LIVE OAK, FLA., April 3, 2020 – The Suwannee River Water Management District has extended the application deadline to the Regional Initiative Valuing Environmental Resources (RIVER) cost-share program. Local communities and agencies can now apply to the the RIVER cost-share program until June 16, 2020.
"Since the COVID-19 pandemic may cause impacts and restrictions to agencies and organizations within the District, we have extended the deadline to ensure that the applicants have enough time and resources to submit a completed application,” said Hugh Thomas, executive director of the District.
The program focuses on enhancing or addressing the District’s core mission of protecting Florida’s water supply, improving water quality, providing flood protection, and restoring natural systems. The completed and current project submissions are estimated to conserve 1.5 million gallons per day and reduce 8,111 pounds per year of total nitrate. County governments, municipalities, water supply authorities and other interested units of local governments are all encouraged to apply. RIVER applications must be submitted to the District by 5:00 p.m. on June 16, 2020.
Eligible projects include advanced aquifer recharge, water supply conservation, developing alternative water supplies, enhancing or restoring natural systems, improving water quality, protecting springs, and providing improved flood protection.
The District is committed to assisting its stakeholders in developing successful projects. Telephone conferences may be set up for interested cooperators to meet with the District’s Project Team to discuss potential projects. During the meetings, the District and stakeholders are able to review Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) projects, review water usage, the North Florida Regional Water Supply Planning Projects, and to ask questions. Meetings are by appointment only and one hour is allocated per meeting. Please specify if additional time is needed due to multiple projects when scheduling the meeting. The meetings are scheduled by a first-come-first-serve basis.
More information about the RIVER program is found on the District’s RIVER Cost-Share Program page online. Interested applicants can also contact the Projects Team at Projects@SRWMD.org or 386-362-1001.
The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. The District holds true to the belief of water for nature, water for people. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties.
For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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