Southwest Florida Water Management District Report- July 2008

Rule Amendments to Improve Flow Meter Accuracy

The Governing Board approved rule amendments to improve flow meter accuracy. Amendments include specific requirements for the flow meter accuracy tests that are required every five years for all metered withdrawal points on water use permits. The previous rules allowed flow meter data to be submitted in many different formats. In order to establish consistent data collection and ensure
proper testing is performed, standardized accuracy requirements and a standardized test form will now be required. Operators of meter testing equipment shall hold a valid certificate of competency to operate the type of equipment used. Certification from the test equipment manufacturer, or other recognized training entities will be sufficient. A copy of this certification must be provided to the District along with the Meter Accuracy Verification Form.

Additional new language includes:
• Allowance for existing systems that would require significant retrofitting to meet standards to not undertake retrofitting if the meter is shown to be correctly operating
• Allowance for other reporting methods where these have already been accepted by the District
• Clarification of the temperature requirements for ground water and other water types
• Clarification of the photo documentation requirements

The District held a workshop with most of meter testing companies in the District to make them aware of the rule changes.

If you have any specific questions regarding the meter reporting requirements, please contact me or the District’s Ag Teams at:

Bartow Regulation Region (Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties)
(863) 534-1448 or
1-800-492-7862 (FL only)

Brooksville Regulation Region (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco and Sumter counties)
(352) 796-7211 or
1-800-423-1476 (FL only)

Tampa Regulation Region (Hillsborough and Pinellas counties)
(813) 985-7481 or
1-800-836-0797 (Fl only)

Sarasota Regulation Region (Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties)
(941) 377-3722 or
1-800-320-3503 (FL only)

Initiation of Rulemaking to Amend Rule 40D-1.607, Florida Administrative Code, Regarding Permit Fees

This past 2008 Florida Legislative Session, legislation was passed that required the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to initiate rulemaking to adjust fees related to environmental resource permitting. The legislation not only applies to the DEP, but to the water management districts as well. The legislation also establishes fees to be collected on activities that staff performed previously at no cost.

The legislation specifically requires the DEP to “increase each application fee authorized under Part IV” (the Environmental Resource Permitting part of Chapter 373, Florida Statutes) and to “ensure that such fees reflect, at a minimum, any upward adjustment in the Consumer Price Index compiled by the United States Department of Labor, or similar inflation indicator, since the original fee was established or most recently revised.” In addition, “The department shall review the fees authorized under part IV of this chapter at least once every 5 years and shall adjust the fees upward, as necessary, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index or similar inflation indicator.”

Additionally, the legislation requires a fee of at least $250 for a noticed general permit or individual permit, a fee of at least $100, but not to exceed $500, for verifying that an activity is exempt from regulation, and a fee of at least $100, but not to exceed $500, for conducting informal wetland determinations. The District had not previously charged a fee for exemption verifications or informal wetland determinations. As of July 1, 2008 the District began to collect the minimum fee amounts listed in the legislation. This item will be brought to SWFWMD’s Advisory Committees for comment and brought back to the Governing Board for approval in fall 2008.

Please see the chart below for the current and proposed ERP fee schedule:

University of Florida Turfgrass Irrigation Research

Due to an increased interest in local governments exploring landscape ordinances with percentile limits or out right banning of St. Augustine grass, Dr. Terril Nell, director of the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology, reported on research efforts in water use in landscapes.

The District is currently partnering with the University of Florida in plant establishment research to determine how much water and time it takes to establish shrubs commonly used in Florida landscapes. Research results are used to support recommendations for, and potentially rules that govern irrigation during establishment periods.

The University of Florida is also participating in on-going research on turfgrasses. These research projects include: water requirements of various types of grasses, Smart Irrigation Technology, current irrigation controller methods and homeowner behavior.

Water Shortage Actions

On January 9, 2007, SWFWMD issued Water Shortage Order No. SWF 07-02 to declare once-per-week lawn watering restrictions and other modified Phase II (Severe Water Shortage) restrictions for the entire sixteen county area. The water shortage order has been extended on three occasions since 2007.

Based on drought indicators specified in the water shortage plan, SWFWMD extended the current water shortage declaration through September 30, 2008. Also, due to an interagency agreement with the St. John’s River Water Management District (St. John’s), the water shortage order was expanded to include all of Marion County. The interagency agreement will allow the portion of Marion County that is located in St. John’s to follow St. John’s year-round conservation rules when not in a drought. During times of drought declaration, the portion of Marion County that is in St. John’s will follow rules specified in SWFWMD water shortage rules.

The most current rainfall data for 2008 for the northern, central and southern regions of SWFWMD are reported below, in inches.