30th Anniversary

Accomplishments Timeline

1993	The Association formed as the Florida Association of Stormwater Utilities (FASU). A group of city and county members met in Orlando and decided to start an association to have a collective voice for the stormwater community offering education and providing resources to stormwater professionals. Founding members, along with a grant from the FDEP, provided the necessary funding to start the Association.
1994	FASU published its first newsletter to share stormwater specific news to professionals across the state.
1995	FASU held its first statewide Conference and published the results of its first Survey of Stormwater Utilities creating the baseline of stormwater utility information across the state.
1996	FASU launched its website and membership passed 100 organizations for the first time.
1998	FASU worked to amend the law to let stormwater projects use the State Revolving Fund providing additional funding opportunities for stormwater programs. That same year FASU also published the first manual on Establishing a Stormwater Utility in Florida that is now in its third edition. This document provided step by step guidance on how to create a stormwater utility, a funding mechanism to grow and support stormwater departments/programs across the state.
1999	FASU helped pass the Florida Watershed Restoration Act also known as the "TMDL listing law." This law identified methods that the FDEP would use to develop and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).
2001	FASU changed its name to the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA). As stormwater evolved there was a need to broaden the Association's scope from "utilities" to all things stormwater.
2002	FSA joined the City of Gainesville in a successful appeal to the Supreme Court on the validity of stormwater utility fees.
2003	The FSA Educational Foundation (FSAEF) was created to assist in expanding and improving education, training, and research for the stormwater management profession. The FSAEF does this by providing scholarships, conducting research and developing tools that save members time and money.
2004	FSA and FDEP published a TMDL Implementation Manual and traveled around the state providing educational workshops to stormwater professionals and public officials.
2005	FSA helped write and pass legislation (SB 444) implementing Florida’s TMDL program that provided over $120 million in funding for water projects.
2007	The FSA Fogarty Training Center was formed in 2005 with Stormwater Operator Certification courses beginning in 2007. This was the first consistent statewide certification training program for stormwater operators.
2009	FSA was the first association of local governments to intervene in the original federal litigation concerning Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) for the State of Florida.
2011	FSA's first MS4 Assessment Project was completed. The results were incorporated into the “FSA MS4 Load Reduction Assessment Tool,” recognized by FDEP. The Tool calculates the nutrient content of sediment removed during common maintenance activities. Those results are reported by MS4 permit holders to FDEP and load reduction credits are given to the jurisdiction during the BMAP process.
2013	FSA helped pass the Numeric Nutrient Criteria Implementation legislation.
2015	FSA led Waters of the United States (WOTUS) litigation on behalf of local government interests nationwide.
2019	FSA launched its Conference App to use at education events to support sustainable initiatives.
2020	The Florida legislature passed SB 712, the Clean Waterways Act, requiring FDEP and the Water Management Districts (WMDs) to initiate rulemaking to update the statewide stormwater design criteria. FSA represented your interests throughout the process, advocating a rule that protects Florida's surface and groundwater systems.
2022	FSA announced it's first volunteer award recognizing the efforts and dedication of our outstanding volunteers, naming it after the late Jim Hunt with the City of Orlando.
2023	FSA celebrates 30 Years of Leadership in Stormwater Management.

Thank You to FSA's Past Presidents (showing employer during Presidency term)

1993-95 - John Buss, City of Tallahassee
1995-96 - Dorian Valdes, Metro-Dade County
1996-97 - J. Emery Swearingen, City of Gainesville
1997-98 - William G. Chamberlain II, City of Orlando
1998 - Andrew Austin, City of Hialeah
1998-00 - Patrick Collins, City of Venice
2000-01 - Joanie Regan, City of Cocoa Beach
2001-02 - Scott McClelland, CDM
2002-03 - Mary Anne Connors, Volusia County
2003-04 - Keith Fogarty, City of Dunedin
2004-05 - Stephen Lienhart, URS Corporation
2005-06 - Sam Amerson, City of Stuart
2006-07 - Blas Gomez, City of Tallahassee
2007-08 - Chuck Walter, City of Tampa
2008-09 - Blake Guillory, Brown and Caldwell
2009-10 - Kim Ornberg, Seminole County
2010-11 - Michael Bateman, NWFWMD
2011-12 - Theresa Connor, Sarasota County
2012-13 - Brett Cunningham, Jones Edmunds and Associates
2013-14 - Jim Hunt, City of Orlando
2014-15 - L. Derrik Owens, City of Pensacola
2015-16 - Virginia Barker, Brevard County
2016-18 - Tiffany Busby, Wildwood Consulting
2018-19 - Judy Grim, Volusia County
2019-21 - Kelli Hammer Levy, Pinellas County
2021-22 - Elliot Shoberg, City of Clearwater
2022-23 - Elizabeth Perez, Collective Water Resources