Innovative Conservation incentives beyond easements and fee simple purchase are needed for conservation in Florida. In east central Florida, citrus farm owners and agencies have developed a method of storing additional water on shallow citrus groves called water farming. This water storage will help remove harmful point source discharges to the Indian River Lagoon. In support of the development and implementation of wildlife regulatory assurance for Dispersed Water Management (DWM) projects in the Northern Everglades, especially for Water Farmers in the St. Lucie River and Estuary Watershed, the PI provided coordination to support development of a multi-party agreement among USFWS, FWC, FDACS, SFWMD, SJRWMD, and DEP to help organize meetings to specify roles and responsibilities of the parties and provide ad hoc support to the principal drafter of the Agreement, Dave Hankla. The PI will also provide liaison to facilitate landowners’ enrollment under the Agreement.
This presentation on Water Farming was put to the PFLCC Steering Committee in June 2016.
