Board Approved 02-26-2019
STRATEGIC PLAN 2019–2023 Updated February 2019 Message from the Chair
Snow shoveling is a rite of passage for magnitude springs, developing plans and those growing up in the south suburbs of implementing projects to improve water Chicago. That doesn’t mean you have to quality and natural systems. One of the like it, but it is a reality. Therefore, it should critical initiatives helps to fund projects come as no surprise that upon graduating that move residents off traditional septic from Stetson University College of Law in systems to sewer systems, thereby St. Petersburg, I was pretty sure I wanted reducing the pollution into the springs. In to stay here in sunny Florida. Some second the Tampa Bay Region we’ve identified a job interviews in Chicago with twenty-five series of flood protection projects in various degrees below zero wind chill convinced watersheds to provide residents with me that Florida was where I needed to flooding relief. be. Thirty-three years later, I couldn’t be The District’s ability to fund these projects happier with the way things have turned and many others is due to our fiscal out, both personally and professionally. stewardship of the taxpayer’s dollars. The Florida is my home. District is continually looking for ways to It was a great honor to be asked by the reduce costs, improve effectiveness and Governor to serve on the Governing maximize the taxpayer investment in our Board of the Southwest Florida Water mission. We continue to utilize developing Management District. However, at that technology to obtain and deliver better time, my working knowledge of water and Jeffrey M. Adams, Chair value to our residents by increasing water management was limited to basically efficiencies in all areas. turning a faucet on and water appearing, sometimes with competing needs and Our innovative Cooperative Funding and turning the faucet off and water desires on about any and all water issues. Initiative has been sharing the costs of stopped. The good news was with such Nothing about water management is easy. water resource projects since 1988. The limited knowledge, I had no pre-conceived Everyone needs water and you have to District has invested nearly $1.6 billion which ideas nor any specific interest or bias other make sure water remains plentiful. The water were matched with similar contributions from than giving back to the community and management decisions we make to address our funding partners for a total investment of protecting the interest of the taxpayers. today’s challenges must also ensure there’s approximately $3.2 billion. Over the last five Learning about water and water water for tomorrow, resources are protected, years this program has averaged $53 million management has been an enjoyable and we are not creating long-term flooding per year in projects. and highly educational experience. My problems. In fact, that’s the District’s mission: Working with our partners over the years, approach to this task has been consistent: To protect water resources, minimize flood we have accomplished great things. The Listen, gather facts and information. Be risks, and ensure the public’s water needs Tampa Bay Region has one of the most transparent and open. Get all sides of the are met. A simple statement but yet an diversified water supply systems in the story and gather as much information as important complex challenge. world. The District is a national leader in you can. Once you’ve had the opportunity The District manages water resources over recycling water, beneficially reusing 54 to analyze the information and process 16 counties with more than 5 million people. percent of its reclaimed water compared the opinions. Then you’re able to provide Our water resource challenges, like our water to a national average of 7 percent. The a prospective of immediate as well as long resources, are constantly evolving. With so District’s Tampa Bypass Canal is capable term value. We must consider not only much at stake, and taxpayer funding, it’s of moving up to 17 billion gallons of water quantity but also quality. Do not allow the critical we use our time, money and people a day to provide flood protection for the decisions to become personal. Make the wisely. The purpose of this Strategic Plan is cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace. We best decision based on the facts and best to take this massive undertaking and provide successfully utilized the Tampa Bypass interests of the constituents both on a clarity and direction. The Plan identifies who Canal for this purpose before and during short-term and long-term basis. we are, what we do, how we do it, and looks Hurricane Irma. Through our Surface Water It’s easy to understand how important out over a five-year planning horizon to Improvement and Management (SWIM) water is: how it affects natural resources, highlight our priorities and determine where Program, we have restored thousands of the economy, tourism, recreation, agriculture, we should be focusing our resources to acres of environmentally sensitive lands. development, and enjoyment of life itself. maximize those benefits to the public and As we collectively move forward, I hope to What isn’t as obvious, at least until you’ve environment. help the Board and District maximize our had to make the difficult decisions, is how The Plan prioritizes water resource issues ability to meet our mission. The best path challenging water management can be in in each of our four planning regions. For is to collect the data and follow the science. the short term and over the long term. example, in our Northern Planning Region, Then one must evaluate and analyze where Water affects everyone and everything in we’ve prioritized improving our five first- the facts lead. Finally, making informed so many ways. There are multiple interests decisions which serve in the best interest of 2 the District today and into the future. One of the things I’ve learned as a Board Governing Board member is the quality and professionalism of the District staff. The District is staffed with knowledgeable and caring individuals Jeffrey M. Adams James G. Murphy Chair Polk County who work with the stakeholders on a Pinellas County daily basis. That’s critical because no single person or organization can manage the water resources alone. It takes a collaboration among all of us, working Ed Armstrong Kelly S. Rice together toward a common goal. Vice Chair Citrus, Lake, Levy, Sumter Pinellas County Counties Sports has been an important part of my life. Sports teaches us how to work with others as teammates. It teaches us how to compete, to work towards goals and compete fairly. While it not only teaches us Bryan K. Beswick Joel Schleicher Secretary Charlotte, Sarasota Counties to win, but also how to lose. You don’t have DeSoto, Hardee, to like losing, but in life, you don’t win all Highlands Counties the time. Sports also teaches us that just because someone is wearing a different jersey (or has a different interest or opinion) Michelle Williamson Rebecca Smith doesn’t make them bad or wrong. Likewise, Treasurer Hillsborough, Pinellas those with different ideas, perceptions or Hillsborough County Counties opinions aren’t always wrong or without value. Sports teaches us to be humble as the game itself can be very humbling. Sports teaches us that when teamwork is Randall S. Maggard Mark Taylor combined with hard work, anything can be Former Chair Hernando, Marion Counties Pasco County accomplished. My fellow Board members and District staff all share a passion for making a difference, for leaving this world a better place than H. Paul Senft, Jr. Scott Wiggins they found it. I’m confident when it comes Former Chair Hillsborough County to managing the water resources, this team Polk County will never be out-worked or out-hustled.
John Henslick Manatee County The Governing Board establishes policies for the District. Board members are unpaid citizen volunteers appointed Jeffrey M. Adams by the Governor and confirmed by the Governing Board Chair Florida Senate.
