Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection manages the quality and quantity of water with the help of five water management districts. Municipalities are legal entities. The districts have been created based on the concept of the watershed.
They were created for residents’ self-determination. For the most part, city founders wanted more and better services and local control over how they were governed. is. The services that cities provide are determined by the wants and needs of their citizens through their involvement and contribution to their communities.
Florida’s five Water Management Districts:
- Administer flood protection programs.
- Develop water shortage plans in times of drought.
- Acquire and manage lands for water management.
- Manage consumptive use of water and aquifer recharge.
Florida’s five (5) Water Management Districts
Northwest Florida
Northwest Florida Water Management District
81 Water Management Drive
Havana, Florida 32333-4712
850.539.5999
Suwannee River
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49
Live Oak, Florida 32060
386.362.1001
St. Johns River
St. Johns River Water Management District
P.O. Box 1429
Palatka, Florida 32178-1429
386.329.4500
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida Water Management District
2379 Broad Street
Brooksville, Florida 34604
352.796.7211 or 800.423.1476
South Florida
South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
561.686.8800 or 800.432.2045 in Florida
For more information on each district, you may want to visit their specific website:
| District | Counties | Headquarters | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Florida Water Management District | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson (western half), Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton & Washington |
81 Water Management Drive |
http://www.nwfwater.com/ |
| Suwannee River Water Management District | Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and portions of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson & Levy | 9225 CR 49 Live Oak, FL 32060 386-362-1001 800-226-1066 (Florida only) |
http://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/ |
| St. Johns River Water Management District | Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Nassau, Seminole, St. Johns, Volusia, and portions of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Lake, Marion, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola & Putnam | P.O. Box 1429 Palatka, FL 32178-1429 386-329-4500 800-451-7106 |
http://www.sjrwmd.com/ |
| Southwest Florida Water Management District | Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Sumter, and portions of Charlotte, Highlands, Lake, Levy, Marion & Polk | 2379 Broad St. Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 352-796-7211 800-423-1476 (Florida only) |
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ |
| South Florida Water Management District | Broward, Collier, Dade, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and portions of Charlotte, Highlands, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola & Polk | 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406-3089 561-686-8800 800-432-2045 (Florida only) |
https://www.sfwmd.gov/ |
It is a policy of the Legislature that the state’s water resources be managed at a state and regional level. The Department of Environmental Protection, responsible for the administration of the water resources at the state level, exercises general supervisory authority over the state’s five water management districts, which are responsible for the administration of the water resources at the regional level.
The state’s five water management districts include the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the Suwannee River Water Management District, the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the South Florida Water Management District. The department exercises general supervisory authority over the districts through a cooperative working relationship and guidance memos.
The four core mission areas of the water management districts are: (1) water supply, (2) water quality, (3) flood protection and floodplain management, and (4) natural systems.
Among other responsibilities, there are primary ways that the water management districts implement these mission areas.
- Water Supply. Where it determines that existing sources of water are not adequate to supply water for all existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses and to sustain the water resources and related natural systems for the planning period (20 years), a district develops a Regional Water Supply Plan setting forth projects, costs and projections over a 20-year period that are needed to meet all existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses and to sustain the water resources and related natural systems. The districts are also proud to cost-share the implementation of many of those projects.
- Water Quality. The districts perform a significant amount of water quality monitoring and assessment. For waterbodies within their regions, the districts construct or help fund the construction of water quality projects to benefit our state’s waterbodies. In addition, the districts administer regulatory programs designed to achieve the protection of the state’s water quality.
- Flood Protection and Floodplain Management. The districts construct, operate and maintain flood protection structures throughout their region to prevent increases in flooding events.
- Natural Systems. The districts evaluate and protect natural systems through the implementation of the Minimum Flows and Levels program and through reservations of water.
