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.