Table of Contents Overview 4 Strategic Initiatives 5–8 Regional Priorities 9–21 Core Business Processes 22–23
3 Overview
The Southwest Florida Water Management CORE MISSION District (District) is a science-based Florida Statutes, primarily Chapter 373, organization responsible for managing and authorize the District to direct a range protecting water resources in west-central of initiatives, programs and actions. These Florida. The District’s job is to ensure there responsibilities can be grouped under four are adequate water supplies to meet the general areas which form the District’s core needs of current and future users while mission: water supply, water quality, natural protecting and restoring water and related systems and flood protection. The District natural resources. (See Mission Statement.) has established a goal for each of these
The District encompasses all or part of areas of responsibility: 16 counties, from Levy County in the Water Supply Goal: Ensure an adequate north to Charlotte County in the south. It supply of water to provide for all existing extends from the Gulf of Mexico east to the and future reasonable and beneficial uses highlands of central Florida. The District while protecting and maintaining water contains 98 local governments spread over resources and related natural systems. approximately 10,000 square miles, with a Water Quality Goal: Protect and improve total population estimated to be 5.3 million water quality to sustain the water, in 2018. For planning purposes, the District environment, economy and quality of life. is divided into four regions: Northern, Natural Systems Goal: Preserve, protect Tampa Bay, Heartland and Southern. (See and restore natural systems to support their District Planning Regions map.) natural hydrologic and ecologic functions. Flood Protection Goal: Minimize flood damage to protect people, property, GOVERNING BOARD infrastructure and investment. A 13-member board governs the District. REGIONAL PRIORITIES The Governing Board establishes policies While the Strategic Initiatives identify and sets the budget for the District. Mission Statement activities implemented throughout the Appointed by the Governor and confirmed District, the water resource needs vary from by the Senate, Governing Board members To protect water one planning region to another. The top are unpaid volunteers representing resources, minimize water resource priorities for each region, varied backgrounds and interests. Board along with measurable objectives, are members, who must live in the District, flood risks and ensure identified in the Regional Priorities section serve four-year terms. the public’s water of this document. needs are met. BUDGET CORE BUSINESS The District’s primary funding source is ad valorem taxes, although revenues PROCESSES STRATEGIC INITIATIVES In addition to adhering to its adopted are also derived from state and federal The District is implementing a wide array of values, the District must excel in seven core appropriations, permit fees, interest programs and projects to meet these four business processes to successfully achieve earnings and other sources. The taxing goals. These activities are grouped under its Strategic Initiatives: capabilities of the District are established 11 Strategic Initiatives: • Water Resources Planning by the Legislature within the limits set • Regional Water Supply Planning • Innovative Projects by the Florida Constitution. The limit • Alternative Water Supplies • Financial Sustainability for the District is one mill, or one dollar • Reclaimed Water • Regulation per thousand dollars of assessed value. • Conservation The Governing Board millage rate for • Land Management and Structure • Assessment and Planning fiscal year 2018-19 is 0.2955 mill. More Operations • Water Quality Maintenance and information about budgeting is included in • Knowledge Management Improvement this document’s Core Business Processes • Engagement • Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) section. Establishment and Monitoring • Conservation and Restoration • Floodplain Management • Flood Protection Maintenance and Improvement • Emergency Flood Response 4 Strategic Initiatives
Water Supply including reuse and conservation benefits 1. Regional Water and new potable water sources. STRATEGIES Supply Planning STRATEGIES • Increase availability by increasing Goal Statement: Identify, communicate • Develop alternative water supply storage capacity and promote consensus on the strategies sources that include surface water • Increase availability by promoting and resources necessary to meet future capture, desalination and brackish interconnects between reclaimed water reasonable and beneficial water supply groundwater systems utilities needs. • Continue to promote partnerships with • Leverage District funds to maximize The District’s regional water supply agriculture through District programs efficient and beneficial use of reclaimed planning effort provides the framework such as the Facilitating Agricultural water for future water supply management Resource Management Systems • Improve efficiency through measures decisions within the District, and is a (FARMS) Program such as metering and volume-based statutory requirement where current water • Partner with regional entities to provide pricing sources are not adequate to supply existing alternative water supplies • Continue to support reclaimed water and future uses while sustaining natural • Continue to leverage District funds to research, monitoring and public resources (F.S., 373.709(1)). This is a facilitate the development of alternative education collaborative, transparent effort involving water supplies • Partner with cooperators for the local governments, utilities, the agricultural • Continue to support research and development of indirect/direct potable community, business representatives, development of aquifer storage and reuse projects, with priority for regional environmental organizations and other recovery technology entities stakeholders. • Promote conjunctive use of surface • Promote the beneficial use of reclaimed STRATEGIES and groundwater resources through water and the offset of traditional water • Develop accurate and reliable demand regulation and funding incentives supplies through the existing regulatory projections framework • Identify sufficient regional water supply 3. Reclaimed Water • Promote the use of reclaimed water sources to meet projected demands Goal Statement: Maximize beneficial for recharge and environmental • Encourage the development and use of use of reclaimed water to offset potable enhancement projects regional water supply authorities to plan water supplies and restore water levels and coordinate water supply solutions and natural systems. 4. Conservation • Incorporate adaptive management Reclaimed water is wastewater that has Goal Statement: Enhance efficiencies in processes in water supply planning received at least secondary treatment and all water-use sectors to ensure beneficial • Coordinate with other water disinfection and is used for a beneficial use. management districts on water supply purpose, such as irrigation, manufacturing Conservation is achieved through and regulation approaches processes or power generation. By education, financial incentives and various • Proactively coordinate with water offsetting demand for groundwater and regulatory and non-regulatory programs. supply utilities surface water, this alternative water supply Per capita water usage in the District has • Demonstrate the District’s financial reduces stress on environmental systems, regularly ranked as the lowest in the state. commitment to assist in the provides economic benefits by delaying STRATEGIES development of regional water supply costly water system expansions and • Promote water conservation through needs reduces the need to discharge wastewater public engagement programs effluent to surface waters. More than 191 • Support research and implementation of mgd of reclaimed water is being beneficially 2. Alternative Water conservation techniques and practices reused in the District, accounting for more • Promote water-conserving rate Supplies than 16 percent of overall water use. In Goal Statement: Increase development structures addition, the District’s Governing Board of alternative sources of water to • Utilize financial incentives to further recently identified indirect/direct potable ensure groundwater and surface water encourage effective conservation reuse as a priority for the District to achieve sustainability. practices its goal of 75 percent reuse of available • Utilize regulatory programs to establish Alternative water supply (AWS) refers wastewater by 2040. to any nontraditional source of water effective conservation practices that reduces the region’s dependency on • Continue to promote partnerships with fresh groundwater. From 1990 through agriculture through District programs September 2017, the District has helped to such as the FARMS Program develop approximately 363 million gallons daily (mgd) of alternative water supplies,
5 Strategic Initiatives
Water Quality stormwater management through the environmental resource permitting process. Additionally, data and information are 1. Assessment shared with counties, cities and the state and Planning for projects to improve water quality. Goal Statement: Collect and analyze data to determine local and regional water STRATEGIES • Use cooperative funding to support local quality status and trends to support government efforts to improve District resource management decisions and priority water bodies restoration initiatives. • Continue to review and track Florida Those who manage Florida’s water Department of Environmental Protection resources must have access to accurate and (DEP) Total Maximum Daily Load timely data. Good decisions require reliable (TMDL) and Basin Management Action information. Plans (BMAP) processes for District STRATEGIES priority water bodies • Continue to develop and maintain long- • Promote Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ term water quality monitoring networks principles and other behaviors that to collect, analyze and distribute protect water quality accurate water quality information • Participate in the development and −Coastal Groundwater Quality and − implementation of the statewide Water Use Permit Monitoring stormwater management criteria to Networks enhance an active environmental −−Springs and Aquifer Nutrient resource permitting (ERP) program Monitoring Networks • Utilize regulatory programs to −−Surface Water Quality Monitoring promote water quality protection and Networks improvement • Continue to support the District’s • Continue to promote partnerships internal data governance process through District water quality programs • Continue to promote partnerships such as the SWIM and the FARMS through District water quality programs programs • Support cooperative funding and 2. Maintenance and implementation of prioritized septic and Improvement package plant retrofit projects within the Goal Statement: Develop and implement Northern region programs, projects and regulations to Rainbow River cleanup in Dunnellon. maintain and improve water quality. The District develops and implements projects, programs and regulations to maintain and improve water quality. Examples of these efforts include partnerships for best management practices (BMPs) implementation such as the FARMS Program, focused on the agriculture community, and the Watershed Management Program (WMP), addressing watershed improvements; and the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) and Springs initiatives Programs that implement nitrogen removal and other water quality improvement projects.
The District also acquires and manages land for water resources conservation/ protection purposes through its land resources program and regulates Three Sisters Springs Wetland Treatment Project in Crystal River.
6 Strategic Initiatives
Natural Systems STRATEGIES restore natural systems associated with • Update the MFLs priority list and priority water bodies. 1. MFLs Establishment schedule annually The District also regularly tracks land and and Monitoring • Establish water body-specific MFLs water resource alterations through its aerial through: Goal Statement: Establish and monitor land use/land cover, wetland and seagrass −Data collection MFLs, and, where necessary, develop and − mapping efforts. Through reviews such implement recovery/prevention strategies −−Data analysis and reporting as local government plan amendments to recover water bodies and prevent −−Independent scientific peer review and large-scale development proposals, significant harm. and public review Florida Coastal Management applications Minimum flows and water levels for −−Rule adoption and related activities, staff is able to offer aquifers, surface watercourses, and other • Continue to incorporate MFLs in District feedback to better link land and water surface water bodies identify the limit water use permit application review resources. In addition, the District’s ERP at which further withdrawals would be processes and compliance monitoring program helps protect water resources. significantly harmful to the water resources • Monitor and report hydrologic conditions STRATEGIES to support status assessments for water or ecology of the area. Rivers, streams • Evaluate acquisition opportunities, bodies with established MFLs and springs require minimum flows, while placing priority on water resource minimum levels are set for lakes, wetlands • Continue to review and refine scientific benefits, inholdings, additions, core and aquifers. MFLs are used for permitting methodologies used in establishing conservation areas, realistic landowner or planning decisions concerning how much MFLs expectations and leveraging partnership water may be safely withdrawn from a • Develop, adopt and implement recovery dollars water body. and prevention strategies • Promote innovative restoration projects • Incorporate MFLs recovery and and partnerships Through fiscal year 2018, the District has prevention strategies into the • Regulate to avoid impacts or minimize set 210 MFLs on rivers, lakes, aquifers Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP) and mitigate unavoidable impacts and wetlands. The District’s process for development process establishing MFLs includes an annual • Partner to continue wetland, lake and update of water bodies prioritized for MFLs river monitoring and analysis development, extensive data collection, 2. Conservation and • Provide technical assistance to state, analysis and reporting, public review, Restoration regional and local governments for Goal Statement: Restoration and independent scientific peer review and rule linking land and water management of natural ecosystem for adoption. The District routinely assesses • Utilize management tools to enhance the benefit of water and water-related potential water supply/resource concerns maintenance of conservation lands resources. and evaluates water use permit applications The Conservation and Restoration to ensure violations of established MFLs Strategic Initiative preserves, protects do not occur. In addition, water bodies and restores natural systems to support with established MFLs are monitored natural hydrologic and ecologic functions. and assessed to determine the need for The major components of this initiative recovery or implementation of strategies include land acquisition and management, to prevent flows or levels from falling ecosystem monitoring and restoration, below established MFLs. As of 2017, education and regulation. To date 41,824 approximately two-thirds of established acres of habitat have been restored through MFLs were being met. To address priority District programs and partnerships with water bodies where MFLs have not been state and local governments. met, the District is implementing three regional recovery strategies associated Acquisition and management of land are with Water Use Caution Areas (Northern critical to the District’s conservation and Tampa Bay, Southern and Dover/Plant City) restoration objectives. Once acquired, and two water body-specific plans, and altered land is restored, if necessary, included these strategies in its regional and managed to maintain ecological and water supply planning process. hydrological functions. The District monitors its lands to ensure continued compliance with its mission and initiatives.
