Is There Enough Water in Florida’s Future? Will it be safe to drink? Who should have access to it?

These and other questions will be discussed at an open symposium Monday, March 11, at the University of Central Florida as speakers from government, industry and the environmental community gather for the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government’s symposium “Water and Florida’s Future.”

The free event, “Water and Florida’s Future,” will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union.

Several sessions will be held during the day following opening remarks by former U.S. Rep. Lou Frey, who represented Central Florida in Congress from 1969 to 1979, and Michael Johnson, dean of the College of Sciences.

The opening keynote speaker is Cynthia Barnett, journalist and author of Blue Revolution:  Unmaking America’s Water Crisis and Mirage:  Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.

Other topics during the symposium are about water availability, quality, how to manage the state’s supply, and a 3:30 p.m. roundtable discussion lead by Frey about Florida’s water status.

Frey, who founded the institute at UCF, is the recipient of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress’ Distinguished Service Award for improving civic education and encouraging young people to be involved in government.

The Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government is a nonpartisan organization affiliated with the UCF Department of Political Science that promotes civic education and engagement. The institute’s programs encourage discussion of issues from diverse viewpoints, stimulate participation in the political process and support research on politics and policy.

For details and a full schedule for the symposium, visit www.loufrey.org. A live webstream also is available on the website.

Cosponsors of the symposium are Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor and Reed, the George L. MacKay Trust, James Mahaffey, James F. Heekin, Art Tait, Venture Association Corp., the Bryce L. West Foundation, Westcor Land Title Insurance Co., and the UCF Department of Political Science.