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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 <br /> (IRCA) Water Quality/Quantity Protection Program ( WQQPP) . It contains the <br /> necessary information to understand the program and the application form. <br /> Specific application procedures to be followed will vary depending on the sub- <br /> region where the land is located and the local organization that has been <br /> contracted to deliver program funds on behalf of the Florida Department of <br /> Agriculture and 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 District 's purpose and scope. Similarly, the Florida Department of <br /> Agriculture and 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 the discharge of storm <br /> water; <br /> e) To preserve natural resources, fish and wildlife; and, <br /> f) To restore impaired water bodies 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 <br /> 5 . 0) in the IRCA, in order to achieve the goals and objectives described primarily <br /> in Section 2 .0 (b), and to provide an overall water resource benefit to the Indian <br /> River Lagoon (IRL) and Upper St. Johns River (USJR) watersheds. Through the <br /> program, FDACS will provide reimbursement for select agricultural practices that <br /> have potential water conservation, sediment control, and water quality benefits. It <br /> is anticipated that this program will provide area citrus growers with economic <br /> assistance that would facilitate their voluntary implementation of BMPs that <br /> would not otherwise be economically feasible. <br /> C :1Documents and SettingslbrendadWy Documents\FDACS BMP 20061Water Quality Quantity Applicant's 3 <br /> Hanabook Rev 12 06 .doc <br />