Restoration initiatives, such as the SWIM Program, are overseen by the District to The District’s P-11 Water Conservation Structure on Lake Hancock in Polk County. 7 Strategic Initiatives
systems and 88 flood control and water All water management districts are Flood Protection conservation structures as an important members of the State Emergency 1. Floodplain flood protection strategy. Extensive areas of Response Team and serve as support the District depend upon the maintenance agencies to the state. The District provides Management and operation of these facilities. emergency assistance to local governments Goal Statement: Collect and analyze and the public. District regulatory data to determine local and regional The District’s WMP identifies flood risk flood investigation teams assist local floodplain information, flood protection and efficient alternatives to reduce the governments with emergency construction status and trends to support floodplain risk of flood damages. The District’s authorizations, and help to determine and management decisions and initiatives. Cooperative Funding Initiative encourages implement solutions to flooding problems The District’s WMP identifies, prioritizes implementation of selected intermediate for major conveyance systems. and addresses flood-related water resource and regional system improvement projects issues within a watershed. Information to reduce flood risk. Implementation of The enhancement and modernization developed through the WMP is used by local system improvements is primarily the of District water management facilities local governments, the District and state responsibility of the local government. includes the automation and upgrading and federal governments in regulatory and STRATEGIES of mission-critical water conservation advisory floodplain management programs. • Implement the ERP program using and flood control structures with remote STRATEGIES WMP floodplain information to maintain operation and equipping structures with • Implement the WMP, collect and current levels of flood protection digital video monitoring. analyze data and develop and distribute • Identify floodplain management and STRATEGIES accurate floodplain information flood protection value associated with • Continue to promote an effective and • Continue to promote partnerships at the land acquisition opportunities efficient incident management system local, state and federal level • Use cooperative funding to support • Establish redundant control systems for • Increase public awareness of floodplains local government efforts to reduce the all mission-critical infrastructure and flood risk risk of flood damages by improving • Use technology to the fullest extent to • Provide system-based data to support intermediate and regional flood ensure optimal response capabilities the operation of District flood control protection systems • Train staff in NIMS/ICS structure and water conservation structures • Operate, maintain and upgrade District • Exercise the District’s CEMP, high • Document levels after flood events to flood control and water conservation hazard structure Emergency Action ensure up-to-date modeling and historic structures and associated facilities Plans, and Flood Event Guidelines records • Provide emergency assistance to local 3. Emergency Flood governments and agencies 2. Maintenance and Response Improvement Goal Statement: Provide effective and Goal Statement: Develop and implement efficient assistance to state and local programs, projects and regulations to governments and the public to minimize maintain and improve flood protection, flood damage during and after major and operate District flood control and storm events, including operation conservation structures to minimize of District flood control and water flood damage while preserving the water conservation structures. resource. Through its emergency flood response The District’s ERP program uses WMP initiative, the District prepares for, responds information and regulations to protect to, recovers from and mitigates the floodplain and historic basin storage impacts of critical flooding incidents. To and ensure that new development does ensure adequate preparation, the District not increase flood levels or the rate of has developed an emergency operations stormwater runoff onto neighboring program and maintains a Comprehensive properties. Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), which provides guidelines for pre-incident Strategic property acquisition allows land preparation, post-incident response and to fulfill natural functions of storing and recovery, deployment and annual exercises. accommodating excess water and reduces The District’s Emergency Operations the risk of flood damage by preserving Center (EOC) and Emergency Operations floodplains. The District also maintains and Organization (EOO) are critical to incident operates four major canal and conveyance response. The District’s S-160 Structure on the Tampa Bypass Canal in Hillsborough County. 8 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Northern Region — Springs
facing these coastal resources include PRIORITY: sea-level rise, reduced water clarity, altered Improve Chassahowitzka River, Crystal aquatic vegetation, nutrient enrichment and River/Kings Bay, Homosassa River, decreased flows. Rainbow River and Weeki Wachee River In 2014, the District together with local, OBJECTIVES: regional and state partners formed the SCSC. The SCSC’s mission is to • Implement water quality and natural build consensus and partnerships to systems projects identified in the five improve and manage each of the five SWIM plans first-magnitude spring systems through • Assist with septic to sewer conversion effective development and implementation within the five first-magnitude spring of SWIM plans. Led by District staff, all areas first-magnitude spring groups now have • Monitor status and trends associated approved SWIM plans. with targets in each SWIM plan to assess the health of the spring systems Each SWIM plan is a road map, a living • Continue support of the Springs Coast document with adaptive management at Steering Committee (SCSC) its core. These plans identify management Weeki Wachee River in Hernando County. actions, projects that address the issues facing each system, and specific quantifiable Crystal River/Kings Bay objectives to assess overall progress and Water clarity NARRATIVE: help guide the SCSC. In an August 2017 Nitrate concentration Among the most precious water resources workshop, the District’s Governing Board Phosphorus in the District are the more than 150 prioritized combining District funds with Chlorophyll documented springs, and the rivers, bays, state and local funds for projects that Coverage of desirable and invasive and estuaries that are fed by them. The five would connect domestic septic systems to aquatic vegetation and natural shoreline largest spring groups within the District central sewer to benefit springs. The Board Enhancement of disturbed shoreline are concentrated in the Northern region also identified the need to protect the Minimum flows along the Florida Springs Coast. These five District’s investment by ensuring controls first-magnitude (flow rates of 100 cubic are in place to prevent additional pollution Homosassa River feet per second or greater) groups form the from new septic systems. Water clarity headwaters of the Chassahowitzka River, Minimum flows In addition to the management plan Crystal River/Kings Bay, Homosassa River, Coverage of desirable benthic habitat development and implementation, the Rainbow River and Weeki Wachee River. Coverage of invasive aquatic vegetation FARMS Program is working with producers All five systems are listed as District SWIM No net loss of shoreline in natural to implement BMPs to reduce groundwater priority water bodies, and by the state condition as Outstanding Florida Waterways and use and nutrient loading in springsheds. To Outstanding Florida Springs. date, the Governing Board has approved Rainbow River seven projects within the region, with Water clarity The Crystal River/Kings Bay, Homosassa an estimated offset of 0.1 mgd and an Nitrate concentration River, Chassahowitzka River and Weeki estimated nitrogen load reduction of 1,400 Submerged aquatic vegetation coverage Wachee River flow directly into the Gulf lbs per year. Minimum flows of Mexico, which is home to one of the largest seagrass habitats in the world. Quantifiable objectives are established for Weeki Wachee River Along with seagrass, the nearshore coastal each first-magnitude spring system for Water clarity waters of the Florida Springs Coast include the following surface water quality and Nitrate concentration many species of attached algae, sponges, biological indicators. Minimum flows corals and hard bottom habitat supporting Chassahowitzka River Coverage of desirable submerged numerous ecologically and economically Water clarity aquatic vegetation important species such as bay scallop, Nitrate concentration Coverage of invasive aquatic vegetation grouper, tarpon and manatee. Minimum flows The rivers, bays and springs have Coverage of desirable submerged experienced ecological changes caused by aquatic vegetation both natural and human impacts. Issues Coverage of invasive aquatic vegetation 9 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Northern Region — Water Supply
PRIORITY: Ensure long-term sustainable water supply OBJECTIVES: • Increase conservation −−Achieve and maintain 150-gallon daily compliance per capita with all public supply utilities by December 31, 2019 −−Reduce 2011 regional average per capita water use by 10 percent by 2020 −−Achieve 75 percent utilization of all wastewater flows and a 75 percent resource benefit by 2040. (As of 2017, the Northern region had 20 mgd of wastewater flow and 13 mgd of reuse for a utilization rate of 65 percent.) −−Improve the quality of water delivered to rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) in springsheds −−Utilize high quality reclaimed water for aquifer recharge to support groundwater resources • Partner with the Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority to promote regional water supply planning and development
