CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____
  2         A resolution recognizing April 1, 2004, as
  3         "Local Water Sources First Day," supporting the
  4         continued inclusion of a "local sources first"
  5         policy in chapter 373, Florida Statutes, and
  6         opposing any amendment to the state's water
  7         resource policy which allows, encourages, or
  8         promotes water transfers.
  9 
10         WHEREAS, Florida's water resources are a natural
11  resource and not a commodity to be sold or transferred to the
12  highest bidder, and
13         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports a state "local
14  sources first" policy in state law, and
15         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes that the
16  continued retention of the local sources first policy is
17  integral to protecting the state's water resources, advancing
18  long-term sustainable water-resource development and supply
19  systems, and preserving the rights and opportunities of local
20  residents to secure and sustain their future prosperity and
21  quality of life through the use and enjoyment of local water
22  resources, and
23         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports the fundamental
24  principles of the state's water law which require that a
25  proposed use of water be reasonable and beneficial, not
26  interfere with an existing legal use of water, and be
27  consistent with the public interest, and
28         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that
29  shifts water-supply allocation from a publicly regulated
30  process to a market-driven process, and
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 1         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that
 2  undermines a fundamental principle of water law which
 3  establishes a right of use rather than a right of ownership,
 4  and
 5         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recently learned that the
 6  Florida Council of 100 intends to request a repeal or
 7  modification of chapter 373, Florida Statutes, to eliminate
 8  provisions that establish a policy for using local water
 9  sources first, and
10         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate wishes to go on record that
11  such a proposal is ill-considered and will put the state's
12  surface waters and aquifers at risk of irreparable harm for
13  irresponsible short-term gain by limited special-interest
14  groups, and
15         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate believes that any
16  discussion of regional water transfer is premature until
17  minimum flows and levels have been established for all of the
18  state's water resources, NOW, THEREFORE,
19 
20  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
21 
22         That the Florida Senate recognizes April 1, 2004, as
23  "Local Water Sources First Day," opposes any modification to
24  chapter 373, Florida Statutes, as it relates to the current
25  "local sources first" policy, and encourages its legislative
26  colleagues and the Governor to oppose a change in this policy.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.