10 May South Florida Water Management District emphasizes environmental protection in new mission statement

Posted at 19:08h in News by bflanigan

By Tyler Treadway, Courtesy of Treasure Coast Newspapers

Now there’s no doubt the new South Florida Water Management District board plans to emphasize protecting the environment and transparency.

On Thursday, they put it in the agency’s mission statement.

The previous mission statement adopted by previous board members — all appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott — called for the district to “manage and protect water resources of the region by balancing and improving flood control, water supply and water quality through restoration of natural systems.”

The new mission statement adopted by the new board members — all appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis since taking office in January — calls for the district to “safeguard and restore South Florida’s water resources and ecosystems, protect our communities from flooding and meet the region’s water needs while connecting with the public and stakeholders.”

The statement defines “why we exist and identifies the primary purposes and measurable objectives of the district,” said Executive Director Drew Bartlett, also new.

“Gov. DeSantis has charged us to prioritize water quality,” Bartlett added.

It’s also the basis of the district’s strategic plan for the next few years, which staffers will develop over the year for the board to adopt in November.

At their April meeting, board members began looking to change the agency’s mission statement made by their predecessors with a more environmentally friendly tone.

The mission statement usually is established each December, but Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch of Sewall’s Point, the representative for Martin and St. Lucie counties, asked fellow board members to consider it at their May meeting.

Thurlow-Lippsich suggested flipping the statement around so it begins with the goal of achieving a healthy ecology while maintaining flood control and water supply.

The previous mission statement, “doesn’t reflect the values of Gov. DeSantis or of you all,” Thurlow-Lippisch told fellow board members.