Water is everywhere in Florida, but recently environmentalists have grown concerned that the “unlimited supply” will be scarce as people move into the state.
“We aren’t going to have enough water if we don’t conserve,” said Osceola County environmentalist Jenny Welch.
Water conservation has local environmental advocates like Welch concerned.
During this week’s Central Florida Water Initiative meeting, representatives from across the area came out to discuss the future of our water supply.
Osceola County said in recent surveys they project another 4 million people could move to the Central Florida area in the next 50 years.
In anticipation of this growth, a new city development in east Osceola County is in the works. The new development would be built on what is now Deseret Ranches.
By 2060, the county expects about 350,000 people to move to Osceola County and specifically the new development.
Right now it’s an area that local environmental advocates said is crucial to the ecosystem and water conservation.
“There isn’t enough conservation land being put aside,” Welch said.
While thousands of acres are going to conservation, some are concerned it’s not enough because a recent survey shows at least another 19,000 acres should be protected.
This week Deseret Ranches submitted their tentative plans to the state for review without including the 19,000 additional acres.
However Deseret Ranches' representative said any plans are in the early stages.
County leaders said if a new city is developed, its impact on the water supply in Florida will be taken into account.
“When that project gets to the permitting stage it will be evaluated both on its water resources impacts, and for local residents how it would flood and how water quality would be impacted,” said Chuck Walter the regional administrator for South Florida Water Management District.