Wekiva National Wild and Scenic River Management Plan
Friends of the Wekiva River, Inc.
Management Plan
Pandion wrote a comprehensive plan for the Wekiva River Basin that will be implemented through the cooperation of multiple agencies. The plan includes management goals, objectives, and strategies for the five outstanding values formally recognized by the U.S. Congress:
- Wildlife and Habitat
- Water Quality and Quantity
- Scenic Vistas
- Recreation Opportunities
- Cultural and Historic Resources
Cooperating agencies include Florida Park Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Division of Forestry, St. Johns River Water Management District, numerous municipal and nonprofit stakeholders, and Orange, Lake, and Seminole counties.
Facilitation and Public Participation
Pandion facilitated a public hearing for the draft goals and objectives as well as a managing agency meeting prior to writing the plan. This project required a high degree of cooperation with all agencies involved in order to obtain the necessary resources for successful completion.
Challenge and Solution
The Wekiva River is one of only two National Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida. A treasure trove of both natural and cultural wonders, this spring-fed river system lies in the heart of rapidly urbanizing Central Florida.
The management plan is an advisory document with no regulatory control. Its implementation depends upon cooperation and consensus among the stakeholders regarding the regulations needed to adequately protect this stressed resource.
Pandion worked within this structure to:
- Develop a thorough understanding of the natural and human resources.
- Host an open forum-style public meeting to capture public input.
- Harness the energy of interest groups to work together toward a common set of goals.
- Encourage implementation of existing regulatory protections rather than reinventing the wheel.
- Establish a structure to monitor the implementation of the plan for years to come.
Resources
Inventory of Existing Conditions, 2007 (PDF)
Pandion Team
Pete Colverson, MA
Christine Denny, MS
Greg Forcey, PhD
Karen Hill
Period of Performance
2007 to 2008
Location
Central Florida
