Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
September 20th • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

The 4th Annual Florida Water Forum will once again
provide an opportunity for Floridians to hear from Florida’s key policymakers on issues relating to water policy. The Forum has garnered overwhelming recognition by business community leaders, regional and local government officials, and members of the general public — with approximately 180 attendees last year. Former invited guest speakers have included Gubernatorial Candidates, Commissioners of Agriculture, Attorney Generals, State Senators and Representatives, Executive Directors of Florida’s Water Management Districts and Gubernatorial Appointees.

A detailed agenda will be sent out at a later date.

Please Register Now!

The last day to register at the $50 rate is Friday, September 13th. After Friday, registration increases to $75. Register before 5:00 p.m. on Friday to avoid the increased fee!

THE WATER CRISIS

Florida is at a water crossroads. The state’s three largest urban-economic regions, Tampa Bay, southeast Florida and the greater Orlando area, have effectively run out of available groundwater. The three largest water management districts have determined that increased pumping in these regions will result in unacceptable, environmental impacts, such as drawdowns of wetlands and lakes, reduced flows to springs and rivers, and increased risk of saltwater contamination into fresh groundwater resources.

In Tampa, the water authority has already been required to reduce groundwater pumping by 90 million gallons a day. Utilities in southeast Florida have learned that groundwater connected to the regional canal system will be limited to pumpage levels of 2006. In central Florida, communities face the fact that no additional groundwater will be available beyond 2013 demands. And this groundwater crisis is not limited to major metropolitan areas. Even tiny Flagler County has been directed to pursue desalination of ocean water for its future water supply.

The growing scarcity of water supplies has already resulted in: acrimonious and expensive litigation among local governments, challenges to water management district permits, restrictions on new economic development, and in some areas, a continued decline in natural resources. Ultimately, an unstable water future will continue to wreak havoc on Florida’s economy and environment.