373.1965  Kissimmee River Valley and Taylor Creek-Nubbins Slough Basin; coordinating council on restoration; project implementation.--

(1)  There is created the Coordinating Council on the Restoration of the Kissimmee River Valley and Taylor Creek-Nubbins Slough Basin. The council shall be composed of the Executive Director of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the Executive Director of the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District, and the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or their designees, and the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, who shall serve as chair.

(2)  In recognition of the complete findings of the Special Project to Prevent the Eutrophication of Lake Okeechobee, the council shall develop measures which are to be taken by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, and the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District to restore the water quality of the Kissimmee River Valley and Taylor Creek-Nubbins Slough Basin. Such measures shall be designed to minimize and ultimately remove the threats to the agricultural industry, the wildlife, and the people of central and southern Florida, posed by land uses and water management practices which cause the degradation of water quality in such area and shall be designed to alleviate excessive nutrient loading from the Taylor Creek-Nubbins Slough Basin. In developing such measures, the council shall seek to:

(a)  Conserve and improve ground and surface water supplies throughout the region.

(b)  Improve the quality of water for all beneficial purposes throughout the region, and in Lake Okeechobee.

(c)  Restore the natural seasonal water level fluctuations in the lakes of the Kissimmee River and in its natural flood plains and marshlands.

(d)  Re-create conditions favorable to increases in production of wetland vegetation, native aquatic life, and wetland wildlife.

(e)  Protect presently developed areas from unnatural floods, to the extent that such protection is now achievable.

(f)  Utilize the natural and free energies of the river system to the greatest extent possible, so as to hold to a minimum all recurring annual needs of petroleum energy supplies.

(g)  Provide for the effective enforcement of existing laws designed to prevent excessive nutrient loading of area waters.

(3)  The Department of Environmental Protection, the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, and the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District shall each implement and enforce those measures developed by the council which are within its jurisdiction. The secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection shall be responsible for the overall supervision of the enforcement of such measures.

(4)  The Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District or its successor agency shall establish a Special Trust Fund for the Restoration of the Kissimmee River Valley and Lake Okeechobee, which shall be funded from State General Revenue, federal matching funds, donations, and district funds, provided that district funds shall equal 20 percent of State General Revenue funds.

(5)  The secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection shall present to the Legislature, within 1 year of the effective date of this act, the council's comprehensive report and complete plans for implementation of the corrective actions required, including fund requirements, and the implementation of the program within 5 years after the effective date of this act. During the 5-year implementation period, the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection shall present to the Legislature an annual, comprehensive, interim progress report.

(6)  Upon completion of the entire program to the satisfaction of the council and the Legislature, the council shall cease to exist, and all funds and moneys remaining in the Special Fund shall be immediately paid over to the General Revenue Fund.