As part of its commitment to open government, the SFWMD holds monthly public meetings in support of its delegated permitting process. Permit applicants and interested stakeholders have the opportunity to speak directly with Carol Ann Wehle, Executive Director, via videoconference from the Orlando Service Center. The public meetings are part of the District's implementation of comprehensive water management legislation known as Senate Bill 2080 (SB2080). Among other things, SB2080 delegates authority for approvals of environmental resource and consumptive use permits to executive directors at Florida's five water management districts. In addition to the meetings, the District is using its Web site and ePermitting portal to post weekly lists of newly received and completed permit applications and a monthly list of individual permits that have been issued. The SFWMD Governing Board also keeps a standing agenda item for the public to provide input on regulatory policy issues. For more information on the executive director public meetings and ePermitting, or to access permit information and subscribe to the SFWMD's electronic noticing service, visit www.sfwmd.gov/permitting.

The navigation locks in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and two navigation locks in the Kissimmee River—S-65A and S-65D—are scheduled for renovations in the spring and summer of 2010. This work will take the locks out of service from April 1 through October 30, 2010. The locks, which have been in service since the early 1960s, will be completely rebuilt to ensure additional decades of reliable service. Please contact Bill Graf at 407-858-6100 ext. 3837 or wgraf@sfwmd.gov for more information and updates on the scheduled work.