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4 St. Petersburg, Florita ide City-P.. Box2842
From the Office of the Mayor

December 1, 1975 Pi
The Honorable Reuben Askew : t;
Governor of Florida
The Capitol DTC "
Tallahassee, FL 32304

Dear Governor Askew: L-nviror '

I urge you to consider restructuring the Southwest Florida Water
Management Board during the upcoming legislative season.

Water use laws of our state imply that land owners may use water
from beneath their lands in a reasonable and beneficial manner
so long as no damage occurs to the resource. This city has never
questioned that policy.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has established
operating rules and regulations which are based upon the "water
crop theory." This action has provided the basis for land owners
to sell their "water crop." It is unnecessary to remind you of
the substantial impact such sales will create upon utility bills.
The establishment of such policy will surely spread throughout
the state. The Central and Southern Flood Control District moves
vast amounts of water from one portion of their district to
another. As the water crop sales program expands, major expenses
will be experienced by that district which must be passed on to
the utility customers and the state, since portions of that water
are used to maintain water levels in the Everglades.

I have attached copies of a portion of the Pasco County Commis-
sion Meeting Minutes of September 30, 1975 and a copy of a
subsequent newspaper article for your review. It would appear
that the only way to correct the above-mentioned trend is to
restructure the Southwest Florida Water Management Board to some
form of a one-man, one-vote representation. Your attention and
support of such legislative action would be greatly appreciated.

p(/ , Very sincerely you s,




(yt.t) h Mayor Charles E. Schuh

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