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Valenstein did not give a reason for his departure. He will be replaced by Shawn Hamilton, the state Department of Environmental Protection s deputy secretary for land and recreation.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein is exiting next week after running the agency for four years under two governors.
Shawn Hamilton, currently the state agency’s deputy secretary for land and recreation, will become Florida’s interim environmental secretary on June 4, the department confirmed on Thursday.
Hamilton has been with the Department of Environmental Protection since 2007, starting as a public affairs manager in the agency’s Northwest District Office and moving to assistant district director in 2010 and district director in 2011. Hamilton was promoted to the deputy director position last year.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce Lake Okeechobee releases
WFTX
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has released a Lake Management Plan survey for Lake Okeechobee and urges stakeholders to get involved by filling it out.
By: WFTX Digital Team
and last updated 2021-05-28 15:15:28-04
WFTX â The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District will reduce Lake Okeechobee releases at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) from the current weekly average of 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 1,000 cfs beginning May 29.
The St. Lucie Lock and Dam (S-80) remains closed and USACE continues to manage the C-44 canal levels at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308). As long as the lake remains below 14 feet, excess canal water can flow into the lake rather than through the S-80, although locally heavy rainfall may still require S-80 to open.
Florida environmental secretary resigns
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STATEWIDE – Noah Valenstein is resigning as secretary of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, effective June 4.
What You Need To Know
Noah Valenstein resigns as head of Florida s Department of Environmental Protection
He had served in the role since 2017, also under Gov. Rick Scott, now a U.S. senator
Valenstein says he looks forward to continuing to serve in the environmental community
Shawn Hamilton, deputy secretary for the Division of Land and Recreation, reportedly will become interim secretary.
Valenstein has spent much of the past several weeks working on and answering questions about Manatee County’s Piney Point, from where millions of gallons of untreated water were released near Port Manatee early last month. A few weeks later, Florida lawmakers approved $100 million to clean up and close the facility.