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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offers this page as a means of providing our partners and cooperators our logotype and seal.We’ve organized files based on the file formats typically preferred by home/office software and professional graphics software. Please contact our webmaster for…

To conserve water means to use it wisely and to not be wasteful. Conserving water is a very important part of making sure there is enough water to meet the needs of humans and the environment. And even though we might have enough fresh water available to meet our needs today, we also need to plan for the future. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), along with other local governments and organizations, are responsible for managing…

  Highlights

• Designated an “Estuary of National Significance” in 1990
• Florida’s largest open-water estuary at 373 square miles
• Over 2.7 million residents in the watershed
• Includes portions of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties
• 2,200-square-mile watershed

GoalsWater Quality Goals

• Update nutrient reduction goals for each bay segment using a revised seagrass-nutrient management paradigm…

To improve accuracy, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has upgraded the datum used to record water level elevation.  The District has upgraded the datum, or starting point, used to record water level elevation at its data collection sites. Water elevation is measured in feet above mean sea level. The datum was upgraded from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88…

 Sometime in the early 1500s — an unknown Spanish cartographer was updating a map of the New World. He sketched a meandering river in a previously uncharted region. Like all cartography, it was part accurate representation, part educated guess. Perhaps out of wishful thinking, he decided to call it Rio de la Paz, or the “Peace River.”To the Seminole Indians, who settled on its banks two centuries later, it was Tallackchopo, “The River of Long…

Aquifers are underground layers of rock and sand that hold water. These layers are made up of loosely packed sediments and layers of calcium-rich limestone and dolomite. In Florida, most of the population depends on the Floridan aquifer for their drinking water. The Floridan aquifer, which is the largest and deepest aquifer in the state, holds groundwater like a sponge. Holes in the rock that make up the aquifer allow the water to move freely through it. Aquifers are…

Project Overview An ecologically-based study was completed to evaluate how recreational use affects natural systems along the Weeki Wachee River in Hernando County, Florida. The study, known as a carrying capacity study, is intended to provide information to assist in making decisions that will better manage impacts of recreational use on this natural system. Background The beauty of the river makes it a popular site for recreational activities. There are…

 A bay is a shallow body of salt water between a larger barrier island and the mainland. A barrier island is a long, narrow sandy island parallel to the shore. Palma Sola Bay is located between the barrier island of Anna Maria and the city of Bradenton.In the 1880s, a fishing village called “Cortez” was formed here and was bustling with fishermen. It's one of the last commercial fishing villages in Florida and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tarpon,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District maintains and operates 84 structures throughout the District’s 16-county region. These structures help provide flood protection, manage lake water levels and prevent salt water from flowing up freshwater streams and creeks.           

Join us in the community effort to protect the Weeki Wachee River. The Weeki Wachee River is a great place to experience natural Florida. This river flows 7.4 miles from the headspring to where it meets the Gulf of America at Bayport in Hernando County. It’s a popular spot for kayaking and boating. But increased recreational activities have had negative environmental impacts on the river. Here are some ways you can recreate responsibly and…

Both the United States government and Florida have adopted water quality goals and standards. Each water body has its own standards. For example, water used for drinking has to be much cleaner than water used for crop irrigation or to cool machinery in a factory. Scientists use information from water monitoring to determine how a water body rates based on its intended use. If scientists rate water quality as GOOD, then the water can fully support its…

Join us in the community effort to protect Three Sisters Springs.  Three Sisters Springs is great place to experience natural Florida. It is a preferred refuge of wintering manatees during cold temperatures. It’s also a popular spot for humans to swim and kayak. But increased recreational activities have caused negative environmental impacts on the springs.…

Join us in the community effort to protect the Chassahowitzka River. The Chassahowitzka River is a great place to experience natural Florida. The river flows 5.6 miles from the headsprings to where it meets the Gulf of America at Chassahowitzka Bay in Citrus County. It’s a popular spot for kayaking and boating. But increased recreational activities have had negative…

 The Floridan Aquifer System: A Vital Water SourceDid you know that the Floridan aquifer system stretches over 100,000 square miles and reaches into parts of Alabama, Georgia, and even South Carolina? The upper Floridan aquifer contains about one-fifth the amount of water in all the Great Lakes and is the main source of drinking water for northern and central Florida.What is an Aquifer?An aquifer is an underground layer of rock or…

OverviewApplicants will be asked to break this down in more detail in the application. Students will learn about local freshwater ecosystems in west-central Florida, with a focus on our magnificent springs. After an introductory lesson on habitats and ecosystems, students will dive deeper to learn about springs, the wildlife they support and their connection to the aquifer below. As part of their exploration, students will complete the…

Join our dedicated staff and make working for our water resources your life’s work too!When you choose a career at the District, you’re joining a team that supports a vital mission to protect Florida’s water resources while working in a supportive culture and receiving extensive benefits. Our employees take pride in their work and receive the necessary resources to make them a success. Staff have access to numerous opportunities to grow and excel. And the caliber of…

The purpose of the Agricultural and Green Industry Advisory Committee (AGIAC) is to provide professional and technical input into District programs and activities.  This includes regulatory programs, rule revisions, water conservation activities, water resource planning, water resource and supply development projects, research and other water resource management projects that relate to the agricultural and green industries. Subject matter considered by the…

The District is scheduled to adopt new minimum levels for Lake Angelo and Lake Denton, located in northern Highlands County.MFL OverviewThe District is directed by the Florida Legislature to establish minimum flows and levels (MFL) for water bodies within its boundaries. Minimum levels are…

What are MFLs?“MFLs” is short for minimum flows and minimum water levels. Minimum flows are set for rivers, streams, estuaries, and springs, while minimum water levels are established for lakes, wetlands, and aquifers. In short, an MFL sets a limit on how much water can be withdrawn from a water resource to prevent significant harm occurring to the water resources or the ecology of the area.Why does the Southwest Florida Water Management District set MFLs?Florida law (…