1) The various boards shall be responsible for discharging the following described functions in their respective basins:(a) The preparation of engineering plans for development of the water resources of the basin and the conduct of public hearings on such plans.(b) The development and preparation of overall basin plan…
The respective basins may, pursuant to s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution, by resolution request the governing board of the district to levy ad valorem taxes within such basin. Upon receipt of such request, a basin tax levy shall be made by the governing board of the district to finance basin functions enumera…