South Florida Water Management District

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The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is a state agency responsible for water quality, flood control, water supply and restoration of the environment in 16 counties in South 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".^[1] The current Inspector General is John W. Williams.

1 History
2 Operations
3 External links
4 References

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 canals and levees, 42 large pump stations, more than 2,000 automated remote facilities and more than 25 weather stations.