Return-Path: Received: from rly-db08.mx.aol.com (rly-db08.mail.aol.com [172.19.130.83]) by air-db02.mail.aol.com (v121.4) with ESMTP id MAILINDB021-ae14784e36e248; Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:08:44 -0500 Received: from elasmtp-spurfowl.atl.sa.earthlink.net (elasmtp-spurfowl.atl.sa.earthlink.net [209.86.89.66]) by rly-db08.mx.aol.com (v121.4) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINDB087-ae14784e36e248; Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:08:30 -0500 DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws; s=dk20050327; d=earthlink.net; b=I2d0yHBL66xgJ4Ivg41VMiLeORNMwFiagsmql4g3NtIzoBhGYJQAjVbIgy2diZFm; h=Received:Reply-To:From:To:Cc:Subject:Date:Organization:Message-ID:MIME-Version:Content-Type:X-Mailer:Thread-Index:X-MimeOLE:X-ELNK-Trace:X-Originating-IP; Received: from [72.255.36.30] (helo=carolslaptop) by elasmtp-spurfowl.atl.sa.earthlink.net with asmtp (Exim 4.34) id 1JCcXd-0004br-PH; Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:08:30 -0500 Reply-To: From: "carol" To: "'Steve brown'" , "'Marita Butzbach'" Cc: "Bobbie Conti" , "Dom Monetmurro" , "'Doug Warns'" , , "Stanley Silver" , "Warren Sonne " Subject: SFWMD Info Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 10:08:21 -0500 Organization: home Message-ID: <000001c852d1$799a7fb0$cc0f0a0a@carolslaptop> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0001_01C852A7.90C477B0" X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 11 Thread-Index: AchS0Cx8AXc7QGZZQLy+jXGciMSwfA== X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 X-ELNK-Trace: 5a1627f4df1ad37f79a15c68bd1bf1194d2b10475b57112008cc06022513a20b4d8dc1ddad5c423cb4c1affe2fd7aded350badd9bab72f9c350badd9bab72f9c X-Originating-IP: 72.255.36.30 X-AOL-IP: 209.86.89.66 X-AOL-SCOLL-AUTHENTICATION: listenair ; SPF_helo : n X-AOL-SCOLL-AUTHENTICATION: listenair ; SPF_822_from : n ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C852A7.90C477B0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =95 Linette Trabulsy - Martin/St. Lucie Office: (772) 223-2600, ext. 3605 Cellular: (772) 216-5981 _____ =20 December 13, 2007=20 =20 En Espa=F1ol=20 =20 CONTACT: Jesus Rodriguez South Florida Water Management District Office: (561) 682-6060 Cellular: (561) 568-8025=20 Randy Smith=20 South Florida Water Management District Office: (561) 682-6197 Cellular: (561) 389-3386=20 =20 South Florida Adopts One-Day-a-Week Watering Regional Water Levels Begin Seasonal Decline; Water Shortage Order Provides =93Watering Windows=94 for Landscape Irrigation=20 West Palm Beach, FL =96 For the first time in the agency's history, the Sout= h Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today declared an extreme District-wide water shortage, directly affecting more than five million South Florida residents and thousands of farms and businesses. At its monthly meeting, the District's nine-member Governing Board adopted a groundbreaking water shortage order, instituting a one-day-a-week watering schedule for residential landscape irrigation to conserve regional water supplies. Landscape irrigation accounts for up to half of all household water consumption in Florida and totals more than seven billion gallons per day nationwide. "Today's order represents the most stringent landscape irrigation measures that this agency has ever had to impose, but we believe it will significantly help to protect and stretch our regional water supplies," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann. "We appreciate the public's understanding and compliance with these necessary restrictions that will result in measurable water savings." Highlights of the Modified Phase III water shortage order, which will be enforced beginning January 15, 2008, include:=20 * Residents and businesses of Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Hendry and Glades counties are limited to a one-day-per-week landscape irrigation schedule with two "watering windows." * Odd street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Mondays between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. * Even street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Thursdays between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. * Residents and businesses with more than five acres have expanded irrigation hours, between 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on their designated irrigation day. * Residents and businesses in Lee and Collier counties are limited to one-day-a-week watering during specific four-hour "watering windows" directly associated with their unique street addresses (page 3 of this PDF). * Hand-watering with one hose fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed for 10 minutes per day for landscape stress relief and to prevent plant die-off. * Low-volume irrigation, including the use of drip and microjet systems that apply water directly to plant root zones, is not restricted but should be voluntarily reduced. * Additional watering days and times will be allocated for the establishment of new lawns and landscapes. * No restrictions apply to other outside water uses, such as for car and boat washing, pressure cleaning of paved surfaces, decorative fountains and water-based recreation (e.g. swimming pools, water slides).