NARRATIVE: The District’s goals are to ensure that all natural hydrologic cycles. The District’s 2015 Regional Water Supply utilities fall below the maximum compliance In the Northern region, the District is Plan shows that demand for water in the per capita usage and to further reduce partnering with the Withlacoochee Northern region through 2035 and beyond the regional average per capita usage by Regional Water Supply Authority to could be met with fresh groundwater if the 10 percent by 2020. The District’s plan to promote regional water supply planning region’s considerable potential for reuse assist public supply utilities is to minimize and development. This most recently and conservation were realized. the need for additional groundwater includes cooperatively funding regional supplies by maximizing the use of available water conservation efforts and an update to Public supply use, which accounts for reclaimed water and implementing the Authority’s Master Water Supply Plan. about 50 percent of the water use in the comprehensive water conservation Northern region, has significant potential measures and best management practices. for water savings. In 2011, compliance per capita public supply water use in the The District promotes regional approaches Northern region averaged 139 gallons per to water supply planning and development. capita per day (gpcd). Usage increased The benefits of regional systems include slightly to 136 gpcd in 2016, representing economies of scale, better ability to a 2 percent reduction from 2011; however, manage environmental impacts, improved this is still significantly higher than the system reliability, operational flexibility other three planning regions. In 2016, there and emergency backup capability. Larger, were five utilities in the Northern region regional systems are also able to take with compliance per capita figures higher advantage of conjunctive use, wherein both than 150 gpcd, which will be the maximum groundwater and alternative sources are allowed starting on December 31, 2019. available and can be managed to mimic
10 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Tampa Bay Region — MFLs Recovery
PRIORITY: Implement MFLs Recovery Strategies OBJECTIVES: • Northern Tampa Bay Water Use Caution Area (NTBWUCA) Recovery Strategy −−Recover MFLs for rivers, lakes, wetlands and other water bodies −−By 2018, complete an assessment to determine whether Tampa Bay Water’s reduction to 90 mgd of groundwater withdrawal from the Central Wellfield System provides necessary recovery for impacted rivers, lakes and wetlands −−Complete the construction of Morris Bridge Sink projects for the lower Hillsborough River recovery −−Conduct a second five-year assessment of the adopted MFLs for the lower Hillsborough River −−Achieve 75 percent utilization of all wastewater flows and a 75 percent resource benefit by 2040. (As of 2017, the Tampa Bay Region had 231 mgd of wastewater flow and 115 mgd of reuse for a utilization rate of 50 percent) −−Increase reuse for recharge and MFLs −−Reduce the 2011 regional average per capita water use by 2.5 percent by 2020 • Dover/Plant City Water Use Caution Area (DPCWUCA) Recovery Strategy alternative water supply projects. In the −−Ensure compliance with the DPCWUCA area minimum aquifer level of 10 ft NGVD for the Upper Floridan aquifer at the District’s DV-1 Suwannee monitor NTBWUCA, these efforts have produced to well date more than 140 mgd of new alternative water sources and allowed for groundwater −−Reduce January 2010 groundwater withdrawal quantities for frost/freeze withdrawals to be reduced by more than 60 protection by 20 percent by January 2020 mgd. −−Establish automatic flow meter reporting equipment on 960 agricultural
withdrawal points Significant hydrologic recovery has resulted • Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) Recovery Strategy from these reductions. However, more −−Achieve a net reduction up to 50 mgd in groundwater in the SWUCA by 2025, information is needed to fully evaluate with 40 mgd achieved through FARMS the effects of the reductions on MFLs −−Recover the SWUCA saltwater intrusion minimum aquifer level of 13.1 ft for recovery. Therefore, the District initiated the Upper Floridan aquifer to slow the rate of saltwater intrusion in the Most a second phase of the recovery strategy Impacted Area (MIA) of the SWUCA through adoption of a comprehensive plan −−Ensure that there are sufficient water supplies for all existing and projected that includes continued monitoring and reasonable-beneficial uses evaluation of environmental mitigation for withdrawal impacts and continued water conservation activities by Tampa the protection and recovery of the water NARRATIVE: Bay Water’s member governments. The The District sets MFLs on priority water resources. draft results of the recovery assessment bodies. An MFL is the limit at which further In the Tampa Bay region, the District has will be completed by 2018, with the final withdrawals would be significantly harmful identified recovery strategies associated assessment to be completed by 2020. to the water resources or ecology of the with MFLs in the Northern Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Water's Consolidated Permit area. If the existing flow or level of a water Dover/Plant City and Southern WUCAs. renewal in 2021 will be based on these body is below, or is projected to fall below, results. the applicable minimum flow or level within The NTBWUCA was established to 20 years, a recovery or prevention strategy address adverse impacts to water As of 2017, approximately one-third of must be implemented. resources from groundwater pumping. The the 129 adopted MFLs In the NTBWUCA NTBWUCA encompasses all of Pinellas are not being met. The Hillsborough River Additionally, the District can designate a and Pasco counties, and those portions of is one of the water resources impacted in water use caution area (WUCA) when the Hillsborough County north of Highway 60. the NTBWUCA. The recovery strategy for Governing Board determines that regional The first phase of the District’s recovery the lower Hillsborough River calls for the action is necessary to address cumulative strategy for restoring water resources called augmentation of the river from a variety of water withdrawals which are causing or for reducing pumping from Tampa Bay sources, including Sulphur Springs, Blue may cause adverse impacts to the water Water’s regional wellfields and providing Sink, Morris Bridge Sink and the Tampa and related natural resources or the financial incentives for construction of Bypass Canal. As summarized in the first public interest. WUCA rules enhance 11 Regional Priorities and Objectives
flows and levels to established MFLs, Tampa Bay Region — MFLs Recovery including reducing the rate of saltwater intrusion by achieving the proposed of three required five-year assessments for to lessen the potential that drawdown minimum aquifer level, restoring minimum recovery of the lower Hillsborough River, during a future frost/freeze event would flows in the upper Peace River and completed in March 2015, the District has, lower the aquifer level at District Well DV-1 restoring minimum levels to the priority since December 2007, transferred 11 cubic Suwannee below 10 feet NGVD (1929). lakes in the Highlands Ridge area. feet per second of water from the Tampa Non-regulatory mechanisms include Bypass Canal to the Hillsborough River assistance in offsetting groundwater Some of the primary Recovery Strategy Reservoir and pumped 75 percent of this withdrawals for frost/freeze protection elements for the SWUCA include: volume over the City of Tampa dam when through FARMS. Tailwater recovery, hhUpdating the Regional Water Supply necessary. To further support recovery of chemical protectants, row covers and wind Plan to identify how to address growing the lower river, the City of Tampa has been machines are examples of BMPs eligible for regional water needs while minimizing supplying up to 18 cubic feet per second cost-share within the program. impacts to the water resources and of flow from Sulphur Springs to the base natural systems. The District approved The strategy’s regulatory measures of the City of Tampa dam. A project to the updated plan in November 2015. address groundwater withdrawal impacts, develop additional augmentation quantities hhProviding financial incentives for alternative water supplies, frost/freeze for the lower Hillsborough River from Blue conservation, creation of alternative protection methods and resource recovery. Sink was completed in September 2017. supplies and regional interconnections. In combination, these rules along with the The District is also helping fund the City of hhMonitoring, reporting and cumulative non-regulatory mechanisms are intended Tampa’s augmentation project to evaluate impact analysis. The cumulative impact to result in recovery of the minimum aquifer the use of reclaimed water to augment analysis evaluates changes in permitted level. water supplies. A recharge/recovery system and used groundwater quantities and is being investigated to store and recover Progress toward achieving the minimum water resource development projects reclaimed water in the Floridan aquifer aquifer level will be continuously evaluated. benefiting the Upper Floridan aquifer in system for subsequent delivery to the This evaluation will include an assessment and around the MIA. Hillsborough River Reservoir. of the reduction in groundwater withdrawals used for frost/freeze protection The DPCWUCA was established to in the DPCWUCA and the resulting address impacts from groundwater reduced impact on the minimum aquifer pumping for frost/freeze protection. To level. If by January 2020 a 20 percent protect crops from freeze events, a best reduction in groundwater withdrawals used management practice for many farmers for frost/freeze protection or the minimum with agricultural commodities including aquifer level has not been achieved, the strawberries, blueberries, citrus and recovery strategy will be reassessed. nurseries is to pump groundwater for irrigation when temperatures drop to near The SWUCA encompasses southern freezing. Substantial irrigation use during Hillsborough County. In the eight-county these times strains the aquifer system SWUCA, an area covering approximately which lowers groundwater levels and can 5,100 square miles, depressed aquifer also impact residential wells and contribute levels have caused saltwater intrusion to sinkhole development. During the along the coast, contributed to reduced historic January 2010 11-day freeze event, flows in the upper Peace River and lowered many residential wells were impacted lake levels in areas of Polk and Highlands and sinkholes were reported. As a result, counties. the District has developed and adopted a comprehensive management plan to Groundwater withdrawals were identified significantly reduce and monitor in real- as the primary cause of the depressed time groundwater pumping during future aquifer levels throughout the groundwater freeze events that may cause impacts to basin, with drawdowns in some areas existing legal users. exceeding 50 feet.
