Public meetings scheduled to discuss DEP water quality prioritization and assessment efforts

DEP's Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) is holding public meetings in several locations throughout the state to discuss DEAR's planned water quality prioritization and assessment efforts. These meetings will take place during two sessions according to the schedule below.

Part I: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Priority Waters for Site-Specific TMDL Development

Part II: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Revised Assessment Lists for the Group 2 (Cycle 3)

These public meetings are to present and request input on the methodology used to prioritize future Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) development for specific waterbodies and water segments throughout the state. Any comments and/or questions on the TMDL and BMAP prioritizations should be directed to Erin Rasnake, Water Quality Evaluation and TMDL Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3555, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by e-mail: Erin.Rasnake@dep.state.fl.us.

DEAR will also present the revised assessment lists for the Group 2 (Cycle 3) basins, developed pursuant to Chapter 62-303, Florida Administrative Code. The revised assessment lists will be available on the Department's Watershed Assessment website (www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/assessment/index.htm) by August 24, 2015, and will be provided upon request to interested parties by mail or via email distribution. Any comments and/or questions on the Revised Assessment Lists should be directed to Kevin O'Donnell, Watershed Assessment Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Rd, MS 3560, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by email: Kevin.ODonnell@dep.state.fl.us.

A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Ms. Linda Quinn-Godwin, Water Quality Evaluation and TMDL Program, MS 3555, Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by calling: (850)245-8449.

Meeting Dates and Times:

DATE AND TIME: August 26, 2015, 10:00 a.m. for St. Lucie - Loxahatchee Basins
PLACE: Martin County Building Department, Building Department Conference Room, 900 Southeast Ruhnke Street, Stuart, Florida

DATE AND TIME: August 27, 2015, 10:00 a.m. for Charlotte Harbor Basin
PLACE: South Florida Water Management District Lower West Coast Service Center, Main Conference Room, 2301 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida

DATE AND TIME: September 2, 2015, 10:00 a.m. for Tampa Bay Tributaries Basin
PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Southwest District Office, Main Conference Room, 13051 N. Telecom Parkway, Temple Terrace, Florida

DATE AND TIME: September 3, 2015, 10:00 a.m. for Middle and Lower St. Johns Basins
PLACE: Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art at the Museum of Arts & Sciences, Education Room, 352 South Nova Road, Daytona Beach, Florida

DATE AND TIME: September 10, 2015, 10:00 a.m. for Apalachicola-Chipola Basin
PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, BMC Conference Room 609, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida