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The State’s Water Policy Future

The State’s Water Policy Future. Office of Water Policy & Ecosystem Projects Melissa L. Meeker, Deputy Secretary Or Executive Director, SFWMD. Governor Scott’s Direction. April Letter to Secretary Vinyard Core Responsibilities Water supply Flood protection Resource protection

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The State’s Water Policy Future

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  1. The State’s Water Policy Future Office of Water Policy & Ecosystem ProjectsMelissa L. Meeker, Deputy Secretary Or Executive Director, SFWMD

  2. Governor Scott’s Direction • April Letter to Secretary Vinyard • Core Responsibilities • Water supply • Flood protection • Resource protection • Chapter 373.026(7), FS - general supervisory authority Fiscally responsible May 19, 2011 | 2

  3. Issues Specifically Called Out • Budgets and Debt • Rulemaking • ERP, CUP, UMAM and MFLs • Meaningful and measurable regulatory streamlining • Consistency • Coordination of land acquisition • Coordination of lobbying, policies, etc. May 19, 2011 | 3

  4. Strategic Objectives • WMD Implementation of Core Mission: flood protection, water supply, resource protection • Consistency in water supply management and resource regulations • Clear, consistent streamlined rules for ERP, CUP, UMAM, MFLs May 19, 2011 | 4

  5. Regulations ALONE cannot protect or enhance resources. Partnerships build success. September 25, 2007 | 5

  6. Action Items • Hire OWEP Team • Budget • Guidance Memos • Permitting inquiry, DEP RAI directive (4/25) • Correspondence Coordination (4/25) • Lobbying/Federal Coordination (4/25) • ERP/CUP Plan (4/25) • Land Acquisition (4/25) May 19, 2011 | 6

  7. Short Term Goals – Budget • Governor’s 25% Ad valorum budget cut • Focus on core mission responsibilities • Reduce/Eliminate non core mission duties • Salary/Benefits adjustments • Work off reserves but don’t focus solely on this May 19, 2011 | 7

  8. Legislative Twist • Conforming Bill May 19, 2011 | 8

  9. Legislative Twist • Conforming Bill • Requires the EOG do analysis of each district’s budget for LBC • Legislative Budget Commission • Veto authority May 19, 2011 | 9

  10. ERP • Statewide ERP – 1 year • Districts can have basin-specific rules • DEP to take lead on UMAM training and guidance • DEP to take lead on evaluating how districts process an application • Theoretical project? Review of process for similar projects? • NWF rule and good starting point, but not perfect. | 10

  11. ERP cont. • US ACOE challenges • Wetland line • Bank first • Avoid, minimize, mitigate • ESA – Commenting Agencies | 11

  12. ERP cont. • Workload and streamlining • Exemptions, NGPs • Full ERP delegation to WMDs? • Single Family regulation | 12

  13. Consumptive Use Permitting | 13

  14. Consumptive Use Permitting • Incentive based process – partner with utilities to meet goals. • Duration • Compliance Reports • State-wide rule in 2 years – certainty and consistency… • Encourage innovation • Basin specific rules • Sustainable Permit | 14

  15. Sustainable Permit concept cont. • Sustainable Permit concept • Conjunctive Uses – multiple sources in single permit • Coordinated management of surfacewaterand groundwatersupplies to maximize the yield of the overall water resource for sustainable use. • Optimization of sources – utilities know best • Mutual goal of resource protection | 15

  16. Sustainable Permit concept • Benefits • Stewardship • Control • Certainty/ flexibility • Reasonable assurance • Challenges • Trust • Set priorities -“right water in the right place” • Resource protection • Oversight | 16

  17. Reuse • What is it? Who regulates? Thoughts: • "The definition of "water" and waters in the state"  as defined in Chapter 373, F.S. does not include reclaimed water.  • Reclaimed water is defined by department rule and is defined by statute as an alternative source of water. • Is a critical piece of the water resource pie… and is part of the solution for management of water resources. | 17

  18. Reuse cont. • Commodity • Offsets and Credits • Reuse Feasibility Study • Reuse Working Group consensus • No restriction of the use of reclaimed either by permit or by water shortage order; • No allocation of reclaimed water and • No requirement of a permit for reclaimed water. | 18

  19. MFLs • Black Box Modeling • Who or What is driving the process? • Current law “endorses” adopting a recovery and prevention strategy at the same time the MFL is adopted. • Need to know the effect • Need to know the cost • Challenge in previously set MFLs and how the recovery and prevention strategy will play out. | 19

  20. Other ideas • Public Private Partnerships • Limited funds, let’s partner! • Regional Utilities • Get past politics and let’s work together (distribution) • New Water • Going to tide and lost forever | 20

  21. Increased agency coordination • DEP/WMD Executive Meeting • ERP/CUP Anti-Drift Meeting(s) • ED bi-weekly call(s) • Cross Boundary Leadership | 21

  22. Contact info Melissa Meeker mmeeker@sfwmd.gov 561-686-8800 June 3, 2011| 22

  23. SFWMD’s Future Day 3 on the job…

  24. Budget Challenges • 30% reduction equates to about $128M • Structural and Functional Analysis • Functional Division • Bottom up resource analysis | 24

  25. Achieve 30% revenue reduction and: • Provide flood control and hurricane response, including maintenance of sufficient contingency reserves • Continue progress of Everglades environmental restoration & water quality projects (C-111 spreader canal, Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, Lakeside Ranch, Kissimmee River restoration, STA expansions) • Meet on-going water supply development needs • Streamline existing regulatory programs • Meet on-going debt service payments June 3, 2011| 25

  26. No Brainers • Leadership/management team • Salary adjustments above a certain amount • Benefits • Death by meetings • Set direction • Empower staff | 26

  27. New Executive Management Organization Executive Director General Counsel Chief of Staff Assistant Executive Director Everglades Policy & Coordination Operations, Maintenance & Construction Administrative Services Water Resources Regulation

  28. Organizational Structure Administrative Services Water Resources Operations, Maintenance & Construction Regulation Finance & Administration Field Ops North Water Supply Environmental Resource Regulation Field Ops Central Information Technology Restoration Sciences Water Use Regulation Field Ops South Procurement Operations & Hydrodata Management Compliance & Enforcement Modeling Human Resources Everglades Regulation Vegetation & Land Management CFO & Office of Management & Budget Regulatory Service Centers Engineering Construction Regulatory Support Real Estate Emergency Mgmt, Safety & Security

  29. Organizational Structure Office of Everglades Policy & Coordination Office of the Chief of Staff Office of the General Counsel Intergovernmental Policy & Planning Policy & Coordination Service Centers Ombuds & Open Government Board & Executive Services Public Information Legislative, Federal & Tribal Affairs Stormwater

  30. Hard Decisions • Non Mandated, non core function • BUT stakeholder favorites • Level of Service • Prioritization of projects • Staff reductions June 3, 2011| 30

  31. Schedule • June – budget conformance with state • June Board Meeting • Guiding principles for budget cuts • July Board Meeting • Budget approval • August 1 – submit to state June 3, 2011| 31

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