FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 21, 2014
CONTACT: 850.717.9282, MEDIA@EOG.MYFLORIDA.COM
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT ANNOUNCES $55 MILLION FOR FLORIDA'S SPRINGS IN "IT'S YOUR MONEY TAX CUT BUDGET"
TALLAHASSEE – Florida
Governor Rick Scott today announced $55 million in funding for restoration and
protection of Florida’s springs in the 2014-2015 “It’s Your Money Tax Cut
Budget.” This announcement was made during an award ceremony in
Tallahassee celebrating 125 employees from around the state that were selected
as the Department of Environmental Protection’s most stellar environmental
stewards.
Governor
Scott said, “Today, I’m pleased to announce that in order to continue our
dedication to protect and restore springs throughout the Sunshine State, the
“It’s Your Money Tax Cut Budget” includes $55 million specifically dedicated to
springs protection efforts. This investment will enable state and local
partners to protect the quality and quantity of water that flows from our
springs. These springs are important not only to animal and plant life, but
also add to Florida’s ever-expanding tourism industry.”
The
$55 million recommendation dedicates $25 million in funding for water quantity
and quality protection and restoration projects. These projects will have
tangible benefits to reduce and eliminate nutrient impacts and ensure the
proper flow to our springs.
Effective
and efficient water management is essential to the public and to the
environmental and economic health and welfare of the state. To that end, alternative
water supply development in critical springs areas will receive $25 million in
funding to help protect spring flow. Also, the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services will be able to help agricultural operations
increase water conservation in their irrigation practices and deploy more
efficient fertilization practices through a $5 million allocation in the
budget.
“If
you care about Florida’s springs, Governor Scott’s funding announcement should
have you very happy,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “Governor
Scott has already surpassed all previous administrations when it comes to
funding to improve our springs, and this year’s budget does even more. The $55
million in proposed funding for springs protection and restoration will allow
Florida to keep the momentum going on this administration’s unprecedented
efforts to return one of our state’s most precious resources to health.”
With
the support of Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature, twice as much
funding has been dedicated exclusively to springs protection than in any other
three-year period since 2001. Since 2011, $18.7 million has been specifically
directed to springs protection.
Under
Governor Scott’s oversight, Florida’s water management districts are also
making progress in water quantity by establishing minimum flows and levels for
Florida’s springs. These are designed to protect and restore spring flows and
the natural systems they support. The districts have set minimum flows and
levels for 29 springs to date and expect to establish them for 50 more springs
over the next two years, which will more than double the cumulative efforts of
the last decade.
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