=20 * Golf courses must reduce their allocated water use by 45 percent. "Our lawns do not need to be watered more than once a week during the dry season, and with seasonal rainfall to help, it should be more than enough to maintain a healthy lawn," added Buermann. The new, mandatory restrictions apply to all water from traditional sources, including water from public utilities, private wells, canals, ponds and lakes. Users of 100-percent reclaimed water are exempt from the restrictions but are encouraged to conserve water voluntarily. Because jurisdiction in certain counties is shared with other water management districts, the SFWMD has coordinated with these agencies to simplify implementation and enforcement. Residents of Orange and Osceola counties should adhere to any water restrictions set by the St. Johns River Water Management District. Residents of Polk, Highlands, and Charlotte counties should adhere to the water restrictions set by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. However, golf courses, nurseries, and agricultural users District-wide should follow SFWMD water use restrictions. Restrictions Make a Difference Implementing water use restrictions has already proved effective during the continued regional water shortage. Based on data reported by 46 public water utilities in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Collier, Lee and Miami-Dade counties, an estimated 11.7 billion gallons of potable water was saved since March 22, when restrictions first went into effect, through June 30. Savings were most pronounced on non-watering days. For example, one day per week landscape irrigation restrictions instituted in Broward and Palm Beach counties saved an estimated 130 million gallons a day of potable water. Current Conditions Surface water and groundwater levels across much of the District remain unseasonably low and already are showing signs of decline with the start of the dry season in November. The water level in Lake Okeechobee, the source of water for the Florida Everglades and the primary back-up water supply for five million South Floridians, is at its lowest elevation ever recorded for the month of December. At 10.16 feet above sea level this morning, the lake level already is so low that water from the lake cannot be used to replenish the regional supply. Even with average dry season rainfall, water managers expect the lake level to drop over the coming months below its all-time low of 8.82 feet above sea level, recorded on July 2, 2007. ( Click here to view chart of Lake O low levels and Hydro Graph of Lake O ) "Our water resources are all interconnected and our goal is to ensure we have sufficient water to meet regional demands during the dry season," said Carol Ann Wehle, executive director of the SFWMD. "With a full six months of dry season weather ahead of us and the subsequent water level declines that are typical of South Florida=92s winter and spring, we are heading into uncharted territory." For additional information on the water shortage, irrigation restrictions or water conservation, call the SFWMD=92s toll-free Water Conservation Hotline=20= at 1-800-662-8876, visit www.sfwmd.gov or contact a regional SFWMD service center. Helpful water conservation tips also are available at www.savewaterfl.com. (Click here for Q & A)=20 REGIONAL CONTACTS:=20 * Nestor Yglesias - Miami-Dade Office: (305) 377-7274, ext. 7289 Cellular: (305) 299-4503 * Tammy Moore - Broward Office: (954) 713-3200, ext. 4983 Cellular: (561) 985-3700 * Victoria Nowlan - Okeechobee Office: (863) 462-5260 x3045 Cellular: (863) 697-1775 * Linette Trabulsy - Martin/St. Lucie Office: (772) 223-2600, ext. 3605 Cellular: (772) 216-5981 * Judy Haner - Big Cypress Basin Office: (239) 263-7615 x7603 Cellular: (239) 229-7254 * Susan Sanders - Lower West Coast Office: (239) 338-2929 ext. 7715 Cellular: (239) 229-7295 * Bill Graf-Orlando - Orlando Office: (407) 858-6100, ext. 3837 Cellular: (407) 908-4764 * Cecelia Weaver - Florida Keys Office: (305) 242-5933, ext. 7091 Cellular: (305) 797-2923 * AnEta Sewell - Palm Beach County Office: (561) 682-6171 Cellular: (561) 722-3154=20 ### The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state - 16 counties from Orlando to the Keys. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. The agency mission is to manage and protect water resources of the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems and water supply. A key initiative is cleanup and restoration of the Everglades. =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C852A7.90C477B0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
• Linette Trabulsy - Martin/St. Lucie
Office: (772) 223-2600, ext. 3605 Cellular: (772) 216-5981

