News Update
SJRWMD approves 2020 CFWI Regional Water Supply Plan
Staff report
Enviro-Net
The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board approved an updated plan to address Central Florida’s current and long-term water supply needs.
The 2020 Central Florida Water Initiative’s Regional Water Supply Plan is an update to the collaboratively developed 2015 plan to protect, conserve, restore and develop water supplies in the five counties at the convergence of the St. Johns, South Florida and Southwest Florida water management districts in Central Florida.
Regional water supply plans identify needs and recommend strategies for meeting future water demands of urban and agricultural uses, as well as the environment.
The planning process highlights areas where current sources of water will not meet future demands and evaluates water source options, including water conservation, to meet those demands. Required by state law, the plans are based on a 20-year outlook and must be updated every five years.
The CFWI Planning Area covers five counties including Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and southern Lake.
The plan approved by the district's board is based on a planning horizon through 2040.
The 2020 plan was developed using updated water use and population projections as well as the incorporation of new data collected at wetland and groundwater monitoring sites. In addition, the impact analysis was performed using an updated groundwater computer model which used new geological data.
Each of the three water management district governing boards are considering the plan for approval at their November meetings.