The purpose of these rules is to protect areas that are necessary for water supply, water storage, water quality improvement, and ecological restoration. Further, it is an objective of the District to reduce the loss of groundwater through seepage or discharge to coastal receiving waters. The protection of lands within and adjacent to the Water Preserve Areas is crucial to the success of Everglades restoration, flood protection and water supply enhancement efforts. Because of their hydrological and biological relationship to the Everglades, the region’s water supply and other unique natural areas and resources, the lands within and adjacent to the Water Preserve Area require supplemental Environmental Resource Permit criteria. The purpose of such criteria is to protect the current and future functions of aquifer recharge, water storage, flood attenuation, water quality enhancement and wildlife habitat provided by lands within and adjacent to the Water Preserve Area. The purpose of this rule is also to limit seepage from the water conservation areas across the protective levees and ultimately to tide.
Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113, 373.114 FS. Law Implemented 373.413, 373.416, 373.4592 FS. History-New 10-21-01.