Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a bill on water management bill that drew objections from environmentalists and others because it would allow water management district directors to make decisions on large permits without public hearings.

Crist had said earlier that he was leaning toward vetoing the bill because of that provision.

In the message concerning his decision to sign the bill, Crist said he signed it because of other provisions he considered beneficial. He said he will ask that water management district directors and boards continue to include the large permits on their public meeting agendas even though they aren’t required to.

He also said he expects to work with the Legislature further on the subject of water management in the future.

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