PALATKA, Fla., Aug. 3, 2009 - Registration began today for the St. Johns River Water Management District's technical symposium on the second phase of the District's investigation of potential cumulative effects of water withdrawals from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers.

The meeting, hosted by the University of Florida Water Institute, will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sept. 23 and from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, 1714 S.W. 34th St., Gainesville.

Preregistration is required and on a first-come, first-served basis due to potential space limitations. Members of the public may register by visiting the District's Web site at floridaswater.com/surfacewaterwithdrawals.

The meeting is free and open to the public, however, lunch and coffee breaks can be purchased during registration.

The symposium is intended to afford the technical working groups that are conducting the study the opportunity to become more fully aware of all of the interrelated aspects of the study, share technical information and exchange ideas. The agenda will feature presentations by the lead scientists and members of technical working groups conducting the investigations, followed by research group discussion.

To accommodate members of the public unable to attend the meeting, the District will provide a live video Internet feed of the presentations and group discussions.

Public comment will be invited at the end of each day's proceedings. Comment cards will be available throughout the meeting for members of the public wishing to provide written comments, or comments may be e-mailed to the District during and after the symposium. Prior to the symposium, a link to an e-mail address for submitting comments will be available on the District's Web site.

To learn more about potential surface water withdrawals and the cumulative impact assessment, visit the District's Web site at floridaswater.com/surfacewaterwithdrawals .