Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 976
       
       
        
       By Senator Brodeur
       
       
       
       
       
       9-01021-21                                             2021976__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to a study of the Little Wekiva River;
    3         requiring the Department of Environmental Protection,
    4         in consultation with the St. Johns River Water
    5         Management District, Seminole County, the Fish and
    6         Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Department
    7         of Transportation, to conduct a study and issue a
    8         report on sediment accumulation and water quality in
    9         the Little Wekiva River by a specified date; amending
   10         s. 369.307, F.S.; requiring a permit application for a
   11         development located partially or wholly within the
   12         Wekiva River Protection Area to include a study of the
   13         potential impacts to the Wekiva River; providing an
   14         effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. The Department of Environmental Protection, in
   19  consultation with the St. Johns River Water Management District,
   20  Seminole County, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
   21  and the Department of Transportation, shall conduct a study and
   22  issue a report by December 31, 2021, to identify the source of
   23  sediment accumulation in the Little Wekiva River and detail
   24  improvements to the water quality and ecology of the area which
   25  might be achieved by efforts to dredge the river channel and
   26  remove invasive plants. The report must include an estimated
   27  cost for each improvement and potential funding sources.
   28         Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 369.307, Florida
   29  Statutes, is amended to read:
   30         369.307 Developments of regional impact in the Wekiva River
   31  Protection Area; land acquisition.—
   32         (1) Notwithstanding s. 380.06(4), the counties shall
   33  consider and issue the development permits applicable to a
   34  proposed development of regional impact which is located
   35  partially or wholly within the Wekiva River Protection Area at
   36  the same time as the development order approving, approving with
   37  conditions, or denying a development of regional impact. A
   38  permit application for a development that is located partially
   39  or wholly within the Wekiva River Protection Area must include a
   40  study of the potential impacts to the Wekiva River from the
   41  proposed development project.
   42         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.