Tampa Bay Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District

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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
FY2014 COOPERATIVE FUNDING INITIATIVE APPLICATION FORM
Project Name
Integrated Water Management
Project Number N562
Cooperator
Pinellas County
Department
Environmental Management
Contact Person Kelli Hammer Levy
Address
300 S. Garden Ave
City Sate Zip Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone #
727-464-4425 ext3317
Email
klevy@pinellascounty.org
Project Type:
X Water Supply X Water Quality X Flood Protection X Natural Systems
Strategic Initiatives:
X Water Quality Maintenance and Improvement Water Quality Monitoring
X Alternative Water Supply
X Conservation
X Reclaimed Water Regional Water Supply Planning
Emergency Flood Response
X Floodplain Management
Minimum Flows and Level Establishment and Monitoring Minimum Flows and Levels Recovery
X Natural Systems Conservation and Restoration Natural Systems Identification and Monitoring
Indicate All Counties to Benefit From Project:
Charlotte Citrus Desoto Hardee Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Lake
Levy Manatee Marion Pasco X Pinellas Sarasota Sumter Polk
Project Description:
Pinellas County’s water resources are a profound local amenity and asset. However, they have also been one of the things to suffer
the most from urban growth pressures. Although there have been many important efforts to protect and manage various aspects of
these resources in the past, moving forward with an Integrated Water Management (IWM) plan will provide new opportunities to
combine a variety of planning efforts and concepts into a common vision. Developing a strategy to integrate the complex, and
sometimes conflicting, water management strategies poses a substantial challenge in a region of more than 270 square miles, two
dozen jurisdictions, and nearly one million residents. Therefore, the IWM strategy must not only integrate water management goals,
but it should also consider other local and regional planning efforts (such as transportation and land use/redevelopment planning) in
order to be part of a coordinated approach to urban systems management. The IWM plan will leverage the opportunities for
sustainable water resources management and mutually beneficial relationships between economic stability, livability of our
communities, and the viability of the local natural resources. The County plans to initiate the project in FY13 to which will include
the development of a framework for the full plan development.
Describe your organizations efforts in developing, implementing and enforcing water conservation and flood protection
ordinances.
Pinellas County is dedicated to improving flood protection as documented in the County's Comprehensive Plan (CP). The Surface
Water Element of the CP obligates the County to protect, enhance, and improve water quality through water quality monitoring,
watershed management plan development, and environmental enforcement. In addition, Pinellas County continues to expand its
reclaimed water service areas to reduce demand on potable water for irrigation, to enforce watering restrictions, and to educate the
public on the benefits of Florida Friendly Landscaping and proper irrigation and fertilization practices. Pinellas County also offers
free resources to help students learn about saving water and offers numerous programs through the Extension office on the use of
rain barrels, rain gardens, composting, and other conservation measures.
Funding Source
Prior Funding
FY2013
Budget
FY2014
Budget
Future
Funding
Total Funding
125