The stakeholder advisory committee to the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership held its second meeting Aug. 28 in Alachua. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the St. Johns River and Suwannee River water management districts, stakeholder groups, and interested citizens attended the meeting.

Water management district staff provided updates on water supply planning coordination work, and the committee adopted operating policies and procedures, a mission statement and guiding principles, and a draft work plan.

Water management district staff also provided an overview of a regional water supply plan they are jointly developing to address north Florida’s regional water supply issues. A draft of the work plan is underway and will be presented to the committee for review at an upcoming meeting.

Other components of the plan also are underway, such as development of a shared tool to predict and assess water resource impacts across district boundaries, consistency and coordination on setting minimum flows and levels, aquifer replenishment initiatives, and the collection and sharing of science-based data.

The next committee meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 24. The location will be announced.

The districts and DEP established the partnership as part of work to protect natural resources and ensure cost-effective and sustainable water supplies in north Florida. The partnership recently formed the stakeholder committee to serve in an advisory capacity to the districts and DEP on water supply issues to ensure that stakeholders have a meaningful opportunity to provide input. The committee includes representatives of groups and entities from throughout the region.

For more information about the partnership, visit northfloridawater.com. The website is regularly updated with the latest news, announcements and meeting dates. It also provides information about committee members.