About the District

Kirby B. Green III

Executive Director

Kirby B. Green III has been the executive director of the St. Johns River Water Management District since July 2001. Since taking the helm of this regional regulatory agency, he has overseen streamlining of permitting processes, updates to regional water supply assessments and plans, and formed partnerships with other agencies and local governments to reach common goals.

In order to ensure a sustainable water supply for today and in the future, Green places an emphasis on the District’s water supply planning process, with a focus on gaining the maximum achievable water conservation to delay the need to develop alternative water supplies. These efforts have included a greater emphasis on District staff working with local governments and utilities to coordinate within the District and with the state’s other water management districts, especially in areas where what actions taken by one district may impact a neighboring district.

Green is a strong believer in basing decisions on sound scientific study and has been the driving force behind a massive study in which the District is currently engaged to determine any potential impacts of withdrawing water from rivers for use as drinking water.

In addition to instilling in his staff a stewardship for the water resources of Florida, Green believes that District employees should be involved in helping to make their communities better places to live. For this reason, he supports their involvement in school and mentoring programs, as well as contributions to and participation in various charities.

Before being named to his District position, Green served 23 years with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Immediately prior to his appointment as the District’s executive director, he served as DEP’s deputy secretary for seven years.

In his role at DEP, Green oversaw management and operation of the agency. He was instrumental in establishing Florida’s Conservation and Recreation Lands program and the nationally recognized Preservation 2000 land acquisition program.

Among his other endeavors, Green has served as an adjunct professor at Tallahassee Community College, was director of the Florida Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Division of Beaches and Shores, and served in leadership roles in several of DNR’s beaches, state lands, and surveying and mapping divisions. His significant accomplishments have included establishment of a comprehensive beach management plan and regulation and management of Florida’s nearly 800 miles of shoreline.