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Explore the deepest wildlands of a Florida blackwater cypress swamp, or float down the crystal clear waters of a pristine spring-fed stream. District lands preserve hundreds of miles of pristine shoreline along many of the beautiful rivers and lakes in the region. Whether it is a great blue heron stalking its prey, an alligator sunning on a log or a deer getting a drink from the cool, clear waters of a spring-fed river, there are endless opportunities to view wildlife in… Read more

What springs are located within our District? There are more than 200 springs within the District. There are five first-magnitude spring groups in the District. First-magnitude springs, which are the largest springs by volume of water discharged, release 64.6 million gallons per day or more. The five springs are: Rainbow River, Crystal River/Kings Bay, Homosassa River, Chassahowitzka River and Weeki Wachee River. Together, they discharge more than one… Read more

What is the Weeki Wachee Carrying Capacity Study? The Weeki Wachee Carrying Capacity Study is an ecologically-based study of the Weeki Wachee River in Hernando County. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of recreational use on the natural systems of the river, as its growing popularity and increased visitor traffic have led to concerns about potential degradation of the river and its ecosystems. Who conducted the study? Third-party consultant Wood… Read more

An Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) is required before beginning any construction activity that would affect wetlands, alter surface water flows, or contribute to water pollution.Environmental Resource PermitsAs authorized by Part IV of… Read more

Where possible, launch facilities are provided for boaters on District lands. There are many recreational opportunities available on water bodies throughout the District including boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. All visitors taking part in water sports should keep safety first. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulates… Read more

As director of the Regulation Division, Alba Más oversees all District regulatory programs including water use, well construction and environmental resource permitting. This includes all related compliance and enforcement activities. Más also oversees the District’s water shortage and year-round water conservation programs.Prior to becoming division director, Más served for 14… Read more

Water supply refers to the source and process of providing water to different users. The “source” refers to where the water comes from. Sources of natural fresh water may include groundwater or surface waters, such as lakes, rivers, ponds or streams. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, surface water was the largest source of fresh water in Florida until 1980. After 1980, groundwater became… Read more

Your Questions Answered February 2019 Q:  Is there a rainy season and dry season in central Florida? A:  Yes, rainfall is seasonal. Our rainy season is a four-month period from June through September, with average rainfall of about 7.8 inches each month. About 60 percent of our average annual rainfall is received during that time. The higher rainfall results in rising water levels in wells, lakes, rivers and springs… Read more

Following the Seminole Wars, the Peace River Valley remained a sparsely settled wilderness, dotted with small farms, citrus groves and cattle ranches. Agriculture was forever changed with the discovery that phosphorus promotes plant growth. Phosphorus is a nonrenewable resource. Phosphate minerals formed millions of years ago when Florida was underwater. It is believed it formed when skeletal remains of animals, organic matter and dissolved phosphorus in seawater… Read more

Welcome to the WaterMatters Blog. This blog is a chronicle of news, issues and events happening at the Southwest Florida Water Management District.  Read more

The District and the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) recently issued a joint response to concerns expressed by regulated interests regarding implementation of these permitting criteria. This response is summarized below:

• The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), following the direction of the Department of Environmental Protection (Department), has informed permit applicants that stormwater discharges contributing to…

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Some of the cities and towns located in the Springs Coast Watershed include Brooksville, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Homosassa, New Port Richey and Spring Hill. The trademarks of this watershed are the many springs that discharge to form rivers, the extensive coastal swamps and salt marshes, high pine woodlands and lakes.There are more than 200 documented springs that occur throughout the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District). Five of these have a discharge of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not have fertilizer restrictions, but many counties and municipalities do. Check with your local government to learn if there are mandatory fertilizer restrictions or few the list below. A fertilizer blackout is a time when using fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus are prohibited, usually during the rainy season. Heavy rain can wash fertilizers, especially granular ones, from lawns to streets,… Read more

As director of the Resource Management Division, Jennette Seachrist oversees the bureaus that plan, develop and implement District water resource management initiatives concerning water supply, flood protection, natural systems and water quality. The initiatives include water supply planning and development of alternative water supplies, such as conservation… Read more

 KarstMuch of Florida’s landscape is composed of “karst” landforms. Karst terrain is a land surface produced when bedrock — mostly limestone in Florida — dissolves slowly over time as acidic rainwater passes through it. Karst terrain provides a direct connection between surface waters and groundwater and is characterized by springs, sinkholes and caverns.Springs Springs are a common feature of karst topography. They also serve as key tributaries of the… Read more

From June through November, we live nervously here in Florida. Why? Energy and water from the tropics can venture toward the southeastern U.S. in gigantic, spinning storms we call “hurricanes.” Hurricanes begin when a storm develops over warm surface waters. As warm air rises in the center of the storm, it creates an upward current of air, called an updraft. The surrounding air is attracted to the storm’s center, where it rises and causes the pressure to drop. The… Read more

Fresh water from the Peace River watershed is essential to the health of the Charlotte Harbor, the second largest estuary in Florida. The watersheds of the Myakka and Caloosahatchee rivers also feed into the harbor. An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams flows into the ocean. The Charlotte Harbor estuary is 30 miles long by seven miles wide and boasts 219 miles of shoreline.… Read more

Natural Communities The Withlacoochee River watershed is comprised of a variety of natural communities, which form an extensive and diverse ecosystem. As the river begins in the Green Swamp, there are river floodplain forests, cypress domes, pine flatwoods and sandhills. The middle watershed contains extensive lake systems and marshes. Salt marsh is found as the river empties into the Withlacoochee Bay near Yankeetown. The watershed’s diverse ecosystem supports nearly… Read more

 Feral Hog Hunts2024–2025 Feral Hog Hunts information is now available.Learn about obtaining permits for the 2024–2025 hog hunts on District lands. Registration starts October 1. If you plan on applying for a permit, add WaterMatters.org/HogHunts to your browser’s favorites or bookmarks.… Read more