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Rainbow River »
 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
ChallengesThe main challenge facing Rainbow River is the rapid growth experienced within its watershed. This growth is… Read more
Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) »
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… Read more
Crystal River/Kings Bay »
 Highlights
  • Tidally influenced Kings Bay is the headwater of Crystal River
  • Hydrologically unique springs system comprised of more than 30 springs
  • Designated an Outstanding Florida Water
  • Located in Citrus County
  • 364-square-mile watershed
  • Kings Bay forms the largest, natural warm-water refuge for the Florida Manatee in the United States.
ChallengesTwo main challenges exist in the Crystal River/Kings Bay watershed:… Read more
Rock Ponds Ecosystem Restoration Project »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with Hillsborough County, completed the largest habitat restoration project ever done in the history of Tampa Bay.Project BackgroundSince 2009, the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program has been working to design and construct the largest coastal restoration project ever performed for Tampa Bay. This project is a cooperative effort between SWIM and the Hillsborough County… Read more
Daily Hydrologic Data »
Daily Rainfall UpdateThe rainfall data below provide a summary of daily and month-to-date rainfall totals at 125 locations in the District. The Rainfall Data Collection Sites map shows the locations of the measurement stations and the Daily Rainfall Data chart shows rainfall accumulations in inches. (Click any image to view full size.) … Read more
AGMOD for Windows »
AGMOD is a computer program used in our water use permitting process to calculate supplemental irrigation, crop establishment, cold protection and other irrigation water uses. The program is our main tool for allocating agricultural and recreational irrigation quantities. In addition, AGMOD has been used in the 30-year Needs and Sources Study, Water Resources Assessment Project (WRAP), District Regional Water Supply Plan, and as an alternative method for estimating annual… Read more
Lake Panasoffkee »
 Highlights
  • Lake Panasoffkee is the third largest lake (4,820 acres) in west central Florida
  • Designated an Outstanding Florida Water
  • Located in Sumter County
ChallengesThe main challenges facing Lake Panosoffkee stem from substantial groundwater input from the Floridan aquifer. This input has created:
  • Loss of lake area due to sedimentation
  • Loss of desirable habitat for fisheries
  • Increased shoreline vegetation and…
Read more
Prescribed Burns – Your Questions Answered »
January 2024Q: What is a prescribed burn?A: A prescribed burn, also known as a prescribed fire, is a fire intentionally ignited by land managers to meet specific land management goals and objectives. The burns follow a written prescription, which outlines the defined fire treatment area, specific weather conditions that are required, the tactics staff will use, and the staffing and equipment resources that are required to safely conduct the… Read more
Regional Observation and Monitor-well Program (ROMP) »
The ROMP Objectives
  • Provide information about the groundwater systems within the District.
  • Monitor saltwater intrusion along the coast.
  • Identify areas of poor groundwater quality.
  • Install wells for water level and water quality monitoring.
About the Program The majority of the water used within the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) comes from groundwater sources and it is the District’s… Read more
WUP Forms »
WUPs require submittal of an application form that is dependent upon the annual average quantities requested and one or more supplemental forms. Choose the appropriate application form and include the appropriate supplemental form(s). Application Forms To renew or modify or apply for a new water use permit  (Form LEG-R.100.00; Rule 40D-2.101(1) – May 19, 2014) (Form LEG-R.035.02; Rule 40D-2.331(2)(b) – May 19, 2014) To transfer a water use permit… Read more
Winter Haven Chain of Lakes »
 Highlights
  • System of 19 interconnected lakes, made up of two major groups; five in the northern chain and 14 in the southern chain
  • Lakes were interconnected through the construction of canals to promote commerce
  • Located in Polk County
  • 32-square-mile watershed
ChallengesTwo main challenges exist in the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes watershed:
  • Nutrient loading from urban runoff
  • Destruction of natural systems…
Read more
Weeki Wachee River Education Campaign »
Your Questions Answered March 2021During the past year, we’ve come to appreciate the recreational opportunities of natural Florida like never before. The Weeki Wachee River is one of those breath-taking jewels people love to visit. This river flows about 7 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 a recent study found certain recreational activities… Read more
Utility Demographics »
Each year, public supply utilities must estimate the populations within their service area.Utilities also use population projections in the calculation of future water demand for planning and permitting purposes. View the following demographic resources that the District makes available to utilities:Section A to review your utility’s service area map… Read more
Hydrologic Conditions Reports »
The Hydrologic Conditions Report provides an excellent historical record for long-term local and regional hydrologic analysis. The Hydrologic Conditions Report is generated monthly and provides an analytical summary of regional and temporal variations in the hydrologic conditions for planning and regulatory purposes. In addition, it provides an excellent historical record for long-term local and regional hydrologic analysis. Data collected are used by the regulatory,… Read more
Tampa Bay »
  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…
Read more
Vertical Datum Upgrade »
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… Read more
Prescribed Burns »
Your Questions Answered August 2019 Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. Chris Reed, Land Management Manager for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, explains why the District’s prescribed burn efforts are critical to keeping Florida’s ecosystem in balance. Q: What is a… Read more