Permit issued for groundwater use for agricultural irrigation in Sarasota.

NOTICE OF AGENCY ACTION
Notice is hereby provided that the South Florida Water Management District, on February 24, 2026,  issued a Consumptive Water Use permit (permit) with conditions [Permit 26-00281-W, Application Number 240111-7] to Gardinier Florida Citrus, Inc, 1605 Main St Suite #703, Sarasota, FL 34236-5833, for the use of groundwater from the Sandstone aquifer for agricultural irrigation of 238 acres of alfalfa using a drip irrigation system with an annual allocation of 354.35 million gallons. The project is located in Hendry County, Section 32, Township 45 South, Range 28 East.  
A copy of the permit can be obtained by contacting the Regulatory Records Management Section, during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, at 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, Regulation Division, by telephone at 561-682-6911, by e-mail at permits@sfwmd.gov, or by accessing the permit directly from the Districts website (www.sfwmd.gov) using the Application/Permit Search on the ePermitting page. 
The District's agency action is final unless a timely petition for an administrative hearing is filed under Sections 120.569 and 120.57 of the Florida Statutes before the deadline for filing a petition. 
As required by Sections 120.569 and 120.60(3), Fla. Stat., the following is notice of the opportunities which may be available for administrative hearing or judicial review when the substantial interests of a party are determined by an agency.  Please note that this Notice of Rights is not intended to provide legal advice.  Not all of the legal proceedings detailed below may be an applicable or appropriate remedy.  You may wish to consult an attorney regarding your legal rights.
RIGHT TO REQUEST ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING
A person whose substantial interests are or may be affected by the South Florida Water Management Districts (SFWMD or District) action has the right to request an administrative hearing on that action pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Fla. Stat.  Persons seeking a hearing on a SFWMD decision which affects or may affect their substantial interests shall file a petition for hearing with the Office of the District Clerk of the SFWMD, in accordance with the filing instructions set forth herein, within 21 days of receipt of written notice of the decision, unless one of the following shorter time periods apply: (1) within 14 days of the notice of consolidated intent to grant or deny concurrently reviewed applications for environmental resource permits and use of sovereign submerged lands pursuant to Section 373.427, Fla. Stat.; or (2) within 14 days of service of an Administrative Order pursuant to Section 373.119(1), Fla. Stat.  "Receipt of written notice of agency decision" means receipt of written notice through mail, electronic mail, or posting that the SFWMD has or intends to take final agency action, or publication of notice that the SFWMD has or intends to take final agency action.  Any person who receives written notice of a SFWMD decision and fails to file a written request for hearing within the timeframe described above waives the right to request a hearing on that decision.
If the District takes final agency action which materially differs from the noticed intended agency decision, persons who may be substantially affected shall, unless otherwise provided by law, have an additional Rule 28-106.111, Fla. Admin. Code, point of entry.
Any person to whom an emergency order is directed pursuant to Section 373.119(2), Fla. Stat., shall comply therewith immediately, but on petition to the board shall be afforded a hearing as soon as possible.
A person may file a request for an extension of time for filing a petition.  The SFWMD may, for good cause, grant the request.  Requests for extension of time must be filed with the SFWMD prior to the deadline for filing a petition for hearing.  Such requests for extension shall contain a certificate that the moving party has consulted with all other parties concerning the extension and that the SFWMD and any other parties agree to or oppose the extension.  A timely request for an extension of time shall toll the running of the time period for filing a petition until the request is acted upon.
FILING INSTRUCTIONS
A petition for administrative hearing must be filed with the Office of the District Clerk of the SFWMD. Filings with the Office of the District Clerk may be made by mail, hand-delivery, or e-mail.  Filings by facsimile will not be accepted. A petition for administrative hearing or other document is deemed filed upon receipt during normal business hours by the Office of the District Clerk at SFWMD headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida.  The Districts normal business hours are 8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m., excluding weekends and District holidays.  Any document received by the Office of the District Clerk after 5:00 p.m. shall be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. on the next regular business day. Additional filing instructions are as follows:
Filings by mail must be addressed to the Office of the District Clerk, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, Florida  33406.
Filings by hand-delivery must be delivered to the Office of the District Clerk.  Delivery of a petition to the SFWMD's security desk does not constitute filing.   It will be necessary to request that the SFWMD's security officer contact the Office of the District Clerk.   An employee of the SFWMD's Clerk's office will receive and file the petition.
Filings by e-mail must be transmitted to the Office of the District Clerk at clerk@sfwmd.gov.  The filing date for a document transmitted by electronic mail shall be the date the Office of the District Clerk receives the complete document.  A party who files a document by e-mail shall (1) represent that the original physically signed document will be retained by that party for the duration of the proceeding and of any subsequent appeal or subsequent proceeding in that cause and that the party shall produce it upon the request of other parties; and (2) be responsible for any delay, disruption, or interruption of the electronic signals and accepts the full risk that the document may not be properly filed.
INITIATION OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING
Pursuant to Sections 120.54(5)(b)4. and 120.569(2)(c), Fla. Stat., and Rules 28-106.201 and 28-106.301, Fla. Admin. Code, initiation of an administrative hearing shall be made by written petition to the SFWMD in legible form and on 8 1/2 by 11 inch white paper. All petitions shall contain:
Identification of the action being contested, including the permit number, application number, SFWMD file number or any other SFWMD identification number, if known.
The name, address, any email address, any facsimile number, and telephone number of the petitioner and petitioners representative, if any.
An  explanation  of  how  the  petitioners  substantial  interests  will  be  affected  by  the  agency determination.
A statement of when and how the petitioner received notice of the SFWMDs decision.
A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate.
A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the SFWMDs proposed action.
A statement of the specific rules or statutes the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the SFWMDs proposed action.
If disputed issues of material fact exist, the statement must also include an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes.
A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action the petitioner wishes the SFWMD to take with respect to the SFWMDs proposed action.
MEDIATION
The procedures for pursuing mediation are set forth in Section 120.573, Fla. Stat., and Rules 28-106.111 and 28-106.401.405, Fla. Admin. Code.  The SFWMD is not proposing mediation for this agency action under Section 120.573, Fla. Stat., at this time.
RIGHT TO SEEK JUDICIAL REVIEW
Pursuant to Section 120.68, Fla. Stat., and in accordance with Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.110, a party who is adversely affected by final SFWMD action may seek judicial review of the SFWMD's final decision by filing a notice of appeal with the Office of the District Clerk of the SFWMD in accordance with the filing instructions set forth herein within 30 days of rendition of the order to be reviewed, and by filing a copy of the notice with the clerk of the appropriate district court of appeal.
40252 LON 4/15/2026