A blue ribbon panel of local, state and national experts participated in an intensive Regional Water Supply Workshop on July 15-16 to discuss water solutions for Central Florida. [Please click here to view list of participating experts.] The panel was brought together under the direction of the Congress of Regional Leaders and was hosted by myregion.org and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).
The Congress of Regional Leaders’ number one priority, which arose from myregion.org’s “How Shall We Grow” campaign, is the development of strategies for reducing consumption, sharing available water resources and developing alternative water supplies across the region. Toward this end, the Congress established two goals – to create a regional water strategy and avoid the use of public money to litigate water issues.
myregion.org is leading the effort on behalf of the Congress of Regional Leaders and has engaged key partners to assist. ULI, an international organization dedicated to responsible land use, is serving as the key partner to identify national best practices on water supply, demand and conservation. Other partners include the South Florida Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Central Florida Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies.
During the two day workshop, the panel of experts engaged in a vibrant dialogue on issues including conservation and the environment, education and outreach, economics and pricing, design and development and alternative water supply. [Please click here to view the preliminary report.] The recommendations compiled by the expert panel will be presented to the Water Strategy Steering Committee which will, in turn, draft a position paper on a regional approach to water for presentation to the Congress of Regional Leaders in Fall 2010. [Please click here to view Steering Committee members.]
Click here for to view a Daytona Beach News-Journal article about the summitt.
