Wekiva Commission
The next Wekiva Commission Meeting will be Monday January 25th, 2010 held at the Lake Mary Events Center.
The Wekiva River system and its associated springshed areas are of irreplaceable value to the quality of life and well-being of the people of Florida. Its tributaries have been designated an Outstanding Florida Water, a National Wild and Scenic River, a Florida Wild and Scenic River, and a Florida Aquatic Preserve. The River is a spring-fed system that derives a majority of its base flow from numerous springs whose source of water is the Floridan Aquifer.
In 1988, the Florida Legislature enacted the Wekiva River Protection Act, codified in Part II of Chapter 369, Florida Statutes, to protect the resources of the Wekiva River system. The Act delineated an area comprising portions of Lake, Orange, and Seminole counties as the Wekiva River Protection Area.
Protection of the surface and groundwater resources, including recharge within the springshed that provides for the Wekiva River system, is crucial to the long-term viability of the Wekiva River and springs and the region’s water supply. The Wekiva's primary groundwater recharge area lies to the west and south and outside the Wekiva River Protection Area. Construction of the Wekiva Parkway and other roadway improvements to the west of the Wekiva River system will add to the growth pressures already affecting surface and groundwater resources within the recharge area. The Wekiva Basin Area Task Force, created by Governor Bush in 2002, was charged with making recommendations for the most appropriate location for an expressway connecting State Road 429 to Interstate 4 in Seminole County. The Task Force submitted its final report to Governor Bush in January 2003.
The Governor appointed the Wekiva River Basin Coordinating Committee in 2003 to build upon the recommendations of the Wekiva Basin Area Task Force through a cooperative effort by local governments, state and regional agencies, and affected interests charged to protect the Wekiva. The Committee presented its final report to the Governor and the Department of Community Affairs in early 2004.
The Wekiva River Basin Commission, established pursuant to a recommendation from the Coordinating Committee, monitors and ensures implementation of state, regional and local efforts consistent with the Coordinating Committee’s recommendations. The Commission reports annually to the Governor, the Florida Legislature and the Department of Community Affairs. The Commission members are appointed by the Governor to staggered terms.
The SR429 Northwest Extension Working Group, created pursuant to a recommendation from the Wekiva Basin Area Task Force, partnered the Regional Planning Council and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority to study the corridor for a limited access highway linking the proposed Wekiva Parkway to US 441. The Task Force also recommended the Working Group study the need for roadway improvements currently proposed within the Wekiva basin, given the added capacity the 441 Bypass and Wekiva Parkway would provide.
Established pursuant to Recommendation 19 from the Wekiva River Basin Coordinating Committee, the Wekiva River Basin Commission monitors and ensures the implementation of state, regional and local efforts consistent with the Committee’s recommendations. The Commission reports annually to the Governor, the Florida Legislature and the Department of Community Affairs on implementation progress and recommendations for funding assistance to local governments required for planning and implementation. The Commission has 18 members, who are appointed by the Governor.
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