This panel provides practical and legal insights into managing public hearings before local governments from both the private party and local government perspectives. It specifically addresses issues arising in connection with public hearings and how to deal with denials by and challenges to local government decisions. This presentation will focus on strategic matters, provide useful tips, examine new and developing legal issues, and address technical issues. Attendee participation will be encouraged.
John focuses his practice on complex environmental and land use matters. He advises developers, utilities, and other clients on virtually all aspects of development, from initial permitting and entitlement strategy, contamination assessment and remediation, through government approvals... Read More →
Mr. Melchiori brings over 30 years’ experience in land acquisition, entitlement, permitting, design, and construction of industrial, commercial, and highly amenitized residential and mixed use projects. Early in his career, he founded an architectural and engineering firm and through... Read More →
Land Use, Zoning, Real Estate Development, Areas of Critical State Concern, Developer-Side HOA and Condo Issues, Construction and Lending Due Diligence, Fiction, Film, Greyhounds.
Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30am - 10:10am EDT Calusa 11
This course will give you the latest information on water quality BMPs, water use and reuse on agricultural lands, and other policy changes resulting from the Legislative Session and implementation by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including adoption of new BMP Manuals. Come hear from West Gregory, the Water Policy Director, and a panel of water policy experts on the latest updates affecting agriculture and Florida’s water resources.
Executive Director, Suwannee River Water Management District
Hugh Thomas began working with the Suwannee River Water Management District in August 2016 in the Agriculture and Environmental Project Division as a Project Manager. In July 2017, he was appointed by the Governing Board as Executive Director of District.
Prior to working with the District, Hugh was employed with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agriculture Water Policy as Environmental Administrator for North Florida. Hugh worked for FDACS for 14 years and prior to that worked as an enviro... Read More →
Florida’s water leaders each play a critical role in shaping policy, permitting, funding, and implementation. Yet even with strong leadership, delivering consistent, integrated outcomes across the system remains a challenge. This session brings together perspectives from across that system to explore how alignment can be strengthened to support shared outcomes. Whether you regulate, plan, fund, design, or deliver, your role is essential. Join this conversation to help connect existing efforts, improve coordination, and advance the outcomes Florida’s water future depends on.
Former Florida Park Service director and past President of Florida Audubon. Now helping groups and communities finance water resource protection. Chaired the Fl Wildlife Corridor Payment for Ecosystem Services. Grove Land Reservoir acquisition outreach. Conservation Florida Board... Read More →
Principal Engineer with EcoStasis, LLC. EcoStasis develops nature-based, watershed-scale solutions integrating ecological restoration, infrastructure, finance, and land stewardship to improve water resources and climate resilience.
This course addresses how to delineate a federal wetland using the 1987 Wetland Jurisdictional Manual and 2010 Regional Supplement. If you want to know precisely how a wetland jurisdictional boundary is set at the federal level, and the subtle and not so subtle differences and nuances of Federal wetland methodology, this is your course! The panel will discuss and analyze the application of vegetation, soils and hydrologic indicators in determining presence of federal regulated wetlands; the methodologies used in the various tests; and practical applications. Other federal guidance and tools will be discussed, including the Federal Ordinary High Water Line Manual and the new Delineation Data Form.
Mr. Murawski has 25 years of experience in the environmental consulting field in the areas of wetlands, protected species and land use permitting. He serves as the Program Manager for Tampa Florida office and supervises a team of up 20 employees. Ed has managed projects throughout... Read More →
