Public teleconferences Jan. 21 to discuss model peer review for lakes Apshawa and Sylvan
PALATKA, Fla., Jan. 3, 2020 — The St. Johns River Water Management District will hold two public teleconferences Jan. 21 to discuss peer review findings for 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 teleconferences will focus on a discussion of the peer reviewer’s draft technical memoranda that summarize findings and recommendations regarding the Lake Apshawa surface water model and the Sylvan Lake surface water model. The purpose of these teleconferences is to also take stakeholder comments regarding these models.
The first teleconference will be Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. and will involve the peer review of the Lake Apshawa MFLs HSPF model.
The second teleconference will be Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. and will involve the peer review of the Sylvan Lake MFLs HSPF model.
WHAT: Lake Apshawa surface water model peer review teleconference
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Jan. 21, 2020
Webinar Link
Conference call phone number: 1-888-585-9008; code: 356-927-138
WHAT: Sylvan Lake surface water model peer review teleconference
WHEN: 11 a.m. to noon, Jan. 21, 2020
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. To learn more about MFLs, visit the district’s current StreamLines article at www.sjrwmd.com/streamlines/finding-a-balance-in-floridas-waters/.
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/.