Biden, Democrats are taking away water rights

There seems to be no limit to the overreach and attacks on personal liberties we see out of the current administration and D.C. bureaucrats, and the latest in Florida are coming in the form of revoking our water rights.

If you think radical activist groups and their Washington allies aren’t looking for a backdoor way to control local land-use decisions, think again.

President Biden’s EPA is intent on re-litigating the sweeping “Waters of the U.S. Rule” that would put the federal government in charge of regulating nearly every drop of water that falls on any piece of private property with a ditch. Fortunately, the Supreme Court will hear the case, where common sense should hopefully prevail so homeowners don’t have to navigate the federal bureaucracy to build a home on land they own.

Another troubling issue is brewing. The Army Corps of Engineers is developing a new water management schedule for Lake Okeechobee, and as part of it, the federal government plans to take away Florida’s legal right to administer its water allocation permits.

That’s crucial for Central Florida because, as the headwaters of the Everglades system with the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, our community’s stewardship keeps water flowing into Lake Okeechobee, which helps supply water to 7 million people in South Florida.

Florida has taken good care of its environment and natural resources for decades, and we applaud Gov. Ron DeSantis for standing up to the Biden Administration to protect state water rights — and our citizens and property.

Mark Busch Casselberry

Mark Busch is a former Orange County Soil and Water board supervisor and current city commissioner in Casselberry.