About Dan Pennington
For the last decade Dan has worked for a not-for-profit organization, 1000 Friends of Florida. He is currently the project manager for several projects including developing a Florida-based document on Wildlife Habitat Planning Strategies, Design Features and Best Management Practices for Florida Communities and also for the Florida Panhandle Initiative which works to improve local and regional land use decisions. Dan also works extensively on springs and karst areas protection issues including development of the manual entitled, "Protecting Florida's Springs - Land Use Planning Strategies and Best Management Practices" and recently as the project coordinator and editor for the report entitled, "Degradation of Water Quality at Wakulla Springs, Florida, Assessment and Recommendations - Report of the Peer Review Committee on the Workshop - Solving Water Pollution Problems in the Wakulla Springshed of North Florida". Previously, Dan was project manager for the Waterfronts Florida Program at 1000 Friends. This effort focused on revitalizing smaller, economically depressed waterfront communities through educating local citizens on environmental and cultural resource protection, hazard mitigation, economy and public access.
Dan received his Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University with specializations in growth management and environmental planning. Prior to joining 1000 Friends, he worked for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from 1984 to 1997. Responsibilities included the review of local government comprehensive plans and amendments, groundwater protection, federal projects, developments of regional impact and regional policy plans. He also managed special projects such as local greenway development, military base closure planning and ecosystem management efforts within the Green Swamp and other environmentally sensitive areas and served as editor the Environmental Exchange Point, a newsletter addressing natural resource protection, infrastructure planning and other land and water quality and management issues.