Issue papers
- Cooperative Funding
- Comprehensive Watershed Management
- Exotic Species Management
- Flood Protection
- Funding Water Resources Protection
- Minimum Flows and Levels
- Mitigation
- Partnership Agreement
- Permitting
- Protecting Lands and Providing Public Uses
- Responsibilities
- Sinkholes
- Springs — A Unique Resource
- A Sustainable Water Supply
A watershed is the geographic area from which water in a particular stream, lake or estuary originates. All lands in the watershed drain toward the stream, lake or bay.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Comprehensive Watershed Management (CWM) program manages water resources by evaluating how various systems and activities interconnect within each watershed. For purposes of the CWM program, the District has divided itself into 11 major watersheds.
The comprehensive watershed management approach improves the District’s ability to analyze the impacts of land use activities on water resources. As changes in land use occur, the function, quality and quantity of water resources in the watershed can change. Many activities alter the environment, placing stress on the natural resources. Depending upon the extent of the alteration, the result can be the degradation of water quality, flooding, and/or loss of habitat, water supply or recharge areas.
For example, poor water quality can be attributed to stormwater runoff from developed areas, waste disposal areas, construction runoff, changes to drainage systems, as well as runoff from rangeland and dairy operations. Water runoff from these sources may contain pollutants that reduce the quality of receiving waters within the watershed. Loss of natural areas due to development can also reduce watershed function and promote loss of wildlife habitat.
CWM brings together land and water resource planning to achieve a coordinated approach to watershed management through working teams using a science-based approach, including the application of Geographic Information System technology and other modeling tools within each watershed. The ongoing program joins District staff with representatives from local governments and other interested organizations and citizens to develop plans to identify watershed improvements and protection. The process provides a continuing review of the needs for each watershed. There are four primary goals for the CWM program: to identify and prioritize existing and potential water resource issues within the District; develop strategies for remedial or protective actions to address those issues; to implement the strategies; and to monitor their effectiveness.
Each watershed has an associated watershed management plan. A number of important benefits may be realized from this approach. First, by focusing on smaller areas of the District, problems and solutions can be addressed within the constraints of limited funds. Second, an interconnected watershed approach is more compatible with basic ecological principles. Evaluating relationships between activities and natural systems provides more effective water resource assessments and management actions. Third, by clearly defining long-term goals, the CWM plans will increase consistency in management planning and implementation.
The CWM initiative, as with all District activities, is consistent with the District’s mission to manage and protect water and related natural resources. The District’s mission has been subdivided into four areas of responsibility (AORs). Governing Board-approved goals have been developed to establish the long-term direction of programs and activities that address water resources issues. The four areas of responsibility and their respective goals are as follows:
Water Supply
Ensure an adequate supply of the water resources for all existing and future reasonable and beneficial uses, while protecting and maintaining water and related natural systems.
Flood Protection
Minimize the potential for damage from floods by protecting and restoring the natural water storage and conveyance functions of flood-prone areas giving preference wherever possible to non-structural surface water management methods.
Water Quality
Protect water quality by preventing further degradation of the water resources and enhancing water quality where appropriate.
Natural Systems
Protect, preserve and restore natural Florida systems to their natural hydrologic and ecologic functions.
The AORs have been agreed upon by all five water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). They form the outline of the District Water Management Plan that, in turn, guide the state’s Florida Water Plan. The Plan identifies the issues that led to the creation of the CWM program. CWM will result in establishment of watershed management plans that address all four areas of responsibility in a comprehensive and integrated manner.
The CWM plans will be used by the District Governing Board and Basin Boards to identify essential watershed needs, prioritize project funding and determine policy. The process will lead to greater consistency in management planning and implementation. The CWM legacy will be adequate water supplies for human needs, appropriate flood protection, and sound management of water quality and natural systems.
May 2005
