Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children's lifetime. The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land.

—Luna Leopold

Integrating Land and Water Management Decisions

Mike Britt, P.E.City of Winter Haven

In Conjunction with Thomas L. Singleton, Inc.

Polk County

Surface Water FlowsGround Water Flows

Hillsborough R.

Withlacoochee R.Ocklawaha R.

Kissimmee R.

Peace R.

Alafia R.

Because no water flows into the watershed, managing rainfall is the primary means of ensuring water supply for peopleand natural systems.

Winter Haven: The Chain of Lakes City

Downtown Winter Haven

Existing Impacts:• 25/50 Lakes Impaired• Chain of Lakes not

navigable 6/10 years• Lakes to east and

south of WH not meeting MFLs.

• Water quality dependent on good hydrology

Other Trends:• 68% of Americans

Obese or overweight• Education/outdoor

connection• Community design• Information Age

Future by Design Community Vision (2000):Top priority statement: water benefits all aspects

of our economy, culture and environment

Sustainability Decision Model:

Bearable

Equitable

Viable

Sustainable

Source: Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable

2 Very Different Approaches to Water

Optimize each aspect of water separately:Often at the expense of the other aspects

Optimize each aspect of water holistically as a system:Not at the expense of the other aspects

Water Quality

Flood Protection

Natural Systems Water

Supply

Flood Protection

NaturalSystems

Water Quality

Independent Approach Integrated Approach

Water Supply

2 Very Different Approaches to Water

$$$? $$$?

$$$? Water Supply

Flood Protection

NaturalSystems

Water Quality

Independent Approach Integrated Approach

$$$?

Sweet Spot!Unintended Consequences?

Integrated Management Approach

Water Quality

Natural Systems

Water Supply

Built Environment

Flooding

Built Environment:Land UseTransportation/IntermodalEnergyHousingWater ConservationLandscapingRecreationHealthEducation

Copyright © 2012Thomas L. Singleton Consulting, Inc

Dundee

Lake Hamilton

Haines City

Lake Alfred

Auburndale

Eagle Lake

Bartow

Anticipated Economic Growth

With planned economic drivers such as CSX, Central Polk Parkway and Legoland, watershed could transition from approx. 30% developed to 60-70% developed over next few decades.

• By following a regulatory approach, additional impacts will occur:

• Stormwater - volume/treatment/ reduced recharge

• Wetlands -transferred downstream• Aquifer levels – MFLs/ prevention of

significant harm• Local land use codes/development

practices• Question: How can we encourage

economic growth and improve water resources at the same time?

Two plans adopted in 2010 that establish future direction:

Key Concept: Use Natural /Green Infrastructure Approach Wherever Possible for Multiple Benefits

US EPA: Natural Infrastructure• Creates a framework for environmental decisions • Provides predictability and certainty • Helps reduce opposition to development and

conservation • Leverages and maximizes the return on public and

private investments in conservation and restoration • Is scientifically defensible

Most effective/efficient way to manage water: use natural

system wherever possible:

Ridge Areas: Infiltration

Polk Upland:Storage/Treatment

Downtown Winter Haven

Raingardens/LID Techniques: Utilities Complex

Old Parking/ Impervious Areas

City of Winter Haven Utilities Services Raingardens

In memory of Kim Hansell, Utilities Director 2009-2014

2nd St. NW Corridor Raingardens

Raingardens:• Infiltration/Recharge• Groundwater Storage• Stormwater Treatment• Less Irrigation• Less Fertilizer/Chemicals• Aesthetic• Easily implemented at a

community scale

Wetland Storage/Treatment:

18

Blue-print for future growth– 7500 acres of restored

wetlands;– 27B Gallons of Storage– Reduced Flooding– Increased Treatment– Waterfront property– Beauty/Recreation/Wildlife– Development permitting– Uses economic incentives to

achieve a desired result• Mitigation Banking• Water Quality Trading• Water Farming/

Dispersed Storage– Needs State Support

Wetland Storage Nature Parks: Amenities for future growth, benefits to water resources

