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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

The Governing Board has the statutory authority to issue emergency and non-emergency orders to apprise the public of the need to protect water supplies for: public health, safety and welfare; health of animals or aquatic life; a public water supply; or other reasonable uses.The executive director has the statutory authority to issue emergency orders when immediate action is necessary. Emergency orders are subsequently presented to the… Read more

Michelle Hopkins is a water resources engineer with more than 30 years of experience in both the private and public sector. As director of the Regulation Division, Hopkins oversees the District’s permitting and compliance sections that support the Environmental Resource Permit, Water Use Permit and Well Construction Permit programs. She is also responsible for overseeing the… Read more

There aren’t many big predators walking around in Florida. Wolves are gone, bears are rare and panthers are nearly extinct. But in the water, it’s different. Florida’s fresh water has alligators and crocodiles — big toothy reptiles. In the ocean there are sharks — big toothy fish. Of course, hardly anyone gets bitten by gators or sharks, but it happens enough to make us all a bit nervous. It’s great to be able to share the state with animals that have been living here… Read more

Most people can only imagine what an aquifer is, since the water lies hidden underground. Here in Florida, you can visit an aquifer! How do you visit an underground water supply? Grab some scuba gear and go cave diving in Florida’s springs. Of course, it’s not that simple. Cave diving requires expensive equipment, plenty of knowledge and special skills. Even then it can be dangerous.… Read more

 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,… Read more

This project restored shoreline habitat to improve water quality in Kings Bay. Project Overview The District restored the shoreline around Hunter Springs Park. The City of Crystal River has integrated this District project into the redesign of the park.  The restored shoreline will benefit the Crystal River/Kings Bay spring system by creating habitat and improving water quality through reducing erosion and nutrients entering Kings Bay. Background… Read more

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTIN RE:EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FORREPAIRS, REPLACEMENT,RESTORATION, AND CERTAINOTHER MEASURES MADE NECESSARYBY TOPICAL DEPRESSION 4_____________________________________EMERGENCY ORDER NO. SWF 24-022Under the authority of Sections 120.569(2)(n), 252.36, 252.46, and 373.119(2),Florida Statutes (“F.S.”), and upon consideration of State of Florida Executive Order No. 24-156, and the following findings of fact, the… Read more

The District preserves hundreds of miles of freshwater shoreline along many of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in the region.Fishing is allowed along the banks of District water bodies and by boat unless an area is posted closed to fishing. All fishing on District lands is subject to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission license requirements and regulations.How to contact… Read more

The District is scheduled to adopt minimum flows for the Little Manatee River. Minimum flows are established to help protect the system from significant harm caused by ground and surface water withdrawals.OverviewMinimum flows and levels (MFLs) are limits established by the District’s Governing Board for surface waters and groundwater that are intended to prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area that may be caused by water withdrawals. The… Read more

This project enhanced 315 acres of wetlands and uplands within the Tampa Bay watershed.Project Information 

• Sawgrass Lake Park is more than 300 acres and is located in Pinellas County.
• The property is owned by the District and managed by Pinellas County.
• The lake and wetland system on the property provide flood protection and natural water treatment to enhance the quality of water draining into Tampa Bay.
• Nonnative and invasive vegetation…

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The purpose of the Green Industry Advisory Committee (GIAC) 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 Green Industry. Subject matter considered by the GIAC shall relate to the statutory duties and… Read more

Brian Armstrong was appointed as the executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District in June 2016.Armstrong had previously served as the District’s assistant executive director where he provided daily oversight of three Divisions and more than 400 staff. As the assistant executive director, Armstrong introduced Six Sigma principles to the District creating a program to successfully reduce waste and unnecessary processes, saving money and time;… Read more

The District emphasizes scientific and technical excellence along with providing high quality service to the residents of our region. For the past 60 years, the District’s greatest asset has been our staff who have dedicated their professional careers to meeting the District’s mission of protecting water resources, minimizing flood risks, and ensuring the publics water needs are met. District functions are organized into divisions, but staff use extensive teamwork and… Read more

The District encourages water conservation by partnering with local governments and utilities to provide landscape and irrigation efficiency programs. A certified irrigation professional will evaluate your landscape or irrigation system and provide a list of recommendations to improve efficiency. To find out more information, please contact one of the following participating programs in your area. City of St. Petersburg (727) 892-5688 … Read more

Part of being a water superhero means fighting off the villains that threaten our water resources. That includes invasive plants that creep in and take over natural water habitats. What Makes a Plant Invasive? Invasive plants are non-native species that have been brought to Florida from around the world. Some non-native plants are harmless, but others can reproduce and spread rapidly, pushing out native plants and wildlife. When non-native plants… Read more

The initiative was designed to better understand the dynamics of the river and watershed, identify how alterations have affected the system, and evaluate alternatives to better manage the water resources. STATUS UPDATE: A peer review of the Withlacoochee River Model was completed in 2020. This peer review concluded that the model results and conclusions are accurate and can be relied upon for resource management and understanding of this complex river… Read more

Blackwater streams and rivers originate in swampy areas and get their names because the water that flows through them is stained dark brown, like the color of tea, by organic acids. This staining gives the appearance of "black" water. Some examples of blackwater rivers in the District include the Hillsborough, Withlacoochee and Pithlachascotee rivers. Some of the animals you will find in blackwater streams and rivers include alligators, river otters, bluegills, snapping… Read more

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