The recovery strategy’s objective is to The District has adopted MFLs for 46 reduce groundwater withdrawals used for priority water bodies in the SWUCA. As frost/freeze protection by 20 percent from of 2017, approximately half of these MFLs January 2010 withdrawal quantities by are not being met. The District adopted Weather station in Hillsborough County. January 2020. This reduction is intended the SWUCA Recovery Strategy to recover
12 Regional Priorities and Objectives
indicators for Lake Seminole. Control of Tampa Bay Region — Improve Water Bodies excessive nutrients entering the lake and Lake Seminole is a 684-acre freshwater the fate of the nutrients that do reach the PRIORITY: lake in west-central Pinellas County lake (e.g., internal nutrient recycling) would Improve Tampa Bay and Lakes Seminole, that was created in the 1940s by the help in achieving the targets, which is Tarpon and Thonotosassa impoundment of an arm of Long Bayou, consistent with implementation of the Lake a brackish water segment of Boca Ciega Seminole Watershed Management Plan. OBJECTIVES: Bay. The Lake Seminole watershed Lake Tarpon is the largest freshwater lake • Implement natural system projects that encompasses approximately 3,500 acres, in the Tampa Bay area with 2,532 acres restore critical shoreline, coastal upland of which almost 90 percent is developed. of surface area. The lake is designated and intertidal habitats In Tampa Bay Water quality concerns in Lake Seminole as an Outstanding Florida Water, a Fish • Implement projects for water quality, began in the 1960s as urbanization of the Management Area and a SWIM priority critical shoreline, wetlands and/or watershed increased. Conditions in the lake water body. submerged habitats in Tampa Bay worsened in the 1980s and 90s. The main challenge for Lake Tarpon has and Lakes Seminole, Tarpon and Lake Seminole, although not a SWIM been high chlorophyll levels thought to be Thonotosassa priority water body, has been a water fueled by nutrient enrichment. This has • Initiate updates to the Lake Tarpon and body of regional significance since 1992, resulted in less than desirable water quality Lake Thonotosassa SWIM Plans when the District authorized funding and habitat quality declines. for a diagnostic feasibility study of the Results from a project the District watershed. Subsequently, in 2004, Pinellas NARRATIVE: conducted with Pinellas County indicate County adopted the Lake Seminole Tampa Bay is designated as an “Estuary of that Lake Tarpon is meeting the numeric Watershed Management Plan to identify National Significance” and a SWIM priority nutrient criteria for total nitrogen and and implement projects to reduce nutrient water body. The 373-square-mile bay is phosphorus and that nutrient loading concentrations in the lake and to meet Florida’s largest open-water estuary. Its to the lake is not correlated with the targeted water quality goals. 2,200-square-mile watershed contains elevated chlorophyll values observed. more than 2 million residents. These projects included retrofitting The County is implementing one of the stormwater outflows from five of the project recommendations by conducting Three main challenges exist in the Tampa highest nutrient loading sub-basins with an evaluation of the sedimentation history Bay watershed. Coastal uplands and alum treatment systems, treating and (a paleolimnology study) to determine wetlands have been altered and lost. redirecting a portion of flows in the Lake whether the lake has historically had Nonnative animal and plant species Seminole Bypass Canal into Lake Seminole elevated chlorophyll values. If this is have spread, and water quality has been and removing organic muck sediments. the case, the numeric nutrient criterion degraded from pollutants and nutrient The District has been partnering with established by the DEP for chlorophyll loading. the county on these projects. Five alum may not be appropriate for Lake Tarpon. The District is working with other treatment system projects, including the Both the cooperatively-funded project government agencies on a comprehensive Seminole Bypass Canal system, have with Pinellas County and the sediment conservation and management plan, been completed and are in operation. The evaluation will be used by the District to implementation of water quality County is performing BMP monitoring in update the Lake Tarpon SWIM Plan, which improvement projects and restoration of the accordance with the grant requirements. is expected to begin by the end of 2018. balance between coastal upland, wetland The project to remove organic muck Success indicators included for Lake Tarpon and intertidal habitats. sediments was authorized by the Pinellas are the numeric nutrient criteria established County Board of County Commissioners in Success indicators include coverage of by DEP for total nitrogen, total phosphorus July of 2017. seagrasses identified by the Tampa Bay and chlorophyll. Estuary Program. The program has met Lake Seminole was included on the DEP’s Lake Thonotosassa, the largest natural its goal of recovering seagrasses to the draft verified list in 2006 for nutrients and lake in Hillsborough County with a surface acreage observed in the 1950s. In addition, trophic state index. The primary pollutants area of greater than 800 acres, is popular the bay’s nitrogen loading is on the decline, associated with this impairment are for recreational use as it is one of the few and the District SWIM Program and local nutrients, which have resulted in hyper- natural lakes in the area with public access. cooperators restored 5,806 acres of coastal eutrophic conditions and poor water quality. The lake discharges into the Hillsborough habitats as of August 2018. The District and Due to its impaired status, Pinellas County River which is used for the City of Tampa’s its partners have provided water quality developed a Reasonable Assurance (RA) municipal water supply. The lake is projects treating more than 118 square Plan in 2007 which was submitted to DEP. designated as a District priority water body miles of contributing area to Tampa Bay. This RA Plan established the trophic state through its implementation of the state index and chlorophyll-a as the success SWIM Program. 13 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Tampa Bay Region — Improve Water Bodies
Four main challenges exist in this County to identify nutrient sources in will coordinate with the Florida Department watershed. Nutrient loadings from the the watershed. Areas with high nutrient of Agriculture and Consumer Services watershed have caused extreme nutrient loadings were prioritized for projects, to work with farms and ranches in the enrichment resulting in algal blooms. such as stormwater improvement watershed to implement BMPs specific to Habitat quality and species diversity have projects, maintenance/control of exotic the commodity group. Success indicators declined. Nonnative plant species are more plants, enhancement of wetland and include meeting numeric nutrient criteria abundant, while availability of desirable aquatic habitats and public education established by the DEP for total nitrogen, sport fish has declined. and awareness of stormwater pollution chlorophyll and total phosphorus. The District completed a nutrient source prevention. As part of this implementation, tracking project with Hillsborough the District FARMS and SWIM programs
The Rock Ponds project involves the restoration of approximately 1,043 acres of various coastal habitats. This project, which is the largest habitat restoration effort for Tampa Bay to date, was completed in cooperation with Hillsborough County.
14 Regional Priorities and Objectives
interconnected nature of Florida’s water Tampa Bay Region — Flood Protection resources. The WMP provides a method to evaluate the capacity of a watershed to PRIORITY: protect, enhance and restore water quality Improve flood protection in Anclote, Hillsborough and Pithlachascotee rivers, Lake Tarpon, and natural systems while achieving flood and Pinellas County coastal watersheds protection.
