Senate Bill sb1078

    Florida Senate - 2004        (NP)                      SR 1078

    By Senator Lynn





    7-643-04

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution supporting the continued inclusion

  3         of a "local sources first" policy in chapter

  4         373, Florida Statutes, and opposing any

  5         amendment to the state's water resource policy

  6         which allows, encourages, or promotes water

  7         transfers.

  8  

  9         WHEREAS, Florida's water resources are a natural

10  resource and not a commodity to be sold or transferred to the

11  highest bidder, and

12         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports a state "local

13  sources first" policy in state law, and

14         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes that the

15  continued retention of the local sources first policy is

16  integral to protecting the state's water resources, advancing

17  long-term sustainable water-resource development and supply

18  systems, and preserving the rights and opportunities of local

19  residents to secure and sustain their future prosperity and

20  quality of life through the use and enjoyment of local water

21  resources, and

22         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports the fundamental

23  principles of the state's water law which require that a

24  proposed use of water be reasonable and beneficial, not

25  interfere with an existing legal use of water, and be

26  consistent with the public interest, and

27         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that

28  shifts water-supply allocation from a publicly regulated

29  process to a market-driven process, and

30         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that

31  undermines a fundamental principle of water law which

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    Florida Senate - 2004        (NP)                      SR 1078
    7-643-04




 1  establishes a right of use rather than a right of ownership,

 2  and

 3         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recently learned that the

 4  Florida Council of 100 intends to request a repeal or

 5  modification of chapter 373, Florida Statutes, to eliminate

 6  provisions that establish a policy for using local water

 7  sources first, and

 8         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate wishes to go on record that

 9  such a proposal is ill-considered and will put the state's

10  surface waters and aquifers at risk of irreparable harm for

11  irresponsible short-term gain by limited special-interest

12  groups, and

13         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate believes that any

14  discussion of regional water transfer is premature until

15  minimum flows and levels have been established for all of the

16  state's water resources, NOW, THEREFORE,

17  

18  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

19  

20         That the Florida Senate opposes any modification to

21  chapter 373, Florida Statutes, as it relates to the current

22  "local sources first" policy, and encourages its legislative

23  colleagues and the Governor to oppose a change in this policy.

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