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The Port also has a role in environmental protection and regulation of State of Florida Sovereign Submerged Land. Pursuant to Chapter 95-488, Laws of Florida; any person desiring to perform specific types of marine construction projects and activities within the jurisdictional waters of Hillsborough County must obtain a Port Authority Permit. This includes the Hillsborough River. The authority to issue some minor marine construction permits has been delegated to the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) of Hillsborough County under the Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement dated June 23, 2009 between the Tampa Port Authority and EPC. The Port is a partner in protecting the Hillsborough River as Port Authority Permits on the River are forwarded to the River Board for their comments.  "The Tampa Port Authority is an important strategic partner in maintaining economic growth, environmental protection and the quality of life for the citizens of Hillsborough County" said Robert Hunter, FAICP, Executive Director of the Planning Commission.

With this on-going long term cooperative relationship between the Port, the River Board, and the Environmental Protection Commission, the Hillsborough River continues to be monitored, protected and improved for future generations.

Congratulations to Commissioner Al Higginbotham who was reappointed by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to the River Board for 2012. We look forward to his continued efforts to protect and improve the Hillsborough River for all to enjoy.
 

The State has initiated rulemaking to adopt quantitative nutrient water quality standards to facilitate the assessment of designated use attainment for its waters and to provide a better means to protect state waters from the adverse effects of nutrient over enrichment.  If the state fails to adopt such standards, the EPA will impose their own standards on the state.  The EPA recently sent a letter to Hershel Vinyard, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), outlining the Agency's preliminary evaluation that the State's proposed rule is consistent with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.   

The letter also noted that EPA will be ready to withdraw its federal standards for those Florida waters covered by the FEDP's rule, provided that the current version of FDEP's rule is approved by the Florida Environmental Regulatory Commission (ERC) and ratified by the Florida State Legislature.  The Agency cautioned that posture could change if the rule or related documents relied upon by the State change as the rule is considered and potentially amended by the ERC or state legislature.

"We commend Florida's focus on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in its inland and estuarine waters," said Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, Regional Administrator. "The FDEP's proposed rule reflects significant progress in protecting the state's critical aquatic resources and we are hopeful that it will be fully enacted without modification. We look forward to seeing this rule through a process that in the end puts in place pollution-cutting standards that are based on the requirements of the Clean Water Act and the best science."

Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution is one of the largest causes of the water quality problems in Florida. Limiting nutrient pollution across the state will help protect the health of Floridians and also preserve Florida's greatest asset - clean water and the prosperity and jobs that go with it. Florida's tourism industry, the state's number one industry, employs nearly one million Floridians and pumps billions into the state's economy each year. Many of these tourists come to Florida to fish, boat and jet ski and, in an average year, tourists spend more than $60 billion in the state - generating thousands upon thousands of jobs as well over $3 billion in taxes.  The Hillsborough River is a critical part of the area's natural resources, which can significantly benefit by reduction in nutrient pollution. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted to extend Phase I water shortage restrictions for the District's entire 16-county area through February 29, 2012, because of a disappointing summer rainy season and an approaching winter that is expected to be drier than normal.

The Phase I order is intended as an alert to prepare for worsening conditions. Under Phase I, residents are asked to check their irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly. This means testing and repairing broken pipes and leaks, and damaged or tilted sprinkler heads. Residents should also check their irrigation timers to ensure the settings are correct and the required rain sensors or soil moisture sensors are working properly in accordance with state law.

There are no changes to watering days or times in a Phase I water shortage compared to the District's year-round water conservation measures. This means lawn and landscape watering remains limited to a two-day-per-week schedule, and residents may only water before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.  Some local governments have stricter local ordinances limiting lawn watering to one day per week or using different watering hours, so residents should always check with their local government or utility before adjusting their irrigation timers.

"There were some areas of the District that received heavy rainfall at times, but overall our rainy season was not as productive as we had hoped," said Lois Sorensen, manager of the District's demand management program. "There were improvements in October, but we are expecting a drier-than-normal winter due to the La Niña weather pattern.  "The region's public water supplies are in relatively good shape, but Sorensen said that caution is in order.  "We need to watch conditions closely as the dry season continues and consider stricter measures if water resources or water supply conditions warrant them." Under a Phase I water shortage, local governments and utilities are required to review and revise their watering restriction enforcement procedures and report enforcement activity to the District on a monthly basis.  For additional information about water restrictions and water conservation, please contact your local utility or visit the District's website at:

WaterMatters.org/conservation/ 

To report a possible violation, call 1-800-848-0499 or email  Water.Restrictions@WaterMatters.org.

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