373.4591 Improvements on private agricultural lands.—The Legislature encourages public-private partnerships to accomplish water storage and water quality improvements on private agricultural lands. When an agreement is entered into between a water management district or the department and a private landowner to establish such a partnership, a baseline condition determining the extent of wetlands and other surface waters on the property shall be established and documented in the agreement before improvements are constructed. When an agreement is entered into between the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and a private landowner to implement best management practices pursuant to s. 403.067(7)(c), a baseline condition determining the extent of wetlands and other surface water on the property may be established at the option and expense of the private landowner and documented in the agreement before improvements are constructed. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall submit the landowner’s proposed baseline condition documentation to the lead agency for review and approval, and the agency shall use its best efforts to complete the review within 45 days. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the department, and the water management districts shall provide a process for reviewing these requests in the timeframe specified. The determination of a baseline condition shall be conducted using the methods set forth in the rules adopted pursuant to s. 373.421. The baseline condition documented in an agreement shall be considered the extent of wetlands and other surface waters on the property for the purpose of regulation under this chapter for the duration of the agreement and after its expiration.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2012-187; s. 7, ch. 2014-150.
Section: Previous 373.439 373.441 373.4415 373.443 373.451 373.453 373.459 373.4591 373.4592 373.45922 373.45924 373.45926 373.4593 373.45931 373.4595 NextLast modified: September 23, 2016