;. :-  e regime of the area. There should be controlled
burning to protect the natural plant and animal systems and to
prevent an undesirable build-up of plant materials. Man should
be excluded from critical areas in times of drought. Fire laws
should be strictly enforced.
(B) Intrusion of Salt Water
 To prevent the intrusion of salt water within the coastal areas,
the fresh water head should be maintained as high as feasible.
When a water shortage is anticipated, restriction of water use will
be necessary in order to maintain this head of fresh water during
the drought. Temporary dams should be built on canals, when
necessary, with an established emergency system of permitting
to allow construction of such dams. During droughts, navigation
service should be restricted in order to reduce loss of fresh water.
Canals should not be constructed which would allow salt water
intrusion inland of the salt water line. Appropriate local laws
should be established and enforced.
(C) Establishment of Water Priorities
 Since there is competition for water by agriculture, urban areas,
conservation areas, estuaries and the Everglades National Park it is
recommended that the total water supply be considered a common
resource. Survival of the entire South Florida ecosystem, without
sacrificing any segment, should be the prime consideration.
Maintaining the head of fresh water should be given first
priority. The inter-agency committee should propose priorities
in its over-all plan.
(D) Regulation of Water Use
 A model water use priority ordinance should be developed
for use by all affected areas, establishing a series of consumptive
controls based on the degree of water shortage.
(E) Desirability of Cloud Seeding
 Cloud seeding is not considered a short term solution. There
was a division of opinions on the desirability of cloud seeding
primarily due to a lack of knowledge, especially as to the possible
adverse environmental effects. An opinion is that cloud seeding
may be more effective in producing a water supply during the
wet season to mitigate low water supplies during the dry season.
However, further research is recommended.
(F) Schedules of Water Levels in Lake Okeechobee and the
 Conservation Areas
 The inter-agency committee should develop and maintain
close coordination between the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,
the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District, the
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the U. S. Depart-
ment of the Interior and where appropriate, the Florida
Department of Natural Resources. The purpose should be to
establish water levels in Lake Okeechobee and the Conservation
Areas as well as to establish flexible regulation and delivery
schedules for all water needs in South Florida.

MANAGING AGENCY FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA REGION
 Water management should be coordinated at the federal, state
and regional levels, with the leadership role clearly being taken
by the State of Florida. At the state level there must be an agency
or board that has all power necessary to develop and ensure
implementation of a comprehensive land and water use plan
for the State. The agency or board, whichever it may be, should
report to the Governor.
 A regional board for South Florida shall be established. The


regional board shall be composed of nine (9) members appointed
by the Governor. Three year staggered terms shall be used. The
board shall represent the diverse interests in the region. It should
hold periodic public hearings in its region for the purpose of
receiving input from the public. It shall develop and implement a
regional comprehensive land and water use plan in accordance
with the State plan. The development of this regional plan should
commence at once with the proper funding and legislative
authority, even in the absence of an adequate statewide plan.
In the development of these long range plans, procedures should
be adopted which allow and encourage full public participation
and input.
 The geographical boundary of the South Florida regional land
and water management agency shall be the Kissimmee River
Basin, the Okeechobee Basin, the Everglades and the Big
Cypress Watershed, including all adjacent coastal and extuarine
areas. The regional land and water management agency shall be
responsible for managing water quality and quantity for the long
term benefit of the environment of the region and the State. The
agency shall be responsible for establishing policy and guidelines
for such activities as drainage, water use, well drilling, land use,
estuary protection, watershed management, flood control and soil
conservation.
 The regional agency shall have all powers necessary to develop
and implement the regional land and water use plan including,
but not limited to, taxing powers, eminent domain, police
powers such as intervention to protect the environment, permits
for drainage districts and canals, subpoena and investigative
powers and research properly coordinated with other agencies. A
law providing for public condemnation of lands for environmental
protection is essential to the implementation of the objectives
herein presented.
 The regional agency shall be required by the State to relate to
and coordinate with duly constituted State and regional organiza-
tions operating in other functional areas.
 Finally, the conference recognizes that present funding for
environmental protection must be greatlyenlarged to accomplish
the common goal of protecting the economic and environmental
values of this State.

 1


The citizens who have participated in
this Governor's Conference on
Water Management in South Florida in
plenary session assembled acknowledge
and applaud the foresight and courage
demonstrated by
Governor Reubin O'D. Askew
in convening this meeting and offer their
continuing support in accomplishing the
objectives set forth in this statement.

 Approved in Plenary Session
 September 24, 1971