If any of you have attended even one water district managing meeting, or one legislative session meeting about water in Tallahassee you will have heard most or all of the words below describing the importance of water and how we must plan to take care of it and how much we love nature and on and on and on…
Political talk but no meaningful action whatsoever.
So hope we have but not much, especially since Bobby Payne, committee member, is an avowed denier of human activity affecting climate change.
Read the original article here in Florida Politics.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
New House water quality subcommittee provides ‘unique opportunity’
The Representatives assembled are in a position to do something unique in the new House Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee, according to Chairwoman Cyndi Stevenson. The subcommittee is one of three under the new Infrastructure Strategies Committee, a project of Speaker Paul Renner.
“The Speaker grouped these subcommittees together so that infrastructure planning and natural resource protection can be thoughtfully considered as a whole, and not piecemeal,” said Stevenson, a St. Johns Republican.
“These subcommittees will work together to develop strategic solutions for the future of our water supply, water quality, transportation, land conservation and resiliency, to ensure Florida remains a beautiful and prosperous state for years to come.”
Rep. Bobby Payne, Chairman of the Infrastructure Strategies Committee, sat in on the subcommittee’s first meeting this week.
“Being an outdoorsman, I love that we have a task in front of us that will keep our areas such as our ag lands available to us,” Payne said.
The process also helps shape where and how we build new communities, he said.
“I think finding synergies and efficiencies in infrastructure that have less environmental impacts, but are needed for Florida’s growth, and our long-term vision to keep Florida, Florida, is part of the mission and goal of each of these subcommittees,” Payne said.
Pasco County Republican Rep. Randy Maggard, Vice Chairman of the subcommittee, said the state’s future is in alternative water supply.
“We ran a bill a couple years ago … for reclaim,” Maggard said. “With the amount of people moving (here) and the growth this state has taken on — and I understand why everybody wants to come here. I got it.
Wes Wolfe
Wes Wolfe is a reporter who’s worked for newspapers across the South, winning press association awards for his work in Georgia and the Carolinas. He lives in Jacksonville and previously covered state politics, environmental issues and courts for the News-Leader in Fernandina Beach. You can reach Wes at wes@floridapolitics.com and @WesWolfeFP. Facebook: facebook.com/wes.wolfe
