Dean Cannon Creates Select Committee on Water Policy

The Florida House will be tackling one of the chief problems impacting the Sunshine State with the creation of a select committee to handle the thorny issue of water management.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, announced on Tuesday that he was creating the Select Committee on Water Policy to address the issue.

The use and management of our natural resources presents one of the most pressing challenges for the long-term health of our state, noted Cannon in a memo. In recent years, we have seen the development of a wide range of issues with respect to water policy within Florida and changes to federal policy that may significantly impact Floridas ability to manage its own resources.

Floridas water-resource policies are incorporated into the Florida Water Resources Act of 1972. The Florida Water Resources Act was developed at a time when the state relied primarily on inexpensive groundwater as the primary source for its water supply needs, continued Cannon. It is appropriate that the Legislature carefully examine these basic policies that were established almost 40 years ago. We must thoughtfully address the profoundly important issue of Florida's water resources before our problems develop into a crisis.

Cannon went on to note that the Select Committee on Water Policy would review current procedures and make recommendations on changes that Florida needed to make. He added that he wanted the committee to issue an initial report before the opening of the legislative session in March and expected a final report before the start of the 2012 session.

Cannon named Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, to head up the committee with Rep. Brad Drake, R-DeFuniak Springs, to serve as vice chairman.