Agriculture commissioner candidates talk water
TALLAHASSEE — Maintaining Florida’s water supply, while balancing the growing needs of residents, farmers, tourists and businesses, is a priority for the candidates seeking to replace Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
The issue involves helping preserve diverse ecosystems, such as the Everglades and natural springs, without scuttling the economy. Candidates for agriculture commissioner are putting forward a variety of ideas, from continuing to educate residents on the need to conserve water and more use of recycled or reclaimed water and limiting rural development.
Republican candidate Matt Caldwell, a state House member from North Fort Myers, carried a 2016 House water bill that laid out policy goals for every region in the state and has been heavily involved in issues dealing with the Florida Forever land-preservation program. He pointed to a need for a partnership between water management districts and local governments “to construct and operate regional water supply facilities, including reservoirs, desalination, and re-use facilities.”
Another GOP candidate, state Sen. Denise Grimsley of Sebring, echoes many other Florida Republicans in favoring the state, rather than the federal government, determining water-resource allocations.
Grimsley also wants to expand on a South Florida Water Management District program that partners with private landowners to store water and expand the use of “conservation easements” through the state’s Rural & Family Lands Protection Program.
Republican candidate Baxter Troutman, a former state House member from Winter Haven, talked of a need to balance water usage and conservation, from “incorporating water usage when planning for future development” to using “reclaimed water for residential irrigation.”
“I am very interested in ‘best practice’ water management techniques and have implemented many of these in my own operation,” Troutman said. “I believe that widespread adoption of water management practices throughout the ag industry can have an immediate and long-term impact on both the quality and quantity of water available for all Floridians.”
Mike McCalister, a Republican businessman from Plant City, expressed a need to get government agencies involved with water policy linked in the same system.
On the Democratic side, Homestead Mayor Jeff Porter talked of pushing the federal government for more Everglades funding and expanding statewide what he’s learned with a water treatment plant in Homestead.
Both he and fellow Democratic candidate David Walker, a biological scientist from Fort Lauderdale, talked of a need for more conservation, with the emphasis on educating Floridians.
“Because 50 percent of water consumption is through irrigation, we need to limit the amount of watering to no more than twice a week and avoid irrigation when it rains,” Walker said. “We need to use reclaimed water when possible and plant native plants that are drought tolerant and need less irrigation.”