The District has been working with cities OBJECTIVES: and counties to develop a list of projects • Implement BMPs to reduce the impact of existing intermediate and regional system and a plan to implement projects over both flooding in priority areas the short and long-term. These projects −−Pithlachascotee River (Pasco County) are listed, updated and maintained in the −−Anclote River (Pinellas/Pasco County) District’s WMP Five-Year Plan. −−Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou (Pinellas County) −−City of St. Petersburg (Pinellas County) The District’s ERP program protects • Develop watershed management plans for priority areas to better support floodplain floodplain and historic basin storage and management decisions and initiatives ensures that new development does −−Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou (Pinellas County) not increase flood levels or the rate of −−Lake Tarpon (Pinellas County) stormwater runoff onto neighboring −−Anclote River (Pinellas/Pasco Counties) properties. Information developed from −−Hammock Creek (Pasco County) the WMP is used by regulatory staff and −−Lower Peninsula (Hillsborough County) industry consultants to identify flood- −−City of St. Petersburg (Pinellas County) prone areas and to ensure that a proposed −−City of Tarpon Springs (Pinellas County) project design provides the required level −−City of Oldsmar (Pinellas County) of protection. Coordination among these • Update watershed management plans and develop alternative analyses to groups begins during the pre-application improve flood protection process to identify minimum flood protection requirements, and continues −−Hillsborough River/Tampa Bypass Canal (Hillsborough County) as needed through the permit application −−Pemberton Baker (Hillsborough County) review process. During flood events, District −−Alafia River (Hillsborough County) staff coordinate internally with regulatory −−Stevenson Creek (Pinellas County) and operations staff and externally with −−City of Seminole (Pinellas County) local governments to investigate flooding −−City of Safety Harbor (Pinellas County) complaints and facilitate emergency −−City of Dunedin (Pinellas County) measures needed to alleviate flood risks that pose an immediate threat to public NARRATIVE: County experienced similar rainfall health and safety. In recent years, the Tampa Bay region totals and flooding. In 2016, Hurricane In the Tampa Bay region, chronic flooding has experienced significant rainfall events Hermine produced 15 inches of rain in occurs primarily in areas that were resulting in local, intermediate and regional Pinellas County and the coastal portions developed prior to 1984, when the District’s drainage system flooding. Flooding events of Pasco County over a four-day period. stormwater permitting rules went into in 2012, 2014, and 2015 have tested the These events speak to the importance of effect. While much of this flooding is existing stormwater infrastructure and watershed management. concentrated in highly developed urban have submerged areas that previously did The District’s WMP identifies, prioritizes areas, there are rural developments not flood. In June 2012, Tropical Storm and addresses flood-related water resource with no master stormwater system Debby produced 12 to 16 inches of rain issues within a watershed. Information that also experience frequent flooding. over a 24-hour period in portions of developed through the WMP is used by District regulatory staff coordinate with western Pasco and Hernando counties. local governments, the District, and state the residents and local governments to Flooding was most prevalent in the Peck and federal governments in regulatory provide guidance on permitting options Sink and Anclote River watersheds. In late and advisory floodplain management for temporary and permanent flood relief July and early August of 2015, western programs. The District takes a watershed measures. Some of these relief options portions of Pasco County experienced a approach to managing water and water- can be co-funded through the District’s 500-year storm event, receiving 12 to 30 related resources within its boundaries. Cooperative Funding Initiative. inches of rain in a 20-day period. During By doing so, the characteristics of each this same period, northwest Hillsborough watershed can be evaluated to reflect the
15 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Heartland Region — SWUCA Recovery
PRIORITY: Implement SWUCA Recovery Strategy
OBJECTIVES: • Achieve a net reduction of up to 50 mgd of groundwater use in the SWUCA by 2025 with 40 mgd of offsets achieved through the FARMS Program • Recover the SWUCA saltwater intrusion minimum aquifer level of 13.1 ft NGVD for the Upper Floridan aquifer to slow the rate of saltwater intrusion in the MIA • Recover 87 to 89 percent of the minimum flows for three segments of the upper Peace River through implementation of the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification project • Recover minimum levels at seven Polk County lakes and nine Highlands County lakes by 2025 • Ensure a sustainable water supply −−Achieve and maintain daily 150-gallon compliance per capita with all public supply utilities by December 31, 2019 −−Reduce 2011 regional average water use per capita by 5 percent by 2020 −−Assist Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) in the development of 30 mgd of alternative supply sources −−Increase percentage of total water use supplied by alternative sources −−Maximize the water conservation potential for the region −−Maximize interconnects among public supply utilities −−Complete the Lower Floridan aquifer study in Polk County to assess its viability as an alternative water supply source and to gain a better understanding of the Lower Floridan aquifer characteristics and groundwater quality −−Update the Regional Water Supply Plan for the Central Florida Water Initiative by 2020 −−Achieve 75 percent utilization of all wastewater flows and a 75 percent resource benefit by 2040. (As of 2017, the Heartland region had 36 mgd of wastewater flow and 21 mgd of reuse for a utilization rate of 58 percent)
NARRATIVE: proposed minimum aquifer level, restoring The cumulative impact analysis Most of the District’s Heartland region falls minimum flows to the upper Peace River evaluates changes in permitted and within the eight-county SWUCA, which and restoring minimum levels to priority used groundwater quantities and encompasses approximately 5,100 square lakes in the Ridge area, which extends water resource development projects miles. In the SWUCA, depressed aquifer roughly 90 miles along the center of the benefitting the Upper Floridan aquifer in levels have caused saltwater intrusion state in Polk and Highlands counties. and around the MIA. hhDeveloping and implementing water along the coast, contributed to reduced Some of the primary Recovery Strategy resource projects to aid in reestablishing flows in the upper Peace River and lowered elements for the SWUCA include: lake levels in areas of Polk and Highlands minimum flows to rivers, recover levels hhUpdating the Regional Water Supply counties. in Ridge lakes and enhance recharge. Plan to identify how to address growing A project focus area is to increase the regional water needs while minimizing Groundwater withdrawals were identified wet-weather storage in the upper Peace impacts to the water resources and as the primary cause of the depressed River watershed. aquifer levels throughout the groundwater natural systems. The District approved basin, with drawdowns in some areas the updated plan in November 2015. The District has been successful in exceeding 50 feet. hhProviding financial and regulatory multiple efforts associated with its incentives for conservation, construction SWUCA goals. Partnering with the Peace The District Governing Board has approved of alternative supplies and regional River Manasota Regional Water Supply the adoption of MFLs for 46 priority water interconnections. District funding Authority, the District has assisted in bodies in the SWUCA. An MFL is the limit sources include the Cooperative Funding developing a sustainable water supply to at which withdrawals would be significantly and Water Supply and Resource meet the needs of a four-county region harmful to the water resources or ecology Development initiatives. in the south. The District’s cooperatively- of the area. As of 2017, approximately half hhMonitoring, reporting and cumulative funded FARMS Program has helped the of these MFLs were not being met. The impact analysis. The Recovery Strategy agricultural community reduce its use of District adopted the SWUCA Recovery includes the continuous monitoring groundwater from the Upper Floridan Strategy to recover flows and levels to of trends in resource conditions and aquifer. The FARMS Program combined established MFLs, including reducing the permitted and actual water use. with other conservation efforts have helped rate of saltwater intrusion by achieving the
16 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Surface water pump station at Windmill Farms, Hardee County. to reduce Upper Floridan groundwater The CFWI region covers five counties, As part of the CFWI Region, Polk County withdrawals by more than 50 mgd, one including Polk, Orange, Osceola, Seminole has a need to develop 30 mgd of water of the targets established by the SWUCA and southern portions of Lake. The supply sources by 2035. The District Recovery Plan. The District’s Lake Hancock boundaries of the St. Johns River, South assisted in the establishment of the Lake Level Modification Project became Florida and Southwest Florida water PRWC in 2016 as a collaborative entity fully operational in 2014 to help meet the management districts meet in the CFWI to address water supply needs among minimum flows for the upper Peace River. area. its member governments. The District is currently coordinating with the PRWC on Other successes to date include completion The District is collaborating with the other the development of projects to meet the of TECO’s Southwest Polk Power Station water management districts, the state and projected 2035 water supply demands. Reclaimed Water Interconnect project. This local governments and utilities to identify a Such efforts include, but are not limited to, project is anticipated to provide a near-term sustainable water supply for the region. Key ongoing District investigation of the Lower resource benefit of 10 mgd and long-term components in meeting the water resource Floridan aquifer as a potential alternative benefit of 17 mgd. challenges of the CFWI area have included water supply source and provision of $40 the development of a shared groundwater Challenges remain in reducing the rate of million in initial funding to the PRWC model to determine regional resource saltwater intrusion along the coast and to assist in implementation of identified availability and the publication of the initial meeting minimum levels for Ridge lakes projects. In 2017, co-funding agreements CFWI Regional Water Supply Plan in 2015. in Highlands and Polk counties. While the were executed that assigned $11.5 million Other ongoing efforts include coordination southern portion of Polk County is included of the initial funding for phase I of three and planning for water resource data in the SWUCA, all of Polk County is part of projects. At its April 2018 meeting, the collection needs, development of a a designated Central Florida Water Initiative Governing Board approved an additional coordinated strategy for MFLs prevention (CFWI) region that is reaching sustainable $5 million per year (FY2019–23) for and recovery within the CFWI area, groundwater withdrawal limits, facing Phase II implementation of the establishment of consistent rules among increased demands on water resources selected projects. the permitting agencies and development and inconsistencies among regulatory of a second RWSP in 2020. programs.