December 13,= 2007

En Espa=F1ol

&nbs= p;

CONTACT:

Jesus Rodriguez
South Florida Water Management District
Office: (561) 682-6060 Cellular: (561) 568-8025

Randy Smith
South Florida Water Management District
Office: (561) 682-6197 Cellular: (561) 389-3386

 

South Florida Adopts One-Day-a-Week Watering

Regional Water Levels Begin Seasonal Decline; Water Sh= ortage Order
Provides “Watering Windows” for Landscape Irrigation

West P= alm Beach, FL – For the first time in the= agency's history, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today declared an extreme District-wide water shortage, directly affecting more than five million South Florida residents and thousands of far= ms and businesses. At its monthly meeting, the District's nine-member Governing Boa= rd adopted a groundbreaking water shortage order, instituting a one-day-a-week watering schedule for residential landscape irrigation to conserve regional water supplies. Landscape irrigation accounts for up to half of all househol= d water consumption in Florida and totals more than seven billion gallons per day nationwide.

"Today's order represents the most stringent landscape irrigation measures that this agency has ever had to impose, but we believe it will significantly help to protect and stretch our regional water supplies," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann. "We appreciate the public's understanding and compliance with these necessary restrictions that will result in measurable water savings.&q= uot;

Highlights of the Modified Phase III wa= ter shortage order, which will be enforced beginning January 15, 2008= , include:

  • Residents and businesses of Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Hendry and Glades counties are limited to a one-day-per-week landscape irrigation schedul= e with two "watering windows."
  • Odd street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Mondays between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.<= /span>
  • Even street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Thursdays between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.<= /span>
  • Residents and businesses with more than five acres have expanded irrigation hours, between 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or = 4:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on their designated irrigation day.
  • Residents and businesses in Lee and Collier counties are limited to one-day-a-week watering during specific four-ho= ur "watering windows" directly associated with their unique street addresses (page 3 of this P= DF).
  • Hand-watering with one hose fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed for 10 minutes per=20= day for landscape stress relief and to prevent plant die-off.
  • Low-volume irrigation, including the use of drip and microjet systems that apply water directl= y to plant root zones, is not restricted but should be voluntarily reduce= d.
  • Additional watering days and times will be allocated for the establishment of new lawns and landscap= es.
  • No restrictions apply to other outside water uses, such as for car and boat washing, pressure cleaning= of paved surfaces, decorative fountains and water-based recreation (e.g. swimming pools, water slides).
  • Golf courses must reduce their allocated water use by 45 percent.

