Title XXVIII, Natural Resources; Conservation, Reclamation, and Use

All of said bonds shall be executed and delivered to the treasurer of said district, who shall sell the same in such quantities and at such rates as the board may deem necessary to meet the payments for the works and improvements in the district. Said bonds shall not be sold for …

It shall be the duty of the treasurer as custodian of the funds belonging to the said board and to the district, out of the proceeds of the taxes levied and imposed by this chapter and out of any other moneys in the treasurer’s possession belonging to the district, which moneys s…

(1) Whenever the owner of any coupon bond issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall present such bond and all unpaid coupons thereof to the treasurer of the district with request for the conversion of such bond into a registered bond, such treasurer shall cut off an…

(1) In addition to issuing general obligation bonds as provided in s. 373.563, districts may also, from time to time, issue revenue bonds to finance the undertaking of any capital or other project for the purposes permitted by the State Constitution, to pay the costs and expenses…

If any warrant issued under this chapter is not paid when presented to the treasurer of the district because of lack of funds in the treasury, such fact shall be endorsed on the back of such warrant, and such warrant shall draw interest thereafter at a rate not exceeding 6 percen…

(1) Beginning July 1, 1999, funds shall be reserved annually by a governing board, during the development of its annual operating budget, for payments in lieu of taxes for all actual ad valorem tax losses incurred as a result of all governing board acquisitions for water manageme…

If a water management district has made a payment in lieu of taxes to a governmental entity and subsequently suspended such payment, the water management district shall reinstate appropriate payments and continue the payments for as long as the county population remains below the…

(1) To determine whether conservation, preservation, and recreation lands titled in the names of the water management districts are being managed for the purposes for which they were acquired and in accordance with land management objectives, the water management districts shall …

The Department of Environmental Protection or the governing board of any water management district and any officer or agent thereof may enforce any provision of this law or any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated or order issued thereunder to the same extent as any peace o…

The governing board of any water management district may adopt and implement a program of meritorious service awards for district employees who make proposals which are implemented and result in reducing district expenditures or improving district operations, who make exceptional…

The governing board of a water management district may provide group insurance for its employees, and the employees of another water management district, in the same manner and with the same provisions and limitations authorized for other public employees under ss. 112.08, 112.09…

(1) A water management district that has structures or facilities identified as critical infrastructure by the Regional Domestic Security Task Force created pursuant to s. 943.0312 shall conduct a fingerprint-based criminal history check for any current or prospective employee an…

Each water management district, as created in this chapter, may implement the recommendations from any study conducted pursuant to chapter 91-162, Laws of Florida, to achieve minority business enterprise procurement goals.History.—s. 1, ch. 96-412.

A water management district may purchase commodities and contractual services, excluding services subject to s. 287.055, from the purchasing contracts of special districts, municipalities, counties, other political subdivisions, educational institutions, other states, nonprofit e…

Each district may, in its own name:(1) Perform all things necessary to secure letters of patent, copyrights, and trademarks on any work products of the district and enforce its rights therein. Each district shall consider contributions by district personnel in the development of …

It shall be the duty of every state and county attorney, sheriff, police officer, and other appropriate city and county official, upon request, to assist the department, the governing board of any water management district, or any local board, or any of their agents in the enforc…

The district may suspend a contractor on a temporary or permanent basis from doing work with the district if such contractor has materially breached its contract with the district. The district shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of this section to specify the circumst…

In order to promote the cost-effective procurement of commodities and contractual services by the water management districts, a district may enter into contracts to limit or alter the measure of damages recoverable from a vendor or contractor by a district when procuring commodit…

Any person who violates any provision of this law or any rule, regulation or order adopted or issued pursuant thereto is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.History.—s. 18, ch. 57-380; s. 325, ch. 71-136; s. 25, ch. 73-…

The governing board of the district shall have the power, and is authorized, to offer and pay rewards of up to $1,000 to any person furnishing information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who has committed an unlawful act or acts upon the rights-of-way, land, or…

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed in order to effectively carry out its purposes.History.—s. 4, part VI, ch. 72-299.

