FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 25, 2012
DEP, PARTNERS DEDICATE $22 MILLION TO LAKE HARNEY, LAKE MONROE, SMITH CANAL, MIDDLE ST. JOHNS RIVER RESTORATION
~State's 11th comprehensive restoration plan and stakeholder commitment ensures action and faster restoration~
SANFORD– Florida Department of Environmental
Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. joined local officials Thursday to
commemorate the adoption of a basin management action plan for Lake Harney,
Lake Monroe, Smith Canal and the Middle St. Johns River, made possible
through a $22 million commitment of state and local partners.
Governor Rick Scott said, “We’re working to not only protect
Florida’s natural treasures, but enhance and revitalize our waterbodies. This
commitment of $22 million by state and local partners to improve the water
quality of Lake Harney, Lake Monroe, Smith Canal and the Middle St. Johns River
is a great example of what can be done when state and local partners work
together. We have some of the best waterbodies in the world, and we’ll
continue to take action to ensure we protect and improve them, for future
generations to enjoy.”
The Department
adopted water quality restoration goals -- known as total maximum daily loads --
for these waterbodies that call for reductions in nitrogen concentrations of
37-39 percent and reductions in phosphorus concentrations of 26-33 percent to
improve water quality conditions in the lakes, canal and river. The total
maximum daily loads were the basis for the recently developed restoration plan for the basin. To date, the Department has adopted a total of 11 basin
management action plans, covering 89 waterbody segments. Nine more
are currently in development covering 61 additional waterbody segments.
“One of DEP’s top
priorities is getting Florida’s water right, which includes both ensuring an
adequate supply and improving the quality of our water,” said DEP Secretary
Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “The State of Florida has always been a leader in
water quality assessment and restoration, but we are now insisting on a sense
of urgency in identifying solutions to restore our impacted waterways. The
Department is now focused on achieving measurable ecological progress through
its restoration process. DEP looks forward to continuing this partnership as
we take immediate action to improve the water quality of this important
watershed.”
While goal-setting
is important, implementing actions on the ground result in improving the
health of our waterways. This official plan assigns reduction
responsibilities within the watershed, details projects that will be
implemented in the next five years to reduce pollution and tracks changes in
water quality as a result of those projects.
During the first five-year phase
of the plan, stakeholders will achieve approximately 78 percent of the
required total nitrogen reductions and 87 percent of the total phosphorus
reductions required by the stakeholders within this basin. The remaining
reductions will be addressed in the second five-year phase. Too much nitrogen
and phosphorus introduced into a waterway can trigger algal blooms.
The plan for
Lake Harney, Lake Monroe, Smith Canal and the Middle St. Johns River is part of the Department’s
comprehensive approach to identifying polluted waterways and partnering with
local, regional, and state interests to return the water bodies to a healthy
condition. Actions include improvements in stormwater management,
implementation of agricultural best management practices, development and
implementation of county ordinances for fertilizer application and ongoing
public education programs.
This effort demonstrates the commitment of the
Department, the Water Management District and state and local governments to
the restoration of water bodies in Florida. Many projects have begun in advance
of finalizing the plan.
“The District
appreciates the opportunity to be part of this TMDL and BMAP development,”
said St. Johns River Water Management District Assistant Executive Director
Elwin “Woody” Boynton. “We also appreciate DEP’s leadership and the support
of all of the stakeholders in finalizing this important component of improving
the water quality of the Middle St. Johns River, as well as to stretches of
the river downstream.”
The plan was
developed in partnership with the cities of DeBary, DeLand, Deltona, Lake
Helen, Lake Mary, Orange City, and Sanford; Seminole County; Volusia County;
Florida Department of Transportation; Florida Turnpike Authority; Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and St. Johns River Water
Management District.
For more information
about the Department’s water quality protection and restoration programs visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/bmap.htm.
|