Marion County Commissioner Stan McClain, along with the other members of the Springs Coast Steering Committee, were recognized by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Governing Board on Tuesday for their service on the committee.
“I’m honored by this recognition and the opportunity to work alongside my fellow committee members with a shared passion for protecting our springs,” said McClain. “The efforts of this steering committee directly impact our springs here at home through the Rainbow River Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan update. This plan will help guide the restoration, protection and management of this natural treasure in Marion County for generations.”
McClain serves as the representative of Marion County on the Springs Coast Steering Committee, which was formed by SWFMD in 2014 to address management of spring systems within the district. This area includes Marion County’s Rainbow River, the fourth-largest spring system in the state and one of only five first-magnitude springs (discharging more than 64.6 million gallons per day) in the district.
The committee includes commissioners from Marion, Citrus, and Hernando Counties and a City of Crystal River Council member, as well as senior management staff from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and SWFWMD.
The Rainbow River SWIM Plan update was a result of the Steering Committee’s efforts and was approved by the SWFMD Governing Board during Tuesday’s meeting. Also involved in the plan’s preparation were Marion County staff (Tracy Straub, County Engineer; Yilin Zhuang, UF/IFAS Extension Service Community Resource Efficiency Agent; Jamie Cohen, UF/IFAS Extension Service Farm Outreach Coordinator; and Mark Shuffit, UF/IFAS Extension Service Equine and Livestock Agent) who were among the more than 100 people serving on the management and technical committees.
