Michael J. Collins was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board in 1999. He spent a total of 11 years serving as a Governing Board Member and served as Board Chairman when the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) was authorized by Congress in 2000. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly on October 13, 2021 in Lake Nottely, Georgia.