Implementing The Watershed Approach Collaboration, Information Sharing and Leveraging Resources Maya Burke, Staff Planner Southwest Florida Water Management District

Social Science and the Watershed Political Science and Sociology Special Interest Politics Diminished Democracy (Theda Skocpol) Civic Engagement Bowling Alone (Robert Putnam) The Dark Side of Civic Engagement (Morris Fiorina) Conflict, Cooperation and Resource Scarcity Water Quality, Environmental Justice and Civic Environmentalism The Land That Could Be (William Shutkin)

A Theory of Civic Action Social Dimensions of Watersheds Creates direct connections between people Allows for information sharing between watersheds Strengthened by alignment with multiple jurisdictions and mandates Identifies shared priorities Creates education opportunities of scale Organizes people to actively participate

Watershed Approach in Action Lower Hillsborough River Minimum Flow Required by Chapter , Florida Statutes Identify limit of significant harm

Watershed Approach in Action Lower Hillsborough River Minimum Flow Original MFL – 10 cubic feet per second Legal challenge, settlement and re-evaluation City of Tampa, Sierra Club, Crystal Springs Recreational Preserve, Inc., Two Rivers Ranch, Inc., Friends of the River, Inc., and 7 named citizens New MFL – 20 cubic feet per second Required recovery strategy Tampa Bypass Canal Sulphur Springs Blue Sink Morris Bridge Sink

Watershed Approach in Action Lower Hillsborough River Minimum Flow Uses flood protection infrastructure (Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area) Protects thermal refuge for manatee Balances water supply needs with natural system requirements Collaboration with local, regional, federal and non-governmental agencies

Watershed Approach in Action

Funding Opportunities