Lake Wales

Dundee

Lake Hamilton

Haines CityLake Alfred

Auburndale

Eagle Lake

Bartow

Winter Haven

Unincorporated Polk County

WellfieldsTreated Wastewater Discharge

Rebalancing the Water Budget:

• RIBs (land)

• Lake Storage

• Flood Water Recharge

Next Step: Integrate Land & Water Management

Wetland Storage/TreatmentLow Impact DevelopmentRapid Infiltration Basins (RIBs)Development IncentivesWater ConservationCommunity Goals

Comprehensive Plan

Land Development Code

Managing for the Triple Bottom Line: Public/Private Partnerships

Stakeholders Benefits of Partnership ApproachMunicipalities • Establish economic, social and environmental goals

• Less cost for structural solutions and O&M• Coordination/facilitation

Landowners • Increased land values/development opportunities• Opportunity to sell conservation easements for restoration site or partner with mitigation bankers

Developers • Waterfront amenities• Flood protection - Maximize developable footprint• Expedited permitting when improving watershed• Community support

Mitigation Bankers

• Developing, buying, selling wetland, flood and water quality credits• Partnering with government, landowners and developers in mitigating for past and future impacts

Conservationists • Natural system restoration in conjunction with future development• Cost/Benefit includes natural system benefits

State • Maximize economic investment (CSX, Polk Parkway)• Avoid future development impacts to water resources• Mitigates for water supply impacts

Integrated/Sustainable/Natural Infrastructure/ Resilient/Adaptive Approach:

• FDEP Adapting: TMDLs, BMAPS• City of Boston: Emerald Necklace• City of New York: Purchase of Watershed

Development Rights• Seattle, Washington: Raingardens• Los Angeles: $1B in additional costs to

manage flooding/water supply

Implementing a New Approach:Local Government:• Integrate decisions related to water with social, economic and

environmental goals;• Integrate land and water planning to create incentives - incorporate

water management into the design of the community.• Integrate use of water supply, stormwater utility and recreational

funds (Green Infrastructure Utility).• Use a ‘natural infrastructure /get the water right’ mindset .State/Regional Government:• Consider social/economic/environmental goals at local/regional

scales when preparing plans and projects;• “Failing to plan is planning to fail” –prioritize planning before

money is spent on expensive projects;• Ensure water quantity goals do not conflict with water quality

goals;• Use a water budget decision framework.

Economic Development• Work with communities to achieve economic, social and

environmental goals;• Incorporate private sector tools - use mitigation banking, water

quality credits, flood credits to create benefits in the right place in the watershed;

• Expect preferential environmental permitting/payment for environmental services for creating benefits.

Consultants• Direct clients and communities to the concept of development

sustainability – help developers and local communities establish and reach goals, not manage to minimum standards;

Landowners• Consider ‘water farming’ /payment for environmental services as a

viable option.

Walking the Walk

• Senate Bill 536 (2014)– Expand the beneficial use of reclaimed water,

stormwater, & excess surface water– Evaluate the construction of regional storage

features on public or private lands for reclaimed water, stormwater, & excess surface water

• Amendment 1: Acquisition of land rights for implementation

Conclusions • Each community places a different value on water for

multiple benefits. Actions must correspond to values and integrate across all levels of government.

• Build out of communities and watersheds is imminent: create guidelines for a sustainable future.

• With political, economic, informational, climatic, and cultural changes, now is the right time to commit to a sustainable future.

• Leadership trending away from government: consultants, developers and mitigation bankers have opportunities to help communities succeed.

• Cost/benefit decisions must include all aspects of economic/social/ environmental health;

• Focus on watershed/natural system function and design -not regulation.

“ The utility of the future will be greener and more involved with others within its watershed. Greener in terms of the design of facilities and the choices of solutions, especially green infrastructure (natural land-based solutions). Working with others at the watershed scale will enable agencies to implement water resource solutions that save them and their communities' money while preserving valuable resources.“

- Paraphrased from Water Resources Utility of the Future: Blueprint for Action. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF).

Plans Available: www.mywinterhaven.com/natural resources.htm

Contact: Mike Britt: 863/291-5881, mbritt@mywinterhaven.com