The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, and aquifers in the District. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year.

The District will hold a public meeting on Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North.

Members of the public can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting via Teams, please click here. You can also use this URL to join the meeting: https://bit.ly/3zJqfjn. Use of the Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Teams.

To join the meeting by telephone only, dial 1-786-749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference ID: 909-560-596#.

Public Workshop on Minimum Flows and Levels for Lakes, Wetlands, Rivers, Streams and Aquifers to be held August 25

A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources or environment. The District’s Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving the balance between meeting water needs and sustaining Florida’s natural systems.

The adopted minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule for 2020 is available on the District’s website here. The draft 2021 list will be published on the site following the Governing Board’s August meeting. The revised schedule will be considered for approval at the Board’s October meeting.

Written comments on the draft priority list and schedule may be submitted to Doug Leeper, MFLs Program Lead, at doug.leeper@watermatters.org or to 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL, 34604 no later than Sept. 7.

For more information, please contact Doug Leeper at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4272.