Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Statement on Passage of House Water Policy Bill

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From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

Adam Putnam

Adam Putnam

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement today regarding the Florida House of Representative’s passage of a key water policy bill, one day after the Florida Senate’s unanimous passage, that will help protect and manage Florida’s water resources:

“After years of hard work, the Florida Legislature has passed meaningful water policy reform that will help tackle Florida’s biggest long-term challenge – water. This legislation will address the needs of our growing population and economy, and it will protect our most precious natural resources. This legislation is a desperately needed step forward that helps protect our water in a long-term, science-based and strategic way.

“I thank the House of Representatives for the passage of this key legislation today. Also, I thank Senator Dean and Representative Caldwell for their tireless commitment to see this legislation across the finish line. Senate President Gardiner and Speaker Crisafulli have demonstrated great leadership in helping achieve Florida’s current and future water needs, and I commended them.”

To help protect and manage Florida’s precious water resources, this legislation, among other things: enhances the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Best Management Practices program, which implements cutting edge-technology and innovative practices to help preserve and protect Florida’s water resources; expedites the protection and restoration of the water flow and water quality in our aquifer and Outstanding Florida Springs; ensures the development and implementation of uniform water supply planning, consumptive water use permitting and resources protection programs for the area within the Central Florida Water Initiative; and modifies water supply and resource planning to provide more robust representations of the state’s water needs and goals.

For more information on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.