District wants to tighten irrigation rules

Public workshops scheduled

PALATKA, FL - The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board voted to begin the rulemaking process to amend the District’s irrigation rules. The rules apply to all lawn and landscape irrigation, agriculture, nurseries, golf courses and recreational areas not regulated by consumptive use permits.

"The additional water conservation provisions would enhance water savings by expanding the irrigation limitations to include reclaimed water and stormwater," said Hal Wilkening, the District’s director of resource management. "Also, the amendments would achieve greater savings by limiting landscape irrigation in the cooler months to one day a week and limiting the amount of water that can be applied during each irrigation cycle. Enforcement of the landscape irrigation provisions would be made easier by specifying the irrigation days for each user based on their address."

Public workshops will be held to provide information about the proposed rule amendments and to obtain public comment on the proposed changes.

June 18, 2008, 1 p.m., Seminole County Commission Chambers, 1101 E. First St., Sanford, FL

June 19, 2008, 10 a.m., Indian River County Commission Chambers, 1801 27th St., Building A, Vero Beach, FL

July 1, 2008,10 a.m., Department of Environmental Protection, 7825 Baymeadows Way, rooms A and B, Jacksonville, FL

July 3, 2008, 10 a.m., Lake County Commission Chambers, 315 W. Main St., Tavares, FL

"We encourage participation in the rulemaking process," said Wilkening. "The proposed amendments are a work in progress and the public’s input can help shape the final product."

For more information, visit the District’s Web site at  www.sjrwmd.com/irrigationrule