This chapter shall be construed liberally for effectuating the purposes described herein, and the procedure herein prescribed shall be followed and applied with such latitude consistent with the intent thereof as shall best meet the requirements or necessities therefor.History.—s…

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:(a) “Agency” means any official, officer, commission, authority, council, committee, department, division, bureau, board, section, or other unit or entity of state government.(b) “Permit” means any permit or licen…

The Legislature believes it is in the public interest that all water management districts created pursuant to s. 373.069 own, acquire, develop, construct, operate, and manage public information systems. Public information systems may be located on property owned by the water mana…

The Legislature urges all public-owned or investor-owned water and sewerage systems to reduce connection fees and regular service charges for customers who utilize water or sewer-saving devices, including, but not limited to, individual graywater disposal systems.History.—s. 2, c…

(1) Any person who purchases and installs an automatic landscape irrigation system must properly install, maintain, and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture.(2) A licensed contractor who installs or performs …

The Legislature recognizes the significant value of water conservation in the protection and efficient use of water resources. Accordingly, consideration in the administration of ss. 373.223, 373.233, and 373.236 shall be given to applicants who implement water conservation pract…

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the governing boards of the water management districts, in considering the awarding of projects or studies relating to research, restoration, or similar projects or studies, shall give preferential consideration to universitie…

The states of Alabama, Florida and Georgia and the United States of America hereby agree to the following compact which shall become effective upon enactment of concurrent legislation by each respective state legislature and the Congress of the United States.SHORT TITLEThis Act s…

It is declared to be the policy of the Legislature:(1) To promote the availability of sufficient water for all existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses and natural systems.(2)(a) Because water constitutes a public resource benefiting the entire state, it is the policy of th…

In the performance of, and in conjunction with, its other powers and duties, the governing board of a water management district existing pursuant to this chapter:(1) Shall engage in planning to assist counties, municipalities, special districts, publicly owned and privately owned…

(1) The Legislature finds that:(a) The proper role of the water management districts in water supply is primarily planning and water resource development, but this does not preclude them from providing assistance with water supply development.(b) The proper role of local governme…

(1) The purpose of this section is to encourage cooperation in the development of water supplies and to provide for alternative water supply development.(a) Demands on natural supplies of fresh water to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population and the needs of the environme…

(1) The governing board of each water management district shall conduct water supply planning for a water supply planning region within the district identified in the appropriate district water supply plan under s. 373.036, where it determines that existing sources of water are n…

The water management districts shall assist local governments in the development and future revision of local government comprehensive plan elements or public facilities report as required by s. 189.08, related to water resource issues.History.—s. 82, ch. 2010-102; ss. 1, 28, 49,…

(1) By interlocal agreement between counties, municipalities, or special districts, as applicable, pursuant to the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969, s. 163.01, and upon the approval of the Secretary of Environmental Protection to ensure that such agreement will be in th…

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize the implementation of changes in governance recommended by the West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority in its reports to the Legislature dated February 1, 1997, and January 5, 1998. The authority and its member governments m…

(1) The Legislature finds that springs are a unique part of this state’s scenic beauty. Springs provide critical habitat for plants and animals, including many endangered or threatened species. Springs also provide immeasurable natural, recreational, economic, and inherent value.…

As used in this part, the term:(1) “Department” means the Department of Environmental Protection, which includes the Florida Geological Survey or its successor agencies.(2) “Enhanced nutrient-reducing onsite sewage treatment and disposal system” means an onsite sewage treatment a…

Using the best data available from the water management districts and other credible sources, the department, in coordination with the water management districts, shall delineate priority focus areas for each Outstanding Florida Spring or group of springs that contains one or mor…

(1) At the time a minimum flow or minimum water level is adopted pursuant to s. 373.042 for an Outstanding Florida Spring, if the spring is below or is projected within 20 years to fall below the minimum flow or minimum water level, a water management district or the department s…

By July 1, 2016, the department shall initiate assessment, pursuant to s. 403.067(3), of Outstanding Florida Springs or spring systems for which an impairment determination has not been made under the numeric nutrient standards in effect for spring vents. Assessments must be comp…

The following activities are prohibited within a basin management action plan in effect for an Outstanding Florida Spring:(1) New domestic wastewater disposal facilities, including rapid infiltration basins, with permitted capacities of 100,000 gallons per day or more, except for…

(1) The department shall adopt rules to improve water quantity and water quality to administer this part, as applicable.(2)(a) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the lead agency coordinating the reduction of agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution for the p…