Water management districts make $4 million available for local government projects
A combined $4 million in state money is available for local government water conservation projects in north central Florida and the central Florida area near Orlando.
In mid-December, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Suwannee River Water Management District announced the availability of funding for projects within the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership region, a 14-county area that includes Alachua County, and the Central Florida Water Initiative region, a five-county area centered around Orlando.
The latest round of funding follows tens of millions of dollars - including $13 million this year in north central Florida alone - that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the water management district have pumped into projects intended to cut water use and reduce pollution from utilities and agricultural businesses.
In statements included in a news release, St. Johns River District Executive Director Ann Shortelle and Suwannee River District Executive Director Noah Valenstein said the projects would leverage state and local government monies to protect water and natural resources.
“Cost-share projects like this are one of the best ways to stretch our dollars to ensure taxpayers are getting the best return on their investment,” Shortelle said in a statement.