How did the Southwest Florida Water Management District solve this problem?
Schiller:The Water Management District played a lead role in resolving this conflict by successfully negotiating a Partnership Agreement among all the local governments, the regional water supply authority and the district. The first step was recognizing that old approaches weren’t working—not one drop of new water was being produced. We clarified our three main goals: restore the environment damaged by reducing pumping, develop a sustainable water supply, and end the costly and nonproductive litigation. By adopting an alternative dispute resolution posture, the district fashioned an agreement that meets the district’s goals and the interests of all the parties. The agreement is restoring the environment by requiring and meeting a more than 40% reduction in wellfield pumping at the impacted areas. The agreement also requires the district to provide $183 million to help develop sustainable alternative water supplies and $90 million for water conservation projects. We are currently in th
