South Florida Water Management District
Encyclopedia
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is a regional governmental agency supervised by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP), and is responsible for water quality
, flood control, water supply
and restoration of the environment in 16 counties in Central and Southern Florida. It is the largest water management district in the state, managing water needs for 7 million residents of South Florida. It advertises itself as "the lead agency in restoring America's Everglades
". The current Inspector General is John W. Williams
.
In 1949, the Florida Legislature created the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District (C&SF FCD), the predecessor to the South Florida Water Management District, to manage the huge project being designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In 1972, with the Florida Water Resources Act (Chapter 373), the state created five water management districts, with expanded responsibilities for regional water resource management and environmental protection. In 1976, voters approved a constitutional amendment giving the districts the authority to levy property taxes to help fund these activities. All five of the state's water management districts' boundaries are determined by watersheds and other natural, hydrologic and geographic features. From the 1980s through the present, newer state legislation further defined and expanded the responsibilities of water management districts, and their relationships with state agencies like the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Community Affairs and the Governor's office as well as the Florida Legislature.
s and levee
s, 60 large pump stations, more than 2,000 automated remote facilities and more than 25 weather station
s.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the Florida government agency charged with environmental protection.-History:...
(FDEP), and is responsible for water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
, flood control, water supply
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
and restoration of the environment in 16 counties in Central and Southern Florida. It is the largest water management district in the state, managing water needs for 7 million residents of South Florida. It advertises itself as "the lead agency in restoring America's Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
". The current Inspector General is John W. Williams
John W. Williams
John W. Williams is the current Inspector General of the South Florida Water Management District.Williams has been the Inspector General of the South Florida Water Management since April 2004. He is a water resource attorney, and he has served in this capacity for over 25 years. Prior to this...
.
History
The region's subtropical extremes combined with efforts to safely populate this "new frontier" led the U.S. Congress to adopt legislation creating the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project (C&SF) in 1948.In 1949, the Florida Legislature created the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District (C&SF FCD), the predecessor to the South Florida Water Management District, to manage the huge project being designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In 1972, with the Florida Water Resources Act (Chapter 373), the state created five water management districts, with expanded responsibilities for regional water resource management and environmental protection. In 1976, voters approved a constitutional amendment giving the districts the authority to levy property taxes to help fund these activities. All five of the state's water management districts' boundaries are determined by watersheds and other natural, hydrologic and geographic features. From the 1980s through the present, newer state legislation further defined and expanded the responsibilities of water management districts, and their relationships with state agencies like the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Community Affairs and the Governor's office as well as the Florida Legislature.
Operations
There are eight field stations within the 16 counties served by the SFWMD. Staff working out of these facilities are working to make sure the regional water management system operates smoothly and efficiently. Together, throughout the year, they oversee 1,969 miles of canalCanal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s and levee
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
s, 60 large pump stations, more than 2,000 automated remote facilities and more than 25 weather station
Weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
s.
See also
- Northwest Florida Water Management DistrictNorthwest Florida Water Management DistrictThe Northwest Florida Water Management District stretches from the St. Marks River Basin in Jefferson County to the Perdido River in Escambia County. The District is one of five water management districts in Florida created by the Water Resources Act of 1972...
- St. Johns River Water Management DistrictSt. Johns River Water Management DistrictThe St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five Florida water management districts that is responsible for managing groundwater and surface water resources in Florida. SJRWMD covers an 18-county region in northeast and east-central Florida...
- Southwest Florida Water Management DistrictSouthwest Florida Water Management DistrictThe Southwest Florida Water Management District , unofficially nicknamed “Swiftmud” or SWFWMD, is one of five regional agencies directed by Florida state law to protect and preserve water resources. Established in 1961 the agency operates and maintains several large properties and flood protection...
- Suwannee River Water Management DistrictSuwannee River Water Management DistrictThe Suwannee River Water Management District is the smallest of five Florida water management districts that is responsible for managing groundwater and surface water resources in a 15-county region in north-central Florida...