17 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Heartland Region — Improve Water Bodies
PRIORITY: Improve Winter Haven Chain of Lakes and Ridge Lakes
OBJECTIVES: • Implement plans and projects for water quality, water-level, wetlands and/or submerged habitats in each priority water body • Identify priority Ridge Lakes in need of further evaluation and data collection
NARRATIVE: species, and increases in native aquatic Common water quality impacts include The Winter Haven Chain of Lakes is a and upland vegetation. Additionally, it is stormwater runoff, wastewater effluent, system of 19 interconnected lakes in Polk envisioned that lakes with sufficient water residential and fertilizer applications, County. Designated as a SWIM priority quality data will be evaluated against agricultural runoff, groundwater pollution, water body, the chain encompasses a the DEP’s numeric nutrient criteria. More shoreline habitat degradation and 32-square-mile watershed and is made information is available in the SWIM plan hydrologic alterations. for the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. up of two major groups with five lakes in Through the District’s Ridge Lakes the northern chain and 14 in the southern As of 2018, water quality improvement Restoration Initiative, emphasis has been chain. The lakes are interconnected through projects have been implemented for placed on protective lake management the construction of canals to promote eight lakes (Conine, Howard, May, Lulu, strategies. Stormwater treatment has been recreational access. Hartridge, Jessie, Cannon, and Mariana). a high priority, as well as enhancement Two main challenges exist in the Winter In addition, more than 30 low impact and restoration of natural systems and Haven Chain of Lakes watershed: nutrient development (LID) best management additional flood protection. projects have been installed within the loading from urban runoff and the loss of As of 2018, the District is initiating an downtown area of the City of Winter natural systems. The District is working evaluation of the Ridge Lakes to prioritize Haven. with other government agencies to reduce lakes for further evaluation to determine non-point source pollutant loadings through Approximately 130 lakes lie within the the projects and programs necessary to pollutant reduction goals and stormwater Ridge Lakes area, which extends roughly ensure that the Ridge Lakes meet the water management, to restore upland and aquatic 90 miles along the center of the state quality objectives of the District. Success habitats while preserving plant and wildlife in Polk and Highlands counties. A high indicators will be measured by water quality populations and to implement ecologically number of deep sinkhole basin lakes makes improvements including reductions in non- and environmentally sound land-use this region uniquely different from the point source loading of nutrients, decreases practices. other lake regions in the District, as well as in nonnative or undesirable species and Success will be measured by water quality throughout the state. increases in native aquatic and upland improvements including reductions in vegetation. In addition, lakes with sufficient non-point source loading of phosphorous, Declining water quality and lake levels are water quality data will be evaluated against decreases in nonnative or undesirable challenges for the lakes along the Ridge. the DEP’s numeric nutrient criteria.
Lake Gwyn in Polk County.
18 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Southern Region — SWUCA Recovery
PRIORITY: Implement SWUCA Recovery Strategy
OBJECTIVES: • Achieve a net reduction of up to 50 mgd of groundwater use in the SWUCA by 2025 with 40 mgd offset achieved through the FARMS Program • Recover the SWUCA saltwater intrusion minimum aquifer level of 13.1 ft NGVD for the Upper Floridan aquifer to slow the rate of saltwater intrusion in the MIA −−Ensure a sustainable water supply −−Achieve and maintain 150-gallon daily compliance per capita with all public supply utilities by December 31, 2019 −−Reduce 2011 regional average per capita water use by 2.5 percent by 2020 −−Maximize water conservation −−Maximize public supply interconnects −−Achieve 75 percent utilization of all wastewater flows and a 75 percent resource benefit by 2040. (As of 2017, the Southern region had 71 mgd of wastewater flow and 42 mgd of reuse for a utilization rate of 59 percent) −−Develop ASR options for potable and reclaimed water supply −−Increase the percentage of total water use supplied by alternative sources −−Continue assessing the viability of using excess runoff in Flatford Swamp for improving groundwater levels in the MIA −−Assist the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority in completing construction on the remaining planned phases of the Regional Integrated Loop System project by 2035
NARRATIVE: Some of the primary Recovery Strategy District has assisted in developing a The entire Southern Region of the District elements for the SWUCA include: sustainable water supply to meet the needs falls within the eight-county SWUCA. hhUpdating the Regional Water Supply of a four-county region. The District’s In the SWUCA, which encompasses Plan to identify how to address growing cooperatively-funded FARMS Program has approximately 5,100 square miles, regional water needs while minimizing helped the agricultural community reduce depressed aquifer levels have caused impacts to the water resources and its use of groundwater from the Upper saltwater intrusion along the coast, natural systems. The District approved Floridan aquifer. The FARMS Program contributed to reduced flows in the upper the updated plan in November 2015. combined with other conservation efforts Peace River and lowered lake levels in areas hhProviding financial incentives for have helped to reduce Upper Floridan of Polk and Highlands counties. conservation, development of alternative groundwater withdrawals by more than 50 supplies and regional interconnections. mgd, one of the targets established by the Groundwater withdrawals were identified District funding sources include the SWUCA Recovery Plan. The District’s Lake as the primary cause of the depressed Cooperative Funding and Water Supply Hancock Lake Level Modification project aquifer levels throughout the groundwater and Resource Development initiatives. became fully operational in 2014 to help basin, with drawdowns in some areas hhMonitoring, reporting and cumulative meet the minimum flows for the upper exceeding 50 feet. impact analysis. The Recovery Strategy Peace River. includes the continuous monitoring The District has adopted MFLs for 46 Much progress has been made in the of trends in resource conditions and priority water bodies in the SWUCA as of region, but challenges remain to reduce the permitted and actual water use. The 2017. Approximately half of these MFLs rate of saltwater intrusion along the coast cumulative impact analysis evaluates are not being met. The District adopted and move toward meeting minimum levels. the SWUCA Recovery Strategy to recover changes in permitted and used flows and levels to established MFLs, groundwater quantities and water including reducing the rate of saltwater resource development projects benefiting intrusion by achieving the proposed the Upper Floridan aquifer in and around minimum aquifer level, restoring minimum the Most Impacted Area. flows to the upper Peace River and The District has been successful in multiple restoring minimum levels to the priority efforts associated with its SWUCA goals. lakes in the Ridge area, which extends Partnering with the Peace River Manasota roughly 90 miles along the center of the Regional Water Supply Authority, the state in Polk and Highlands counties.
19 Regional Priorities and Objectives
Southern Region — Improve Water Bodies
PRIORITY: Improve Charlotte Harbor, Sarasota Bay, Shell/Prairie/Joshua Creeks
OBJECTIVES: • Implement plans and projects for water quality, wetlands, critical shoreline and/ or submerged habitats in each priority water body • Develop and update plans and implement projects that improve water quality and restore critical shoreline, coastal upland and intertidal habitats • Assist local governments with implementation of BMPs to achieve water quality standards
NARRATIVE: Charlotte Harbor is Florida’s second largest open water estuary at 270 square miles. Generally considered one of the most productive estuarine ecosystems in southwest Florida, the harbor is designated an “Estuary of National Significance” and a SWIM priority water body.
