582.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term: (1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Agriculture. (2) “Council” means the Soil and Water Conservation Council. (3) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (4) “District” or “soil and water conservation district” means a governmental subdivision of this state and a body corporate and politic, organized in accordance with the […]
582.02 Legislative policy and findings; purpose of districts.— (1) It is the policy of the Legislature to promote the appropriate and efficient use of soil and water resources, protect water quality, prevent floodwater and sediment damage, preserve wildlife, protect public lands, and protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state. […]
582.055 Powers and duties of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; rules.— (1) The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (2) The department is authorized to receive gifts, appropriations, materials, equipment, lands, and facilities and to manage, operate, and disburse them for the use and benefit of the […]
582.06 Soil and Water Conservation Council; powers and duties.— (1) COMPOSITION.— (a) The Soil and Water Conservation Council is created in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and shall be composed of 7 members who have been involved in the practice of soil or water conservation, or in the development or implementation of interim measures or best […]
582.10 Creation of soil and water conservation districts.— (1) Any 10 percent of owners of land lying within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into a district may file a petition with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, asking that a soil and water conservation district be organized to function in the territory […]
582.11 Hearing upon question of creation; notice, etc.—Within 30 days after such a petition has been filed with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, it shall cause due notice to be given of a proposed hearing upon the question of the desirability and necessity, in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare, of […]
582.12 Referendum for creation.—After the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has made and recorded a determination that there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare, for the organization of a district in a particular territory and has defined the boundaries thereof, it shall consider the question whether the operation of […]
582.13 Expenses of referendum.—The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall pay all expenses for the issuance of such notices and the conduct of such hearings and referenda, and shall supervise the conduct of such hearings and referenda. It shall issue appropriate regulations governing the conduct of such hearings and referenda, and providing for the registration […]
582.14 Results of referendum; publication, etc.—The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall publish the result of such referendum and shall thereafter consider and determine whether the operation of the district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible. If the department shall determine that the operation of such district is not administratively practicable and […]
582.15 Organization of district, etc.— (1) If the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall determine that the operation of the proposed district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible, any five of the petitioners who signed the petition for the creation of the proposed district may present to the Department of State an application […]
582.16 Change of district boundaries.—Requests for increasing or reducing the boundaries of an existing district may be filed with the department, and the department shall follow the proceedings provided in this chapter to create a district. History.—s. 5, ch. 18144, 1937; s. 3, ch. 19473, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 4151(476); s. 2, ch. 25407, 1949; s. […]
582.18 Election of supervisors of each district.— (1) The election of supervisors for each soil and water conservation district shall be held every 2 years, with one supervisor elected from each of the five numbered subdivisions created by the department pursuant to s. 582.15(4). The elections shall be held at the time of the general election provided […]
582.19 Qualifications and tenure of supervisors.— (1) The governing body of the district shall consist of five supervisors, elected as provided in s. 582.18. (a) To qualify to serve on the governing body of a district, a supervisor must be an eligible voter who resides in the district and who: 1. Is actively engaged in, or retired after 10 […]
582.195 Mandatory meeting of supervisors.—All five supervisors of the governing body of each district shall meet at least once per calendar year in a public meeting pursuant to s. 286.011. History.—s. 4, ch. 2022-191.
582.20 Powers of districts and supervisors.—A soil and water conservation district organized under the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a governmental subdivision of this state, and a public body corporate and politic, exercising public powers, and such district and the supervisors thereof shall have the following powers, in addition to others granted in other sections […]
582.28 Cooperation between districts.—The supervisors of any two or more districts organized under the provisions of this chapter may cooperate with one another in the exercise of any or all powers conferred in this chapter. History.—s. 12, ch. 18144, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 4151(483).
582.29 State agencies to cooperate.—Agencies of this state that have jurisdiction over, or are charged with, the administration of any state-owned lands, and of any county, or other governmental subdivision of the state, that have jurisdiction over, or are charged with the administration of, any county-owned or other publicly owned lands, shall cooperate to the fullest […]
582.295 Automatic dissolution of districts.— (1) If the governing body of a district fails to meet as required under s. 582.195, the district shall be automatically dissolved as of January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the governing body failed to meet. All assets and liabilities of the district shall be transferred to […]
582.30 Discontinuance of districts; referendum; commissioner’s authority.— (1) Any time after 5 years from the organization of a district under the provisions of this chapter, any 10 percent of owners of land lying within the boundaries of such district may file a petition with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services praying that the operations of the […]
582.31 Certification of results of referendum; dissolution.—Upon receipt from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services of a certification that the department has determined that the continued operation of the district is not administratively practicable and feasible, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the supervisors shall forthwith proceed to terminate the affairs of the district. […]
