Humans need water for drinking, cleaning, and gardening as well as recreation. Farms and industries need water for the production and processing of goods for the marketplace. Birds and other wildlife depend on adequate water supplies to nest, raise young, feed, and rest along their migratory paths. Droughts, excessive urban development, and water pollution threaten the quality and amount of water available to all entities.
In 1972 Congress passed the Clean Water Act which is the nation's primary law on water quality(www.audubon.org/campaign/cleanwateract.html#CWA). The Act is credited with clean up of one third of our nations rivers and lakes. However, court decisions have cut back the types of waters protected under the Act, and threaten to limit protections for critical habitats across America (www.audubon.org/campaign/cleanwater.html#COURT). Guidance issued in 2007 by the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers could lead to a 50% loss of waters historically protected under the Clean Water Act, including the fragile wetlands.
National Audubon is committed to protecting and updating the Clean Water Act. Staff and members are working with agencies such as Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to help save our wetlands and valuable waters. Audubon also advocates for broad federal protection including litigation in the Supreme Court to protect the Everglades and Florida's wetlands from unlimited development. National Audubon has also joined forces with other organizations in the Clean Water Network (www.cleanwaternetwork.org). Visit http://www.audubon.org/ for further information.
CURRENT LOCAL ISSUE
South Florida Water Management District has proposed making permanent and year round the temporary drought driven emergency landscape irrigation restrictions of twice a week watering. Should they?
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Yes · Important to conserve South Florida's strained water supply. · Landscape irrigation uses half of South Florida's public water supply · Twice a week year-round irrigation rules are in place in southwestern, central, and northwestern Florida · Miami-Dade County imposed its own year-round, twice-a-week watering rule |
No · South Florida cities and counties make money selling water and drops in sales result in higher taxes · Landscaping industry is water-dependent · Continual water flow through pipes maintains water pressure and avoids stagnation of water that could affect the quality of the water · Because of limited storage capabilities, unused water gets flushed through water lines out to sea and thereby wasted |
AUDUBON OF FLORIDA
The Audubon Assembly approved statewide priorities for 2009. Water policy priorities are:
- Require mandatory water conservation programs as condition of consumptive use permits and mandatory reuse as a condition of wastewater discharge permits
- Revise state policies to give natural systems legal allocations of water to assure their long-term health before water is permitted for other uses
- Urge water management districts to set uncompromising schedules for reserving water for natural systems and establishing Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs)
- Maintain, improve and restore natural storage capacity in order to reduce withdrawals and diversions from natural systems
- Expand, accelerate and improve floodplain and water recharge area acquisition and management to prevent these areas from being developed while restoring natural areas and ecosystems
- Encourage partnerships for water storage to help finance, share water resources and allow storage of water on private lands
- Reduce pollution, maintain and strengthen water quality standards and support water quality restoration programs to clean up polluted waterways
- Protect Florida's springs and the springsheds that are their recharge sources
- Work for stronger federal, state, and local wetlands protection policies
- Amend Florida's Constitution to allow Northwest Florida Water Management District to collect the same rate of ad valorem taxes as other Districts.
BROWARD COUNTY
Broward County has an Integrated Water Resource Plan for assuring that its population has adequate clean water for community life. That plan includes water resource assessments, conservation and education activities, innovate water resource management, and governance and coordination. For details go to http://broward.org/iwrp/managing.htm. Broward County's Environmental Protection Department is the primary department concerned with water issues. Its divisions include (1) Air Quality, (2) Biological Resources Division, (3) Environmental Monitoring Division, (4) Pollution Prevention and Remediation Division, and (5) Water Resources Division. For an organizational chart go to www.broward.org/environment/
admin_epd_chart.pdf. There you will find the sections responsible for water issues ranging from the wetland to pollution and resources policy and planning.
Everglades
Read about the Everglades and link to organizations participating in water restoration efforts there by clicking here.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Create Naturescapes --Broward County encourages its residents to create landscapes that help conserve water, reduce water pollution, and create inviting habitats for birds and other wildlife. For the "how-to" information to create a Naturescape go to http://www.broward.org/naturescape/
islandsofgreen.htm.
Conserve Water -- April has been named Water Conservation Month by Governor Crist and the Florida Cabinet. Conservation is not about doing without. Here are a few ways to conserve:
Other tips for conserving water can be found at http://www.broward.org/iwrp/10ways.htm.