Public meetings Dec. 3 to discuss model peer review for lakes Apshawa and Sylvan
PALATKA, Fla., Nov. 19, 2019 — The St. Johns River Water Management District will hold two public meetings on Dec. 3 to discuss initial peer review comments on the surface water models for Lake Apshawa in Lake County and Sylvan Lake in Seminole County, both located within the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area.
The district is currently completing a reevaluation of its adopted minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Lake Apshawa and Sylvan Lake to ensure their continued protection. The current plan is to submit a Notice of Proposed Rule (NPR) for each lake by the end of 2020.
The district has updated Hydrological Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) models that will be used to support the development and/or assessment of MFLs for each lake. These public meetings will involve a discussion of initial peer review comments of these models, including model calibration and the long-term simulation models developed by district staff. Stakeholder comments regarding these models are welcome.
WHAT: Lake Apshawa surface water model peer review workshop
WHEN: 9 a.m.–noon, Dec. 3, 2019
WHERE: SJRWMD Maitland Service Center, Econ Rm
601 South Lake Destiny Road, Suite 200
Maitland, FL 32751
Webinar Link
Conference call phone number: 1-888-585-9008; code: 356-927-138
WHAT: Sylvan Lake surface water model peer review workshop
WHEN: 1–4 p.m., Dec. 3, 2019
WHERE: SJRWMD Maitland Service Center, Econ Rm
601 South Lake Destiny Road, Suite 200
Maitland, FL 32751
Webinar Link
Conference call phone number: 1-888-585-9008; code: 356-927-138
Establishing MFLs is an important component of the district’s work of planning for adequate water supplies for today and for future generations while also protecting the district’s water resources.
Visit www.sjrwmd.com/minimumflowsandlevels/ for information about MFLs and details for the Lake Apshawa and Sylvan Lake meetings.
What is an MFL?
Florida law requires the state’s water management districts to set Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies. MFLs define the limits at which further water withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of an area. MFLs are adopted by the district’s Governing Board and are one of many effective tools used by the district to assist in making sound water management decisions and preventing significant adverse impacts due to water withdrawals.
MFLs are important because they identify a range of water flows and/or levels above which water might be permitted for consumptive use. They protect non-consumptive uses of water, including recreation in and on the water, fish and wildlife habitats, the passage of fish, and much more. Learn more at www.sjrwmd.com/minimumflowsandlevels/.