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TO: Water Policy Mailing List

DATE: May 7, 1981

RE: Chapter 17-40.03 General Water Policy
Proposed Hearing Draft


Attached is a copy of Chapter 17-40.03 General
Water Policy hearing draft. The hearing is scheduled to
be held before the Secretary on June 8, 1981.















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1 17-40.03 General Water Policy

2 The following statement of general water policy shall provide
3 a basis for Department review of water management programs, rules,

4 and plans. Water management programs, rules and plans, where

5 economically and environmentally feasible, not contrary to the

6 public interest, and consistent with Florida law, shall seek to:
7 (1) Assure availability of an adequate and affordable

8 supply of water for all reasonable-beneficial uses. Uses of water

9 authorized by a permit shall be limited to reasonable-beneficial

10 uses.
11 (2) Reserve from use that water necessary to support

12 essential non-withdrawal demands, including navigation, recreation,

13 and the protection of fish and wildlife.

14 (3) Promote water conservation as an integral part of

15 water management programs, rules, and plans and the use and reuse

16 of water of the lowest acceptable quality for the purpose intended.
17 (4) Utilize, preserve, restore, and enhance natural water
18 management systems and discourage the channelization or other

19 alteration of natural rivers, streams and lakes.

20 (5) Protect the water storage and water quality enhancement
functions of wetlands, floodplains, and aquifer discharge areas
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2 through acquisition, enforcement of laws, and the application of
land and water management practices which provide for compatible
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uses.
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(6) Mitigate adverse impacts resulting from prior altera-
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tion of natural hydrologic patterns and fluctuations in surface
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and ground water levels.
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(7) Establish minimum flows and levels to protect water
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resources and the environmental values associated with marine,
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estuarine, freshwater, and wetlands ecology.
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1 (8) Encourage non-structural solutions to water resource

2 problems and give adequate consideration to non-structural alterna-

3 tives whenever structural works are proposed.

4 (9) Encourage the management of floodplains and other flood

5 hazard areas to prevent or reduce flood damage consistent with

6 establishment and maintenance of desirable hydrologic characteristics

7 of such areas.

8 (10) Manage the construction and operation of facilities

9 which dam, divert, or otherwise alter the flow of surface waters to

10 prevent increased flooding, oil, erosion or excessive drainage.

11 (11) Encourage the development of local or regional water

12 supplies within districts rather than transport water across District

13 boundaries.

14 (12) Control point and non-point sources of water pollution

15 to the greatest degree feasible as provided in Chapters 17-3, and

16 17-6, F.A.C.

17 (13) Develop interstate agreements and undertake cooperative

18 programs with Alabama and Georgia to provide for coordinated manage-

19 ment of surface and ground waters.

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