Water Resources

Springs

Protection and restoration of northwest Florida’s springs and associated systems are continuing priorities. Current activities include land acquisition, management, and restoration within the Econfina Creek and Holmes Creek water management areas (WMAs), assistance implementing agricultural best management practices (BMPs) for irrigation and fertilization and funding irrigation retrofits in the Jackson Blue Springs Basin (Jackson County), and enhanced monitoring and resource assessment for major spring systems District-wide.

Surface Water Improvement and Management

The Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program provides the planning framework-based on the District’s major riverine-estuarine watersheds-for addressing watershed protection and restoration. Implementation is accomplished through a variety of projects in cooperation with local governments and stakeholders, including stormwater retrofits for water quality improvement and flood protection, wetland and aquatic habitat restoration, and resource assessments.

Agriculture

The District works in partnership with the northwest Florida agricultural community to protect water and natural resources. Specific efforts include financial support of the Mobile Irrigation Laboratory (MIL) in cooperation with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), cooperative funding with producers for eligible agricultural cost-share practices and equipment within the Jackson Blue Spring and Chipola Groundwater Contribution Area (CGWCA), financial support for research and outreach for the on University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (IFAS) Sod-Based Crop Rotation Program, and permitting and other technical assistance.

Minimum Flows & Minimum Water Levels

Since 2014, the District’s Minimum Flows and Minimum Water Levels (MFL) program has been a major component of the overall effort to ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of regionally significant water resources. A minimum flow or minimum water level is the limit at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area. The MFL program complements other efforts, including water use permitting, water supply assessments, regional water supply planning, and watershed management. Strategic approaches include data collection, groundwater and surface water modeling, technical assessments, and rule development.

Water Supply Planning

Section 373.701, F.S., declares the state’s policy to promote the availability of sufficient water for all existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses and natural systems. The District implements this policy through cooperative, interrelated initiatives, and programs focused on the water resources of northwest Florida. Among these are water resource development, water supply development assistance, regional water supply planning, regulation of wells and consumptive uses, and development of MFLs.

The District is divided into seven regions for the purpose of evaluating current and anticipated water supply needs. Regional Water Supply Plans are developed for regions where existing sources of water are considered inadequate for meeting water demands over a 20-year planning horizon while also sustaining water resources and natural systems. These plans include water resource and water supply development components with supporting data and analysis and they identify priority projects and funding strategies.

Funding Programs

The District provides or assists in developing funding opportunities for projects that help protect, maintain, or improve water resources. When available, project funding may be awarded to local governments, utilities, agricultural producers, and other entities.

Conservation

All District priorities are consistent with the broader state goal of enhanced water resource protection and conservation to promote Florida’s economic well-being and quality of life.

Flood Protection

The District continues to work in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on flood map modernization and the Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) program. Detailed floodplain and elevation data respectively are provided to the public online at portal.nwfwmdfloodmaps.com and NOAA Data Access Viewer.

Regional Wetland Mitigation Program

Under section 373.4137, Florida Statutes (FS), the Northwest Florida Water Management District offers mitigation services, as an option, to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for road projects with unavoidable wetland impacts when the use of private mitigation banks is not feasible (the District does not compete with private mitigation banks).  As required by this statute, a regional mitigation plan has been developed, and is annually updated, to address FDOT mitigation needs submitted to the District. Components of the Regional Mitigation Plan include the Sand Hill Lakes Mitigation Bank, the federally permitted In-Lieu Fee Program, and other mitigation projects. Additional information may be found at: https://nwfwater.com/water-resources/regional-wetland-mitigation-program/.