UF00083633_00016.pdf

UF00083633_00016.txt

UF00083633_00016_pdf.txt

WM'SWMOEMOHALWOP
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W, m
mam 28, 1961

Good morning and welcome to Tallahassee. You have a busy
schedule arranged for you today, and I intend to confine aw ream-ks to
thoee areas Voich I feel are in beeping vith policy rather than technical
details.

As all of you know, the Southwest Hater Manage-ant District is
a direct result of the 1960 flood disaster in the Oklamhs, withlacoochee,
Hillsbomugh, and Peace River basins. beaver, we now find that these
same areas are suffering from drought conditions. Orange and vegetable
crops have been seriously duaged and cone lunicipal water applies are
endangered. This {lactation between drought and flood over the short
period of a year, points out drastically the need for name which
will ameliorate these conditions.

hat me discuss for a moment the problem of ooding. Conditions
such as thoae that existed in 1960 had a very promunced effect on the
economy of Southeast Florida. We lost large quantities of our truck
crops and new tents were flooded out for a two year period. Industry
lost confidence in the prospects for settlement in the major basins, and
economic develoment lagged. Our valuable poultry indmtry suffered
extensively so did the cattlenen. Nora damaging than the neural flood
was the attendant bad publicity and the loss of confidence by industry

and banking. Needless to nay, you have a legislative mandate to take

corrective action to insure a reasonable degree of protection in the

major basins.

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I have recently recmested. that colonel Sollemh enter into a
cooperative Flood Plans Zoning study in movard County. his approach
to the problem may offer you the legal md economic leans to a practical
solution. I urge that you consider zoning as a IBJOI tool in your
planning since this method provides the maxim: protection for the
individual with a minimum cost to the public.

Marv of you, I know, feel that water management rather than
floodcontrol istheheytoaauccsumllongrameprogrsa. Iagree.
We cannot expect developmnt in a desert and under no circumstances
can ve waste the abundant supplies or water which nature has so wisely
provided us.

A bit of hoaespun philosopr which I think is appropriate
to this situation: "When someone hands you a lemon make lemnade."
Youhevea tremendous opportunitytotahe aliahilityandturnit into
an asset. I on: speaking or recreational develop-ant. You are working
in one of the soot beautiml and historic sections or Florida. Most
tourists and for that setter, new residents have never seen these
areas. Wise multiple use of the four basins can provide the world's
finest fishing, muting, hoatdm, calming, and other types of
recreational activities. It is w hope that all or you v11]. somday
point with pride to the achievanents of the district in preserving
and. developing the neutral heritage of every Floridian and the right
to use the great wtdoora.

11113 I all not capletely satisfied that the laws under
which you will operate are perfect, they do provide for a madman of

decentralization. his is in keeping with IV belief that the people
must have the right to a voice in the affairs or the District. You

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must accentuate local participation for it is vital that the tax monies
he spent in those localities where the public is willing to participate
in terms of benefits received.

nu Basin Engineers are present to give you the detailed
intonation which has been developed as a result of the efforts of the
state as a whole. it date ve have provided all of the financing for
engineering in order to expedite this program. I expect you to take
these reports and from then develop the comprehensive plan for the
districts. m: Corps of maineers is also in the process or making
an exhaustive study which we hope vill lead to a cooperative conquest
for participation by the Federal government. The coordination of effort
by all interested agencies will be one or your major functions and I
expect the district to play the dominate role in aggressively guiding
others in the proper utilization of the public's resources.

At the present time you do not have the mnds necessary to
so into full operation. I have requested the Board of Conservation
through Senator Hodges to assist you. It will take scan time for you
to complete your evaluation or the problem and develop the necessary
functional organization. You can rely on the Board of Conservation
for assistance and advice in this regard.

We all went tin State of Florida to grow and. develop. Our
people want better needs, more schools, additional industry, improved
agriculture, has, etc. All of these things are worthuhile and desirable,
but they present as with the problem or providing comprehensive flood
control and increased demands for adequate water supplies.

were is no substitute for good planning. I have appointed
you to this Board because I an sentient that you have the vision to

Ja-

plan not Just for today, but for tummw as wall. You have a great

challenge a great opportunity. I uppreciatc your dune to hip m
in our effort to Ian noun. a better place to live, to work, and to

PW-




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d-1 -11 .1 yo .k 1o-, 1h otws trMngmn iti Ie d 1-111slto te 196 -1e iatt nte 1lwhWtlc

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I have recently requested that Colonel Sollohab enter into a cooperative Flood Plene Zoning sWdy in Browerd C'ounty. This approach ta the problem may offer you the legal and ecomamic mans to a practical solution. I urge that yo11 tensider zoning as e mjor tool in your plannlag since this method provides the idartm11al protectica for the individual with a minimum cost to the public. Many of you, I know, feel that water managemnt rather tban flood co.trol is the key to a succenof'ul long range program, I egree. We cannot eamect development in a desert and under na circuotences een we Veste the abundant supplies of water which nature has ac vleely prov..ded us. A bit of homespun philosophy which I think is oppropriate to this estation: ''Uben socieone hands you a lemon -oke lemonade." You have a treendos opportunity to take a liebility and turn it into en asset. I ela speakirig of teerestional developpient. You are Erhing in one of the east beautiM ani historic sections of Florida. Most tourists ind ihr that etter, maray residents have never seen these arene. Wille multiple use of the four basins can provide the world's fineet fishing, hunting, bontirig, camping, and etter types of recreaticaal activities. It le Illy begle that all of you will samedey point with pride to the schievements of the district in preservisig and developing the natural herits16e of every Floridien end the right to une the great entdoors. Wbile I ain not ecmoletely satisfied that the inws under which you ?!ll operate are perfect, they do provide (01' e 499"''" of decentralizatio. This is in keepia6 with my belief that tbs people giust have the right to e voine in the affairs of the Disti-int. You

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must accentuate local participation fox' it la vital that the tax ponien be spent in those loeelities vbere the public is willill;; to participate in terms of benefits received. The Easin Enginee-rc are present to give Seu the detailed aformation which has been developed as a result of the efforts of the state as a whole. To date we have pavided. ell of the financIDG for engleering iti order ta expedite this program. I exnect yo-a to take these reports find from them develop the comprehensive plan for the districts. he Corpe of Engineers is also in the process of makias an exhaustive study which we hope will lead te a coegerative compeet for participation by the Federal goverallient. The coordination of effort by all interested agentles will be one of yr:ur major .t\metions and I expect the district to play the dominate role in aggressively guiding otherEin the propel' utilisation oi' the pubbe 's resources At the present time you do not have the funds acessery to 60 into full operation. I have requested the Board of Conservation through Eonator Hadams tn assist you. It wil.1 take some tinie for vou

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plen not just for today, oixt for tamorrow sa well. You have a great Challenge -a gaat opportunity. I espreciate your desire to help ele in our effort to alake Florida e better place to live, to erh, and to pley.