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With more than 70 springs, Crystal River/Kings Bay is the largest natural winter refuge for manatees on the Florida Gulf Coast. About the SpringsCrystal River/Kings Bay is a first-magnitude spring system that originates in Citrus County. Kings Bay is a 600-acre bay at the headwaters of the Crystal River, which is a…
Florida law requires establishment of minimum flows and levels of water bodies to prevent significant harm associated with water withdrawals.Program overviewFlorida law (Chapter 373.042, Florida Statutes) requires the state water management…
Wetlands »
Your Questions Answered
November 2019
We often receive questions from the public about wetlands and why they are important. Tasha Dailey is certified as a Professional Wetland Scientist by the Society of Wetland Scientists and explains why wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment.
Q: What is a wetland?
A: A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where…
Highlights
- The lower half of the river is part of the more than 31,000-acre Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
- Designated an Outstanding Florida Water
- Located in Citrus County
- 190-square-mile springshed
- Ecological shifts in the river caused by sea level rise, coupled with the decline of spring discharge primarily due to a long-term decrease in…
Interactive Map Gallery
The District’s new map gallery contains dynamic, interactive maps created by District staff. This gallery contains general purpose and District-specific maps. VIEW MAP GALLERY »
Aerial Photography
The District provides an extensive collection of digital aerial photos (DOQQ: Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangle) …
Your Questions Answered
July 2020
Every year, millions of people visit public conservation lands purchased by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources. Ellen Morgan Morrison, the District’s Operations and Land Management Assistant Bureau Chief explains more about District owned and managed lands and how the public can enjoy these properties.
Q: Why does…
To help achieve its mission, the District promotes behaviors that conserve and protect water resources. Social research can provide information that helps staff design programs that more effectively lead to sustainable behaviors.Not only can social research be used for designing more effective programs, but it can also be used for evaluating those programs. A survey conducted before an educational campaign, for instance, can set a benchmark for what people know, believe and…
Residents asked to conserve by following their local watering restrictions and checking their irrigation systems and timersThe Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board voted today to declare a Phase I Water Shortage due to dry conditions throughout the region. The restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of…
Your Questions AnsweredMarch 2019Q: What are stormwater ponds and why do we need them?A: A stormwater pond is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground (stormwater runoff) flows into your neighborhood stormwater pond through grates, pipes, shallow swales or ditches.…
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
- Update nutrient reduction goals for each bay segment using a revised seagrass-nutrient management paradigm…
Highlights
- Charlotte Harbor is Florida's second largest open water estuary at 270 square miles
- Generally considered one of the most productive estuarine ecosystems in southwest Florida
- Designated an "Estuary of National Significance" in 1995
- Includes Charlotte, Lee, and a portion of Sarasota County
- 4,400-square-mile watershed
- Alteration and…
Highlights
- Homosassa Springs is the headwaters of the Homosassa River and is known as the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park
- The park serves as a rehabilitation center and refuge for orphaned or injured manatees.
- Located in Citrus County
- 270-square-mile springshed
Highlights
- Home to the fourth largest spring in the state of Florida, Rainbow Springs
- Discharges an average of 493 million gallons of water per day into the Withlacoochee River
- Designated an Outstanding Florida Water and an Aquatic Preserve
- Located in Marion and Citrus counties
- 73-square-mile watershed
August 2024Q: What are stormwater ponds and why do we need them?A: A stormwater pond is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground (stormwater runoff) flows into your neighborhood stormwater pond through grates, pipes, shallow swales or ditches. Stormwater ponds are required for…
Highlights
- Lake Tarpon is the largest freshwater lake in the Tampa Bay area
- 2,534 acres of surface area
- Designated an Outstanding Florida Water and a Fish Management Area
- Located in Pinellas County
- 52-square-mile watershed
- Decline in water quality due to highly urbanized watershed inputs
- Imbalanced fish communities
- Increased…
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board declared April Water Conservation Month at its March meeting. April is historically one of the driest months of the year and typically marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers. The District also recently launched the Water 101 campaign to educate new and existing residents as well as communities about how they can help protect local water resources and save water and money.The…
April is Water Conservation Month. This month is traditionally one of the driest of the year and marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers.
The District especially encourages conservation throughout April on top of year-round conservation. District residents can participate by being mindful of water use in their everyday household activities.
Here are some tips on saving water indoors:
- Use the home’s water meter to check…
Outdoor water use typically accounts for up to 50 percent of water consumed by households. You can reduce your outdoor water consumption by taking a few simple steps.
While the District advocates water conservation year-round, an extra effort is being made to promote conservation throughout April. Governments and water management districts throughout the state have declared April Water Conservation Month because April is traditionally one of the driest months of the…