The third and final Linking Land and Water Management Project in the County was the Little Manatee River Watershed Land-Water Linkage project. An executive summary follows:

GOAL OF THE PROJECT: This report concludes a 12 month effort from February 2001 to January 2002 to improve the management of land and water resources in the Little Manatee River Basin in southern Hillsborough County. The sponsoring agencies set out to implement a strategy that would accomplish three things:

• Improve linkages between land planning and water management
• Improve linkages between the efforts of the regional water resource agency (SWFWMD) and the Countys planning efforts
• Provide a link between affected citizens and their local government and their regional water resource agency in addressing land and water issues.

STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: As Phase 1 of the project, a citizen based task force of residents in the watershed met during the project to establish their vision, issues, and action projects to addresses the issues. They published the vision, issues and action projects in the Pre-strategy Report from the Little Manatee Land Water Linkage Task Force. With the Task Force report in hand, staff took the lead role from the Community in Phase 2. Staff reviewed the Pre-Strategy report proposals. It believed that it had received an excellent range of proposals and recommendations for its consideration in developing strategies to link land and water management.

STRATEGIES FOR LAND-WATER LINKAGE: Three strategies formulated by staff encompass the themes of water, land and environment. The Strategy For Excellent Water Management recognizes that a well managed river system of excellent quality is critical to sustaining the desired lifestyles in the Little Manatee River Watershed. The action program for this strategy covers critical themes of surface water regulation, stormwater recharge, flood protection and natural stormwater system functions. Methods and techniques to manage water resources and protect the long-term viability of the water, natural systems, and land resources, were considered. Specific projects proposed as a result of the planning phase include:

Timing and Priority of Action Plans for Excellent Water Management

Action Plan Priority	Responsible Agency	Actions/Detailed Action #
FY-02/03 1.	Hillsborough County	BASIN STORMWATER MAINTENANCE PLAN-#1
FY-02/03 2.	Hillsborough County	SEPTIC TANK AND DISCHARGE INVENTORY-#2
FY-03/04 3.	Hillsborough County	STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ON PRIVATE LANDS-#3
FY04-05 4.	Hillsborough County	LITTLE MANATEE STORM WATER TRUST FUND-#4

The Strategy for Sustainable Natural Systems recognizes that an integrated, inclusive approach to sustainable natural systems is necessary. The action program for this strategy to link land and water management includes specific projects such as Marsh Creek restoration, better monitoring of the flow and water quality health of the river, and elimination of invasive species to restore natural habitats, along with joint programs between SWFWMD and Hillsborough and Manatee County for long term projects in the preservation of the natural systems. Public involvement and input and continued inter-jurisdictional cooperation and decision making based on reliable information are also of interest.

Timing and Priority of Action Plans for A Sustainable Natural System

Action Plan Priority	Responsible Agency	Actions
FY-02/03 1.	SWFWMD	MARSH CREEK RESTORATION-#5
FY-02/03 2.	SWFWMD	CWM PLAN COORDINATION-#6
FY-02/03 3.	SWFWMD	WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND DATA REPORTING -#7
FY-02/03 4.	Hillsborough County	PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NUISANCE PLANT AND ANIMAL REMOVAL-#8

The Strategy for a Livable Community Lifestyle presents an action program to support the desire to improve the quality of life in the Little Manatee River Watershed. A definitive message emanating from the Task Force was the desire for the County to better address community codes enforcement issues. Citizen support for linking land and water management depends on making those affected by development a vital part of growth management. This can take numerous forms, including but not limited to, creation of comprehensive community plans crafted in partnership among public and private interests, and intended to guide future development. The action program for this strategy identifies a reformulation of activities to reset the direction of growth through revisions to plans, policies and regulations, along with increased opportunities for bay access and greenways and trails development to support ecotourism.

Timing and Priority of Action Plans for A Livable Community Lifestyle

Action Plan Priority	Responsible Agency	Actions
FY-02/03 1.	Hillsborough County	CODES AND SOLID WASTE ENFORCEMENT-#9
FY-02/03 2.	Hillsborough County	SOUTH COUNTY COMMUNITY PLAN-#10
FY-03/04- 3.	Hillsborough County	RIVER AND BAY ACCESS-#11
FY-03/04 4.	Hillsborough County	GREENWAYS AND TRAILS MASTER PLAN UPDATE-#12

 

This final step assigns the action programs to the agencies in a coordinated fashion that reflects their roles, as well as appropriate timing and priorities. Implementation will require commitments by the governing Boards and Commissions involved. The Implementation Program provides the timing, sequence and agency assignment of the Action Plans for linking land and water management.