Challenges for the 4,400-square-mile 147 square miles of contributing area comprehensive conservation and Charlotte Harbor watershed include alteration for the watershed. Construction of management plan, implementation of and loss of wetlands, an increase in nonnative the District’s Lake Hancock Outfall water quality improvement projects and plant species and water quality degradation Treatment System has been completed. restoration of the balance between coastal from point and non-point source pollutants. This project, when fully operational, will upland, wetland and intertidal habitats. As remove an estimated 85 tons of nitrogen of 2017, the District and its partners have The success indicator is the harbor-wide annually discharged from Lake Hancock to completed projects to provide water quality seagrass target of 18,436 acres adopted the Peace River and, ultimately, Charlotte treatment for 59 square miles of watershed by the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Harbor. contributing to Sarasota Bay and restored Program (CHNEP) for the District’s area of more than 925 acres of coastal habitats. the harbor. More information is available in Sarasota Bay is designated as an “Estuary the District’s SWIM Plan for the harbor. of National Significance” and a SWIM Shell, Prairie and Joshua Creek (SPJC) The District participates with other priority water body. Similar to Charlotte watersheds are located in the southern government agencies through the CHNEP to Harbor, challenges to this 150-square- region of the Peace River Basin. Combined, update and implement the comprehensive mile watershed include changes to coastal the SPJC watersheds comprise a surface conservation and management plan, uplands and loss of wetlands, an increase in area of 487 square miles, or approximately implement water quality and hydrologic nonnative plant species and water quality 20 percent of the Peace River Basin. alteration improvement projects and restore degradation from point and non-point the balance between coastal upland, source pollutants. The City of Punta Gorda obtains its potable wetland and intertidal habitats. water supply from the Shell Creek in- The success indicator for Sarasota Bay is stream reservoir. Prairie and Shell creeks As of 2018, the District and its cooperators the seagrass target of 9,779 acres adopted (and associated tributaries) are designated have completed 16 natural systems projects by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. as Class I waters, which means they which have restored approximately 4,536 Similar to efforts under way for Charlotte are designated for use as potable water acres of coastal habitats for Charlotte Harbor. Harbor, the District is working with supplies. These creeks converge at, and The District and its partners have provided other government agencies on initiatives sustain, the city’s reservoir. water quality projects treating more than for Sarasota Bay. These include a
20 Groundwater withdrawals for agricultural irrigation created mineralized water quality issues in the SPJC watersheds. The FARMS Program was created in 2003 with the goal of improving the watershed’s water quality. Through BMP implementation, the FARMS Program has partnered with producers to reduce groundwater use and capture runoff in tailwater recovery ponds and reuse the water for irrigation. This reduces the amount of mineralized groundwater used within the watershed and results in downstream water quality benefits. The District has and will continue to monitor surface water quality at key locations in the watershed to detect changing trends related to mineralization of surface waters.
A key success indicator is the reduction of total dissolved solids (TDS) in these surface waters. Through the implementation of FARMS Program projects and other initiatives, water quality concentrations for chloride, specific conductance and TDS measured at key surface water reference sites have significantly improved. Additionally, these FARMS Program projects have reduced approximately 10.5 mgd of groundwater use which contributes to SWUCA recovery.
Shell Creek in Charlotte County.
District staff educating environmental students on the importance of water quality monitoring. 21 Core Business Processes
Managing and protecting the water FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY LAND MANAGEMENT AND resources of a 16-county area requires The District’s primary funding source is ad STRUCTURE OPERATIONS a highly skilled, motivated work force valorem taxes, which vary from year to year. Land Management and Structure with the right tools, support and good In addition to paying for its operating costs, Operations operate and maintain District information to make informed decisions and the District provides financial incentives lands and water control structures to provide high quality service to the residents through partnerships with public and restore and sustain natural systems and of the District. All the various functions private entities on projects that protect and minimize flood damage. of this workforce have been evaluated restore the water resources of the region, and categorized into seven core business such as promoting water conservation, In its 10,000-square-mile region, the processes. To successfully achieve our developing alternative water supplies, District owns 450,000 acres of land that Strategic Initiatives and Regional Priorities, enhancing natural systems and water provide various water resource benefits. the District must excel in each of these. quality and promoting flood management These lands are managed to restore and activities. sustain those ecosystems, store flood WATER RESOURCES PLANNING waters, recharge the aquifer and treat The District operates on a pay-as-you-go Water Resources Planning encompasses water quality. basis that allows it to make more funding surface water and groundwater resource available for projects. The District targets at The District also operates 88 water control evaluations and other comprehensive least 50 percent of its budget each year for structures. Most of these structures are planning efforts in partnership with water resources projects. conservation structures that are operated local, state, regional, federal and other to maintain water levels and provide stakeholders. These responsibilities include limited flood relief. The larger flood control REGULATION identifying, collecting, analyzing and structures, like those associated with Regulation involves multiple permit disseminating relevant and accurate data the Tampa Bypass Canal, are capable of activities that promote a fair allocation of and providing technical assistance. quickly moving large quantities of water the water resources, protect wetlands, and are operated to provide maximum flood Examples include the Southern Water Use enforce well construction standards protection. Structure S-160 on the Tampa Caution Area Recovery Strategy Five-Year and ensure that new activities do not Bypass Canal is the largest flood control Assessment, Minimum Flows and Levels increase the risk of flooding or degrade structure in the state. studies, Regional Water Supply Planning, water quality. The permitting process Strategic Plan update, Consolidated also monitors subsequent operational Annual Report and reviews of proposed performance of permitted systems to KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT comprehensive plan amendments and protect the region’s citizens and water As an information-based organization, high large-scale development, including resources. quality data are critical to making informed developments of regional impact. decisions that protect and enhance the The District is committed to protecting water resources. Knowledge Management the water resources while also providing INNOVATIVE PROJECTS is the practice of systematically and quality service in a timely, convenient The District initiates and supports actively collecting, managing, sharing and consistent manner to the regulated creative, collaborative projects to produce and leveraging an organization’s data, community. The District’s Regulation measurable benefits to the environment, information and processes. As the region’s Division is structured to eliminate water resources and the regional knowledge leader for water resources duplication, increase efficiency and community. The projects address the information, the District collects a variety of consistency and reduce costs. Centralizing core mission goals for water supply, flood regulatory, scientific and socio-economic the permitting review process in the protection, water quality and natural and business data to support its Strategic District’s Tampa office ensures that permit systems. Initiatives. While the focus of Knowledge applicants throughout the District are Management activities is on meeting and To ensure tax dollars are used as efficiently treated consistently. Improved online supporting these initiatives, it is recognized and effectively as possible, the District permitting services make it easier and more that many public and private stakeholders created a Project Management Office. convenient to submit a permit application also rely on this information to meet Comprising a team of project managers, and access permit data. their business needs. Since FY2016, an this Office oversees District project emphasis has been placed on building The District is also working with the other processes to increase efficiency and awareness and expanding a culture of water management districts and the DEP to maximize benefits. Knowledge Management throughout achieve statewide permitting consistency all business units within the agency, as wherever possible while allowing for well as improving the documentation, regional water resource differences. organization, review and storage of key business practices and related supporting documentation (governing documents).
22 Core Business Processes
During FY2018 and FY2019, the District ENGAGEMENT will be organizing governing documents Engagement is a key to retaining a highly to facilitate knowledge sharing, ensure skilled and motivated work force, the the alignment of division/bureau practices cornerstone of any successful organization. with the Governing Board's policies and Keeping staff informed and involved executive director procedures and allow promotes good morale and increases for timely retrieval and review of existing productivity. Additionally, engagement governing documents. extends beyond internal staff.
Information technology and water resource To manage water resources effectively data collection activities at the District are over a large region, engaging external managed by a governance procedure, with publics, including citizens, media, elected oversight by a governance committee that officials, advisory committees and other includes members of the District’s Executive stakeholders is also critical. Outreach and Team. The information technology and data education engage these various groups to governance process monitors, informs, and foster behaviors, secure funding and assist controls the efficient and effective use of in developing laws that conserve, protect information technology and data collection and sustain Florida’s precious water and to ensure these initiatives and associated related natural resources. Also, through resource expenditures are in alignment with its planning and outreach processes the the strategic direction and priorities of the District collaborates with stakeholders and District. The focus for the future will be on advisory committees to help meet those expanding governance processes across all goals. Input from stakeholders and advisory business practices at the District to further committees is used by the Governing Board supplement the District’s Knowledge to make water resource decisions. Management initiatives. Engagement helps to communicate those The District promotes consistency of data shared interests, forging relationships that collection activities by coordinating with support collaboration to benefit the region’s local, regional and state entities through water and related resources, economic participation on statewide, regional councils stability and quality of life. and interagency workgroups. The District District staff analyzing samples in lab. is also working with the other water management districts and state agencies to implement common replacement standards for equipment; to develop common standards for sharing financial, geospatial, scientific and permit information; and to establish frameworks for joint development of software applications.
Regulatory staff explaining stormwater Prescribed burn conducted on District land. management.
23 Photo credits: All photos: SWFWMD staff. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not discriminate on the basis of disability. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions, including access to and participation in the District’s programs and activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the District’s Human Resources Office Chief, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville, FL 34604- 6899; telephone (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (FL only), ext. 4703; or email [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice). VIS MW12/18