By STAFF REPORTS
The Northwest Florida Watersheds Partnership Program was recently launched to help provide funding for planning, data collection, design and implementation of projects to enhance water quality, aquatic habitat and water supply in priority sub-basins within the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
This new program builds upon prior work to develop Surface Water Improvement and Management plans for each of the District’s seven major watersheds.
Under the Watersheds Partnership Program, one priority sub-basin has been selected within each of the seven major watersheds where focused planning, coordination and funding will facilitate the implementation of projects to address critical water resource issues.
The sub-basins selected:
- Elevenmile Creek (Perdido River and Bay)
- Graveyard Branch-Bayou Texar (Pensacola River and Bay)
- Hogtown Bayou-Destin Harbor (Choctawhatchee River and Bay)
- Mill Bayou-Lairds Bayou (St. Andrew Bay)
- East River-Apalachicola River and Bay (Apalachicola River and Bay)
- Lake Jackson (Ochlockonee River and Bay)
- Goose Creek-Dickerson Bay (St. Marks River and Apalachee Bay)
District staff selected the sub-basins based on a variety of factors that included water quality concerns, water supply concerns, natural systems concerns, public input and the presence of conceptual or shovel-ready projects with funding needs.
Work plans developed for each priority sub-basin will include a description of the basin, water resource issues and causes, projects that can address and remedy critical issues and associated funding needs. The District expects to complete draft versions of these work plans by early January.
The Program will be implemented in coordination with local and county governments, regional entities and other interested and affected parties to maximize effectiveness.
These potential partners include the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and the three Panhandle Estuary Programs: the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program, Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program, and the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program.
Back in October, the District hosted public workshops for each of the seven watersheds to share information about the program and obtain input regarding the prioritization of sub-basins for work plan development. In addition to the public meetings, the District accepted input via online surveys.