"Our lawns do not need to be water= ed more than once a week during the dry season, and with seasonal rainfall to help,=20= it should be more than enough to maintain a healthy lawn," added Buermann.=

The new, mandatory restrictions apply t= o all water from traditional sources, including water from public utilities, priva= te wells, canals, ponds and lakes. Users of 100-percent reclaimed water are exe= mpt from the restrictions but are encouraged to conserve water voluntarily.=

Because jurisdiction in certain countie= s is shared with other water management districts, the SFWMD has coordinated with these agencies to simplify implementation and enforcement. Residents of Orange and=20= Osceola counties should adhere to any water restrictions set by the St. Johns River Water Management District. Residents of Polk, Highlands, and Charlotte counties should adhere to the water restrictions set by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. However, golf courses, nurseries, and agricultural u= sers District-wide should follow SFWMD water use restrictions.<= /font>

Restrictions Make a Differen= ce
Implementing water use restrictions has already proved effective during the continued regional water shortage. Based on data reported by 46 public water utilities in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Collier, Lee and Miami-Dade counties, an estimated 11.7 billion gallons of potable water was saved since March 22, when restrictions first went into effect, through June 30. Savings were most pronounced on non-watering days. For example, one day=20= per week landscape irrigation restrictions instituted in Broward and Palm Beach countie= s saved an estimated 130 million gallons a day of potable water.

Current Conditions
Surface water and groundwater levels across much of the District remain unseasonably low and already are showing signs of decline with the start of=20= the dry season in November. The water level in Lake Okeechobee, the source of wa= ter for the Florida Everglades and the primary back-up water supply for five million South Floridians, is at its lowes= t elevation ever recorded for the month of December. At 10.16 feet above sea level this morning, the lake level already is so low that water from the lak= e cannot be used to replenish the regional supply. Even with average dry seaso= n rainfall, water managers expect the lake level to drop over the coming month= s below its all-time low of 8.82 feet above sea level, recorded on July 2, 200= 7. ( Click here to view chart of L= ake O low levels and Hydro=20= Graph of Lake O )

"Our water resources are all interconnected and our goal is to ensure we have sufficient water to meet regional demands during the dry season," said Carol Ann Wehle, executiv= e director of the SFWMD. "With a full six months of dry season weather ah= ead of us and the subsequent water level declines that are typical of South Florida’s winter and spring, we are he= ading into uncharted territory."

For additional information on the water shortage, irrigation restrictions or water conservation, call the SFWMD̵= 7;s toll-free Water Conservation Hotline at 1-800-662-8876, visit www.sfwmd.gov or contac= t a regional SFWMD service center. Helpful water conservation tips also are available at www.sa= vewaterfl.com. (Click here for Q & A)

REGIONAL CONTACTS:

  • Nestor Yglesias - Miami-Dade
    Office: (305) 377-7274, ext. 7289 Cellular: (305) 299-4503
  • Tammy Moore - Broward
    Office: (954) 713-3200, ext. 4983 Cellular: (561) 985-3700
  • Victoria Nowlan - Okeechobee
    Office: (863) 462-5260 x3045 Cellular: (863) 697-1775    =
  • Linette Trabulsy - Martin/St. Lucie
    Office: (772) 223-2600, ext. 3605 Cellular: (772) 216-5981
  • Judy Haner - Big Cypress Basin Office: (239) 263-7615 x7603 Cellular: (239) 229-7254=
  • Susan Sanders - Lower West Coast
    Office: (239) 338-2929 ext. 7715 Cellular: (239) 229-7295
  • Bill Graf-Orlando - Orlando
    Office: (407) 858-6100, ext. 3837 Cellular: (407) 908-4764
  • Cecelia Weaver - = Florida Keys
    Office: (305) 242-5933, ext. 7091 Cellular: (305) 797-2923
  • AnEta Sewell - = Palm Beach County
    Office: (561) 682-6171 Cellular: (561) 722-3154

###

The South Florida Water Management District is= a regional, governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state - 16 counties from Orlando to the Keys. It is the o= ldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. The agency mission= is to manage and protect water resources of the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems and water supply.=20= A key initiative is cleanup and restoration of the Ev= erglades.

 

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