The Florida Senate

373.465  Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council.--There is created within the Southwest Florida Water Management District the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council.

(1)(a)  The council shall consist of seven voting members: two representatives of lakefront property owners, one environmental engineer, one person with training in biology or another scientific discipline, one person with training as an attorney, one person with training as an engineer, and one representative of the sport fishing industry, all to be appointed by the Sumter County Commission. No person serving on the council may be appointed to any of the council advisory group agencies' councils, board, or commission. The council members shall serve as advisors to the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The council is subject to the provisions of chapters 119 and 120.

(b)  The council advisory group to the council shall consist of: one representative each from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Transportation, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Withlacoochee River Basin Board, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, to be appointed by their respective agencies, all of whom must have training in biology or another scientific discipline.

(2)  Immediately after their appointment, the council shall meet and organize by electing a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary, whose terms shall be for 2 years each. Council officers shall not serve consecutive terms. Each council member shall be a voting member.

(3)  The council shall meet at the call of its chair, at the request of six of its members, or at the request of the chair of the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

(4)  The council shall have the powers and duties to:

(a)  Review audits and all data specifically related to lake restoration techniques and sport fish population recovery strategies, including data and strategies for shoreline restoration, sediment control and removal, exotic species management, floating tussock management or removal, navigation, water quality, and fisheries habitat improvement, particularly as they may apply to Lake Panasoffkee.

(b)  Evaluate whether additional studies are needed.

(c)  Explore all possible sources of funding to conduct the restoration activities.

(d)  Advise the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District regarding the best approach to restoring Lake Panasoffkee, and make a recommendation as to which techniques should be part of the restoration program. The governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District shall respond in writing to the council if any recommendations from the council require reevaluation. The response shall detail reasons for reevaluation.

(e)  Report to the Legislature before November 25 of each year on the progress of the Lake Panasoffkee restoration plan and any recommendations for the next fiscal year.

(5)  The Southwest Florida Water Management District shall provide staff to assist the council in carrying out the provisions of this act.

(6)  Members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services, but are entitled to be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses incurred during execution of their official duties, as provided in s. 112.061 State and federal agencies shall be responsible for the per diem and travel expenses of their respective appointees to the council and the Southwest Florida Water Management District shall be responsible for per diem and travel expenses of other appointees to the council.

History.--s. 1, ch. 98-69; s. 190, ch. 99-245.