Lower East Coast (LEC)

2005-2006 Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan Update

The 2005-2006 Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan Update (2005-2006 LEC Plan Update) is one of four, long-term comprehensive regional water supply plan updates the District has developed for its planning areas. Previous water supply plans for the Lower East Coast (LEC) Planning Area include the 1998 Interim Plan for Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply, which provided recommendations to improve water resource management and benefit water users until the long-term regional water supply plan was completed, and the 2000 Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan (2000 LEC Plan), which was completed in May 2000. The planning horizon for the 2000 LEC Plan was 2020, whereas the planning horizon for the 2005-2006 LEC Plan Update is 2025.

Since approval of the 2000 LEC Plan, a series of policy, legislative and technical changes have emerged regarding the availability and demand for water supplies for both human and natural systems. Overall, the 2025 projected population in this 2005-2006 LEC Plan Update is consistent with the 2020 projected population in the 2000 LEC Plan. Despite this overall consistency, significant differences in the growth rates and projected water demands within individual counties have been identified.

In addition, the Governing Board adopted the Regional System Water Availability Rule in February 2007 as part of the District's Consumptive Use Permit Program. Therefore, given Governing Board direction to reduce reliance on the regional system for future water supply needs, the focus of this 2005-2006 LEC Plan Update is on alternative water sources and projects.

The 2005-2006 LEC Plan Update consists of a single-volume planning document and eight appendices. These documents provide a common set of data, such as current and future water demands, assumptions and potential water source options. The LEC Plan Update incorporates the following:

• Describes the legislative, planning and regulatory framework around which future water use and development decisions in the region will take place.
• Documents existing demands and projects future water demands through 2025 for agricultural and urban water sectors, as well as other water use categories.
• Identifies resource issues, including constraints on development of new traditional freshwater sources, and the effects of urbanization on coastal resources.
• Evaluates the water source options available within the LEC Planning Area. Alternative water supply sources include brackish groundwater, reclaimed water, new storage capacity for surface water or groundwater, and seawater. Water conservation will also play a key role in the region's water supply planning efforts.
• Identifies and discusses water resource development projects.
• Identifies water supply projects that will meet future human and environmental needs. Focuses on alternative water supply projects, such as brackish water from the Floridan Aquifer, captured storm water, aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems, and expanded use of reclaimed water.
• Describes funding opportunities available through the District to foster alternative water supply development.
• Identifies areas where collection of resource data and technical studies are needed.

The 2005-2006 LEC Plan Update will be used by local governments, water users and utilities to modify and update their local comprehensive plans, ordinances, and individual or utility plans. The District will consider updating portions of this plan update more frequently, including the update of water supply project lists, population projections, etc., as circumstances require.

Contact Information