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1 .0 Introduction <br /> This handbook provides guidance to applicants (grove owners and grove <br /> caretakers) who wish to obtain funding under the Indian River Citrus Area ( IRCA) <br /> Water Quality/Quantity Protection Program (WQQPP) . It contains the necessary <br /> information to understand the program and the application form . Specific <br /> application procedures to be followed will vary depending on the sub-region <br /> where the farm is located and the local organization that has been contracted to <br /> deliver program funds on behalf of the Florida Department of Agriculture and <br /> Consumer Services (FDACS ) . <br /> 2.0 Joint-Agency Water Resource Mandates <br /> The St, Johns River Water Management District (District) was created by the <br /> Water Resources Act of 1972 (Chapter 373, Florida Statutes). Section 373 . 016 <br /> sets forth the Districfs purpose and scope. Similarly, the Florida Department of <br /> Agriculture aid Consumer Services (FDACS) has responsibility under sections <br /> 403. 067 and 570 . 085 , Florida Statutes. These responsibilities include, but are not <br /> limited to, the following : <br /> a) To provide for the management of water and related land resources ; <br /> b) To promote the conservation , development and proper utilization of surface <br /> and groundwater, <br /> c) To develop and regulate dams, impoundments, reservoirs and other works to <br /> promote water storage , for beneficial purposes ; <br /> d) To minimize degradation of water resources caused by be discharge of <br /> storm water; <br /> e) To preserve natural resources, fish and wildlife; and , <br /> f) To restore impaired waterbodies pursuant to the state's Total Maximum Daily <br /> Loads program . <br /> 3.0 Purpose of the Program <br /> This program has been established to promote agricultural BMPs (refer to section 5 . 0) in <br /> the IRCA, in order to achieve the goals and objectives described primarily in Section 2 . 0 <br /> (b) , and to provide an overall water resource benefit to the Indian River Lagoon ( IRL) <br /> and Upper St. Johns River ( USJR) watersheds. Through the program, FDACS will <br /> provide reimbursement for select agricultural practices that have potential water <br /> conservation , sediment control, and water quality benefits. It is anticipated that this <br /> program will provide area citrus growers with economic assistance that would facilitate <br /> their voluntary implementation of BMPs that would not otherwise be economically <br /> feasible . <br /> 4.0 Key Participating Agencies and Organizations <br />