UF00083762_00029.pdf

UF00083762_00029.txt

UF00083762_00029_pdf.txt

THIRD ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON
ON WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
JANAURY 21, 1964
It is with a great deal or pleasure that I welcome you to
Tallahassee for this, the Third Annual Governor's Conference on Water I

Resource DevelOpmental Programs. For me and for my associates on a
the Board of Conservation this is a most fruitful Opportunity for us

to meet with you, the leaders of these various programs. We hope that
you will benefit from this meeting, not only making your own future

needs known to others but also in learning something of the others'

needs and problems.

For those of you who are new to this Conference and for those
of you who have not been directly involved in our concept of the
Florida program, let me take a moment to give you some background on
our situation. when I became Governor in 1961 it was evident that
Florida's Water Resource Developmental Programs had outgrown the
administrative machinery established for their control. Each water
resource agency was operating independently of each other at the federal
level and quite often independently of other state agencies. Frequently
various groups would be supporting programs which were in direct
conflict. This naturally caused considerable confusion among our
delegation in Washington and resulted in the delegation being divided
on important public work projects, and diluted the effectiveness of
that very capable group of peeple. In addition, it put public works
on a sectional basis with the attendant misunderstandings and
controversy.

Even more important than these weaknesses was the fact that
Florida had no effective control over its water resources and the

decision-making process was haphazard and purposeless simply because



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we had failed to exert the necessary leadership at the state level.

With the very able assistance and support of my colleagues
on the Cabinet we were first able to make a unified presentation during
the 1961 Congressional Appropriation Hearings. The Cabinet attended
these hearings and their support and assistance did much to lend
prestige and strength to this new approach.

Many of the public works programs reguire state assistance
in the form of matching funds, lands, rights of way and other material
things of value. Unless we at the state level can involve ourselves
in these projects at an early date we are unable to provide the
necessary leadership in the Legislature and may fail to meet our state
commitments to the federal program. This is a very real danger. Should
we not meet our obligations the overall political and economic effect
on our public works projects could be most disastrous. Thus the Board
of Conservation must evaluate all of your proposals in light of what
benefit will result for the people of Florida and in terms of our
capability of meeting our total state commitments, public works and
otherwise.

Our Congressional Delegation has reacted most favorably to this
unified approach. Probably no member of Congress has received every
thing that he wanted for his particular district but through the
assistance of his fellow members he has been able to achieve a degree
of success of which he can be most proud. I am of the opinion that our
approach has created in Washington a unanimity of effort heretofore
unknown and I think that the results of our mutual efforts speak
for themselves.

I am most appreciative of the understanding by the people of

Florida of our deve10pmental efforts. Practically all areas of the



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state have given us strong local support, despite the fact that many
of them, for a time, have had to take positions of second priority.
You have assisted us greatly in promoting local understanding and I
am in hopes that this Conference here today will lead to even greater
understanding.

It is frequently difficult to create an appreciation and
concern for longrange values, but that appreciation is basic to
protection of those values.

Our water resources constitute one of our most valued
resources, but despite the bounty of nature, it is possible for us to
destroy this most important element of our resource base. Even a
casual review of the water resources of the United States will reveal
that Florida is in an extremely advantageous position waterwise. We
must maintain this superiority for many reasons; to name a few --
industry, recreation and transportation.

As you all know, one of the goals of this administration is
to achieve for this state the kind of industry that will sustain a
growing and prosperous community of counties. We do not need nor do we
welcome industry that would exploit our resources at the expense of the
public good but we do need to create new Jobs new opportunity for
there is no other way we can continue to support a growth rate that is
greater than that of any other state. In order to meet these ever
pressing demands we must have ample Supplies of water of good quality,
and brains to use them wisely.

Many of you are here in support of navigational and port
projects. These are of vital importance, not because we favor this
mode of transportation over any other but because Florida must develOp

a well-balanced system of railroads, highways, airports and canals.



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Unless we have such a system we cannot be competitive and as a
consequence will not achieve our industrial ambitions.

We must squeeze the last penny of benefit out of these programs.
Successful multiple use has materially enhanced our recreational
potential, and the day will come when the recreational benefits alone
will exceed the originally computed benefits on many projects.

Some of you are looking to the Outdoor Recreational Planning
Committee and to the Cabinet to provide through the recreational
machinery a means to meet your land requirements. A word of caution
is appropriate. Under the policies which have been established and
which I believe will be continued, the funds available to use will be
used for the purposes outlined in the Outdoor Recreation and Conservation
Act of 1963, and no other. This is not to say that we won't use these
funds in multiple use projects where the recreational benefits are
clearly defined and in the public interest. But the mere fact that we
have monies available and authority to utilize these funds does not
constitute a windfall for any given project. It is therefore incumbent
upon you to create recreational develOpments concurrently with your
project works and be prepared to defend your plans before the Planning
Committee if you seek their assistance. You cannot expect either the
Cabinet or the Committee to expend funds unless the public recreational
benefits of your program are carefully planned and documented.

As Governor, I have found that the mental attitude of those
engaged in the Operation of government is of paramount importance -
even more important than good laws or adequate budgets. The dedicated
conservationists find some way to get the Job done. The little things

are so often made to count. A few thousand extra dollars spent by

a flood control district for a fill for public recreation purposes can



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produce recreation benefits many times the initial cost. Proper use
of spoil islands for hoetere, preservation of navigation in floodways,
proper management of water conservation areas and public access are
but a few of the many relatively small but important items and the
cumulative total presents something for all of our people. A citizen
of one county will not be overly enthusiastic about paying taxes for
flood protection in other counties if his home is not endangered. But
when we demonstrate that our children are guaranteed use of tremendous
areas for recreation for all time to come then you offer an inducement
that has real meaning.

Allegations are made from time to time that we have some
secret, behindthe-docr priority system For allocating our public worcs
money. Let me say to you now that no such system exists. I think that
the day will come when a priority system will be necessary for Florida.
However, at this time 1 am not aatisfien that our state has reached
the fair level or appropriations in Washington. Our priorities now
are overned in Large part by what we can get thrOugh the Congress.
Until such time as we have reached an Optimum Share of the Federal
Worke Program then 1 do not believe that a priority system is in order.

i am extremely proud of your accomplishment over the )eet

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three years. This is not Lu say that oun tank is done, but our program
is now more meaningful one has a united objective. Let us then con inue

to devote our efforts toward long ra-vc and statewide goals in order

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that all Florida may veep the benefits from our cumulative e forts.




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