BONITA NEWS
May 15, 2007

Lee County wants more input on water matters

By Julio Ochoa

http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2007/may/15/lee_county_wants_more_input_water_matters/?local_news

Lee County commissioners intend to make full use of their new representation on the South Florida Water Management District Board. Commissioners made two requests of Charles Dauray, the governor’s recent appointee to the water management district from Lee County, at Tuesday’s board meeting.

First, they would like to have a say in his appointment to the district’s Water Resources Advisory Commission. Next, they want him to put Lee’s interests first when he considers renewing permits for water users.

Several farmers, ranchers and other water users within the district will need to renew their five- to 20-year permits this year. The district shouldn’t renew the permits of users who do not agree to adopt stringent water-quality practices, said Commissioner Ray Judah. “This is an opportune time to make sure those seeking renewal must comply or implement best management practices,” Judah said.

Such practices could include the use of slow-release fertilizers, which are more environmentally friendly, and storm water retention reservoirs, which hold runoff so it doesn’t go directly into rivers and streams.

Without those protections, waters that flow into Lee County are subject to heavy loads of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. “We can do better to ensure that regulatory agencies ensure that end users are more accountable,” Judah said. Judah asked the county attorney to find out if commissioners can legally comment on pending permits that impact the area.

County Attorney David Owen will take a couple weeks to research that question, but in the meantime, commissioners and staff should sit down with Dauray, said Commissioner Frank Mann. “We should be contacting Charles Dauray ourselves now that we have a Lee County person,” Mann said. “Let them know its a top priority of ours that we insist on best management practices in the permitting process.”

Commissioners also voted to send Dauray and Gov. Charlie Crist a letter supporting the reappointment of Beverly Grady to the district’s Water Resources Advisory Commission.

Dauray asked Susan Watts, a vice president for the Bonita Bay Group who applied for appointment to the district’s board, to replace Grady. Watts declined. “It’s an important committee to the (water management district) governing board and Beverly has done an outstanding job,” Judah said. “She has fought hard over the years representing the interests of Lee County.” Dauray could not be reached for comment.

It’s not uncommon for commissioners to sit down with the area’s governing board representative and discuss issues, said Commissioner Tammy Hall. When Hall was chairwoman of the board, she had quarterly meetings with the area’s former representative, she said. “Charles hasn’t been involved with us on these issues for the past few years, which is not to say that he hasn’t been involved,” Hall said. “We need to educate Mr. Dauray to our point of view and ask for his support.”