S1078 RESOLUTION
by Senator Lynn (Similar S 1202)
Water Resources; supports continued inclusion
of "local sources first" policy in chapter 373, Florida Statutes,
& opposes any amendment to state's water resource policy which
allows, encourages, or promotes water transfers.
12/05/03 SENATE Prefiled
CODING: Words stricken
are deletions; words underlined are
additions.
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Senate Resolution No. ____
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A resolution supporting the continued inclusion
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of a "local sources first" policy in chapter
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373, Florida Statutes, and opposing any
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amendment to the state's water resource policy
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which allows, encourages, or promotes water
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transfers.
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WHEREAS, Florida's water resources are a natural
10 resource and not a commodity
to be sold or transferred to the
11 highest bidder, and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports a state "local
13 sources first" policy in state
law, and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes that the
15 continued retention of the local
sources first policy is
16 integral to protecting the state's
water resources, advancing
17 long-term sustainable water-resource
development and supply
18 systems, and preserving the rights
and opportunities of local
19 residents to secure and sustain
their future prosperity and
20 quality of life through the use
and enjoyment of local water
21 resources, and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports the fundamental
23 principles of the state's water
law which require that a
24 proposed use of water be reasonable
and beneficial, not
25 interfere with an existing legal
use of water, and be
26 consistent with the public interest,
and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that
28 shifts water-supply allocation
from a publicly regulated
29 process to a market-driven process,
and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that
31 undermines a fundamental principle
of water law which
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1 establishes a right of use
rather than a right of ownership,
2 and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recently learned that the
4 Florida Council of 100 intends
to request a repeal or
5 modification of chapter
373, Florida Statutes, to eliminate
6 provisions that establish
a policy for using local water
7 sources first, and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate wishes to go on record that
9 such a proposal is ill-considered
and will put the state's
10 surface waters and aquifers at
risk of irreparable harm for
11 irresponsible short-term gain
by limited special-interest
12 groups, and
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WHEREAS, the Florida Senate believes that any
14 discussion of regional water
transfer is premature until
15 minimum flows and levels have
been established for all of the
16 state's water resources, NOW,
THEREFORE,
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18 Be It Resolved by the Senate
of the State of Florida:
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That the Florida Senate opposes any modification to
21 chapter 373, Florida Statutes,
as it relates to the current
22 "local sources first" policy,
and encourages its legislative
23 colleagues and the Governor to
oppose a change in this policy.
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CODING: Words stricken
are deletions; words underlined are
additions. |