LIVE OAK, FL, March 4, 2010 – The Suwannee River and St. Johns River water management districts will hold several joint meetings to address plans for future water supply.

Both districts are each developing their own water supply plans for areas where sources may be unable to meet demands over the next 20 years. The Suwannee district is currently developing a plan for the Upper Santa Fe River Basin, which is scheduled for adoption in December 2010.

The various meetings will discuss the water supply planning process, alternative water supply options and minimum flows and levels.

Anyone who may be interested in the water supply planning process is invited to attend.

The following is a schedule of meetings:

• Northeast Florida alternative water supply subgroup: March 9, 9 a.m., Green Cove Springs City Hall, 321 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs.

• Northeast Florida water supply planning area workgroup: March 18, 10 a.m., Alachua County Health Department Auditorium, 224 SE 24th Street, Gainesville.

• Northeast Florida modeling subgroup: March 25, 9 a.m., St. Johns River Water Management District headquarters in Palatka, 4049 Reid St. (Hwy. 100 West), Palatka.

• Northeast Florida alternative water supply subgroup: April 8, 9 a.m., Green Cove Springs City Hall, 321 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs.

• Northeast Florida minimum flows and levels (MFLs) subgroup: April 23, 10 a.m., St. Johns River Water Management District headquarters in Palatka, Governing Board room, 4049 Reid St. (Hwy. 100 West), Palatka.

• Northeast Florida alternative water supply subgroup: May 6, 9 a.m., Green Cove Springs City Hall, 321 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs.

• Northeast Florida water supply planning area workgroup: June 17, 10 a.m., Andrews Center, 201 E. Call St., Starke.

• Northeast Florida minimum flows and levels (MFLs) subgroup: July 9, 10 a.m., St. Johns River Water Management District headquarters in Palatka, Governing Board room, 4049 Reid St. (Hwy. 100 West), Palatka.

Meeting dates are subject to change. Verification of meeting dates and additional information about the water supply planning process is available on the District’s website under the “Water Resources” button and “Water Supply Planning” link.

LIVE OAK, FL, February 26, 2010 – Levy County residents will soon have an opportunity to see how changes to flood zone designations may affect their properties.

Property owners, realtors, lenders and insurance agents are invited to attend an open house on March 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the City of Cedar Key Library, 460 Second Street, to review and comment on updated preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs). Another open house will be held on March 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Tommy Usher Community Center, 506 SW 4th Ave. in Chiefland.

The maps are being prepared for Levy County and incorporated areas including the City of Cedar Key, Town of Bronson, City of Chiefland, Town of Inglis, City of Otter Creek, City of Williston and the Town of Yankeetown.

The maps were created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with Levy County, the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), all of whom will have representatives at the open house to answer questions.

These new maps are part of FEMA’s plan to modernize all flood hazard maps nationwide and will provide better and more accurate floodplain mapping of Levy County. These maps will replace the existing flood insurance rate maps prepared by FEMA and adopted in 1984.

Once adopted the new maps would be used to determine which properties are located in special flood hazard areas for flood insurance purposes. Proposed changes have been made to 715 parcels in Levy County.

Before the maps are finalized in 2011, residents will be given 90 days to appeal or protest the proposed DFIRMs.

For more information call Rick Johnston, SRWMD at 386.362.1001; Larry Walker, SWFWMD at 352.796.7211; or Robert Johnson, URS Corporation at 813.636.2137. Visit www.srwmdfloodmaps.com for more information on map modernization.

LIVE OAK, FL, February 23, 2010 – The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) will hold a town hall meeting March 11 in Mayo to report on restoration activities and to respond to questions related to District lands and hydrologic conditions in southern Lafayette County. The meeting will take place at Lafayette High School at 6:30 p.m.

Following a brief presentation, District officials will take questions and comments from the public.

“Residents and others have expressed interest in the restoration efforts at Mallory Swamp and throughout the Steinhatchee Basin,” said Bob Heeke, District senior land resources manager. “We would like to provide a forum to inform the public on these projects.”

The District purchased Mallory Swamp following the wildfire of 2001 and has since been working to restore the swamp’s hydrology, wetlands and natural communities.

Starting Jan. 6, all homeowners and others within the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) will be asked to limit landscape irrigation to one or two days per week, depending upon the time of the year.

The District covers all of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union counties and parts of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson, Levy, and Putnam counties.

For the first time ever, the District is implementing a year-round water conservation rule that applies to residential landscaping, public or commercial recreation areas, and public and commercial businesses that aren’t regulated by a District-issued permit.

In the past, the District has enacted only short-term voluntary restrictions in response to drought conditions.

Jon Dinges, the District’s director of resource management, said the new requirement will help address water needs within the District.

“Water supply is a statewide issue,” Dinges said. “We all must do our part to conserve.”

Unlike other areas of the state where irrigation schedules are set according to addresses, water users in the SRWMD will be allowed to set their own schedules as follows: Choose one day per week to water landscapes during Eastern Standard Time, which begins the first Sunday in November; choose two days per week during Daylight Saving Time, beginning the second Sunday in March. In both cases, irrigation should not occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Newly planted landscapes may be watered more frequently for 60 days following planting.

“Reducing landscape irrigation and watering more efficiently helps us make the most of our resources and it reduces irrigation costs,” Dinges said.

Those who wish to deviate from the water conservation rule must apply for a water use permit.

The requirement is part of the District’s new water use permitting rules.

In addition to water conservation for landscape irrigation, the new rules require anyone applying for a water use permit to implement a water conservation plan.

Dinges said only new permit applicants are required to adopt a conservation plan; existing permit holders must adhere to their current permits.

For more information contact Rules Coordinator Linda Welch at 386.362.1001.

New Water Use Rules