Little Wekiva River Restoration: A Watershed Management Strategy for an Urbanized River

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), the regional agency with authority over water resources, uses regulations, interagency planning, land acquisition and restoration to manage aquatic ecosystems in north central Florida. The Little Wekiva River, the largest tributary of the Wekiva River in the Orlando area of central Florida, has experienced rapid urbanization and degradation during the past 30 years. Heavy rains in 1994 focused attention on the problems in this basin. The SJRWMD established the Little Wekiva River Technical Working Group (The Group), consisting of government agencies, environmental advocacy groups and homeowners, in 1995 to develop and implement restoration strategies. These strategies are based on the ability of the Group to blend the technical expertise and vested interests of its members, and the ability of the members to reach consensus and influence public policy makers. This paper will illustrate the effectiveness of multidisciplinary, citizen-based, working groups, and discuss the evolution of the Group and the roles of its member organizations, the importance of citizen-based organizations in the development of public policy, and the development and implementation of the watershed plan. Updated information will be provided on specific project components that have been planned, designed and implemented, focusing on the effectiveness of pilot projects and innovative design strategies.