You are invited...

You are invited to the Florida meeting of the Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable, a forum for those with a serious interest in water resources to share information and ideas. The SWRR is a subgroup of the Advisory Committee on Water Information which is a conduit for information on water to the Federal Government. The SWRR has held meetings around the United States to inform participants on such topics as water availability, demand for multiple uses, infrastructure, ecosystem needs, technological and policy developments, indicators of sustainability and water research. The SWRR web site is at http://acwi.gov/swrr.

 

From Tuesday evening March 5 to the afternoon of March 7, SWRR will hold a meeting in the historic Wakulla Springs Lodge. The theme of the meeting is Putting Sustainable Water Management to the Test. Speakers will make presentations and discuss with participants many topics important in Florida and the nation. See the draft agenda below.

 

There are 27 rooms at the lodge available to the first 27 people who reserve a room there and other participants will stay at hotels a few miles away.  To book a room at the Wakulla Springs Lodge call (850)421-2000.  For more information about the Roundtable, call Stan at Florida Earth or email stan@floridaearh.org.

 

Day 1        Wednesday, March 6, 2013

8:00 a.m.   Breakfast for those staying at Wakulla Springs

8:30 a.m.   Registration and Coffee

9:00 a.m.   Welcome Remarks from SWRR: Co-chairs, David Berry, SWRR facilitator

9:05 a.m.   Welcome from the Florida Hosts: Ron Piasecki, President, Friends of Wakulla Springs

9:10 a.m.   Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable Activities and History: John Wells Co-chair

 9:25 a.m.  Round of BRIEF Self-Introductions: David Berry

10:20 a.m.  Break

10:35 a.m.  Panel on regional Florida water issues: Moderator Ron Piasecki

Water Quality Issues: Dr. Todd Kincaid, member, Board of Directors, Wakulla Springs Alliance; Springs in Florida: Jim Stevenson, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, retired); We will have a case study right out the window. Issues include dropping water tables due to increased urban water withdrawals and other factors, and water quality issues.

Discussion

12:15 p.m. Lunch ( Day 1 and Day 2 Speakers can be adjusted - Greg Munson Deputy Secretary Water Policy and Eco Restoration, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

1:30 p.m. Panel on highlights of the Water Choices Meetings held by the Florida Earth Foundation. Moderator: Stan Bronson.

Ernie Cox, Chairman Florida Earth Foundation; Andy Flajole, Florida Power & Light; Denver Stutler, former Chief of Staff for Governor Bush & former Secretary of Transportation, State of Florida.

Discussion

2:50 p.m. Break

3:10 p.m. Panel on Current management of the Everglades. (Note this could include other topics like coastal changes) Moderator: Jill Parsons, Rhonda Kranz or a Florida participant

Eric Eikenberg, Executive Director, Everglades Foundation; Eric Bush, Chief of Planning, USACE Jacksonville District, Ernie Barnett, Director of Everglades Policy, South Florida Water Management District

Discussion

4:15 Wrap up discussion for the day

4:30 Adjourn and reception and dinner for out-of-towners and others interested

 

Day 2        Thursday,  March 7                                                                                                 

9:00 a.m. Welcome, Recap and review of goals for the day

9:10 a.m. Panel from all levels of government on policy and practice. Moderator: Rodney Dehan

Water management agencies from local, state, interstate to talk about issues (Eg climate change, budget, Sustainable practices). Patti Anderson, Chief, Bureau of Water Programs, Florida Department of Health (invited) Angela Chellette, North West Florida Water Management District.(invited).

10:15 a.m. Break

10:30 a.m. Panel on Universities programs on teaching Sustainable Water Resource Management, Moderator: Bob Wilkinson,

Dr. Walter Rosenbaum, Director Emeritus, Bob Graham Center for Public Service, Don Duke Bucknell University (Invited); Don Resio, Executive Director of the Taylor Engineering Research Institute, University of North Florida (Invited)   Discussion

11:30 a.m.    Open discussion of what is next for SWRR in support of sustainability programs

12:00 p.m. Lunch

 

List of Hotels (in case the lodge is already fully booked when you register)

The Inn at Wildwood Resort

3896 U.S. 98, Crawfordville, FL   8.1 mi SW

(850) 926-4455 � innatwildwood.com

 

Best Western Plus Wakulla Inn & Suites

3292 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville, FL   9.8 mi SW

(850) 926-3737 � book.bestwestern.com

 

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tallahassee

101 South Adams Street, Tallahassee 14 mi N

(850) 224-5000 � doubletree3.hilton.com

 

Hilton Garden Inn Tallahassee Central

1330 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 14 mi N

(850) 893-8300 � hiltongardeninn.com