PALATKA, Fla., July 24, 2009 - The St. Johns River Water Management District will hold its second technical symposium for its engineers and scientists and its outside experts to discuss the District's St. Johns River Water Supply Impact Study, an investigation of potential effects of proposed surface water withdrawals from the St. Johns River.
The meeting, hosted by the University of Florida Water Institute, will be held Sept. 23-24 at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, 1714 S.W. 34th St., Gainesville.
The symposium is free and open to the public, and advance registration will be required to ensure adequate seating. Registration will begin Aug. 3 online at floridaswater.com/surfacewaterwithdrawals .
As part of its commitment to protect the area's water resources as surface water withdrawals are discussed, the District is evaluating the potential effects of water withdrawals on the water resources of the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers. District engineers and scientists are studying possible scenarios and their potential ecological impacts to ensure estimated withdrawals would not have significant adverse effects on these rivers' systems if permitted.
The symposium will provide an opportunity for the seven technical working groups that are conducting the study to become more fully aware of the interrelated aspects of the study, share technical information and exchange ideas.
The meeting will offer an opportunity for experts with diverse areas of expertise to collaborate and discuss any preliminary findings of the study as it relates to their disciplines and experience.
The agenda will feature presentations by the lead scientists and members of technical working groups conducting the ongoing investigations, followed by research group discussion.
The meeting will be open to the public to ensure that members of the public can remain informed about the breadth of the District's scientific effort. The public also will be invited to offer comments at the close of each day's session, and an e-mail address for submitting written comments will be added to the District's Web site prior to the symposium.
Having received a positive response from last year's symposium, the District will again provide live video on the Internet of the presentations and group discussions to accommodate members of the public unable to attend.
To learn more about the surface water withdrawal issue and the St. Johns River Water Supply Impact Study, visit the District online at
floridaswater.com/surfacewaterwithdrawals .