Government and Regulatory Agencies
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
www.dep.state.fl.us
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the lead agency in state government for environmental management and stewardship. Everglades-specific information can be found at
www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/everglades/default.htm and a water resource management section at www.dep.state.fl.us/water.
Lee County
www.lee-county.com
Official website for Lee County government. This site links you to the county's programs, services and departments. You will also find links to websites of the five incorporated cities that fall within the county boundaries, other public agencies and separately elected constitutional officers. For the Lee County Division of Natural Resources, visit www.lee-county.com/naturalresources. For specific information on Lee County's water resources agenda, visit:
11_22_05_Water_issues_agenda.pdf.
Lower West Coast Regional Service Center (LWC) of the South Florida Water Management District
https://my.sfwmd.gov/
Homepage of the Lower West Coast Regional Service Center, which is designed to provide a local community perspective on the development of District water resource policies and implementation of water resources management initiatives in the Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte County region.
South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
www.sfrestore.org/
Functioning as the steering committee for Everglades restoration, the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force was established by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996. The Task Force consists of 14 members from four sovereign entities. There are seven federal, two tribal, and five state and local government representatives.
South Florida Water Management District
www.sfwmd.gov
Home
page for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), a regional agency
of the state of Florida charged with managing and protecting water resources of
the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural
systems and water supply. Contains
a wealth of water-related content.
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (Jacksonville)
www.saj.usace.army.mil
Home page for the U.S Army Corps,
Jacksonville District, the second largest civil works district in the nation,
with an area of responsibility that encompasses the state of Florida and the
Caribbean. Find information on Lake Okeechobee
Regulation Schedule Study and Notice
of Public Workshop for Lake Okeechobee . There is
a separate Water Management and Meteorology Section homepage at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/ and a
Flood Control Flood Plain Management Services Section
located at
www.saj.usace.army.mil/pd/pdpf.htm/.
Water Projects
Acceler8
www.evergladesnow.org
Acceler8
is a major boost for Everglades restoration that reaffirms the commitment of
the federal/state/local partnership to revitalize the ecosystem by stepping up
the pace on 13 restoration projects.
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
www.evergladesplan.org
Official site for information on this massive Everglades
restoration program.
Lake Okeechobee & Estuary Recovery (LOER)
www.sfwmd.gov/site/index.php?id=727
Announced
October 10, 2005 by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, LOER is a response to identified
water resource needs, legislative directives, and demands of Florida citizens.
This action plan has been developed to help restore the ecological health of
Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries. Key state
agencies charged with carrying out this plan include the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD), the Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP),
the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Department
of Community Affairs (FDCA).
Conservation/Preservation/Environmental/ Wildlife Organizations (Local/Regional)
Audubon of Florida Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Campaign
www.audubonofflorida.org
Audubon
of Florida has joined with a coalition of Florida conservation
organizations-The Florida Water Coalition- dedicated to protecting Florida's
water for wildlife, ecosystems and drinking. Specifics on this initiative can be found at www.audubonofflorida.org/action/default.htm. Priorities of Audubon's Florida Water Campaign are to challenge efforts to
privatize public water supplies, ensure developers consider wildlife as
existing or competing water users when they apply for permits, keep an eye on
legislation they believe threatens waters supplies and to promote bills to
better protect its purity. Fact
sheets produced by Audubon can be found at www.audubonofflorida.org/main/Publications/factsheets.htm.
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF)
http://www.sccf.org/
Official website for SCCF, a not-for-profit
organization dedicated to the preservation of natural resources and wildlife
habitat on and around these barrier islands.
Water-Related Websites & Organizations (Local/Regional)
Caloosahatchee Estuary Overview
https://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/
Coastal Estuary section of South Florida Water Management District website.
Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association (C.R.C.A.)
http://crca.caloosahatchee.org
Grassroots
non-profit organization designed to improve the River from its source to its
mouth, including its impacts on riparian and estuarine systems, wildlife
habitat and marine life. This organization is also
commonly referred to as River Watch.
Caloosahatchee Water Management Plan (WMP)
www.sfwmd.gov/org/exo/cwmp/index.html
The
mission of the Caloosahatchee Water Management Plan is: to assure an adequate
supply of water for all existing and future competing uses, to improve the
functions of natural systems and to improve surface and ground water quality.
Calusa Restoration Coordination Team (CRCT)
www.swfrpc.org/RCT/Calusa.htm
The
CRCT is tasked with the integration, coordination and evaluation of the
region's environmental restoration activities and making recommendations to the
Southwest Florida Regional Restoration Coordination Team (RRCT). Its
principal activities include the identification and prioritization of
restoration science gaps and restoration projects. The CRCT is composed of
representatives from environmental agencies, academic institutions,
not-for-profit environmental groups and other environmental consortia.
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
www.chnep.org
Official
website for The National Estuary Program (NEP), which was established to develop
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs) for estuaries of
national significance -- of which Charlotte Harbor is one -- that are threatened
by pollution, development or overuse. The program is designed to protect the natural environment from Venice to Bonita Springs to
Winter Haven.
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
www.conservancy.org
The
Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a non-profit organization that is leading
the challenge to protect and sustain Southwest Florida's natural resources.
Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) Land & Trust
www.crewtrust.org/index.htm
The CREW
Land & Water Trust was established in 1989 as a nonprofit organization to
coordinate the land acquisition, land management, and public use of the
60,000-acre Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. This watershed
straddles Lee and Collier Counties and provides aquifer recharge, natural flood
protection, water purification, preservation of wildlife habitat and public
recreation. The CREW lands play a vital role in maintaining the future
quality and quantity of Southwest Florida's water supply.
Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
www.leeparks.org/fos
Friends
of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a not-for-profit advocacy and support
organization committed to preserving, protecting and promoting Six Mile Cypress
Slough Preserve for future generations through education and community
partnerships, working together with Lee County and South Florida Water
Management District.
People United to Restore our Rivers and Estuaries-(PURRE)
www.purre.org
Grassroots
organization to promote the protection and restoration of the Caloosahatchee,
its estuary, the Southwest Florida environment and the broader South Florida
ecosystem.
Sanibel H2O
www.sanibelh2o.com
Official
water related website from the City of Sanibel.
Sanibel Residents
www.oursanibel.com/waterquality.htm
Grass
roots advocacy effort of local residents.
Southwest Florida Watershed Council
www.swfwc.org/index.htm
The
Southwest Florida Watershed Council is a grassroots, multi-county coalition of
individuals, organizations, agencies and businesses that have come together to
address the issues affecting the Caloosahatchee and Big Cypress watersheds. The
purpose of the Watershed Council is to ensure that the interests and concerns
of all stakeholders are addressed and that long-term management strategies balance
the needs of this region's growth and the natural systems upon which our
economy and quality of life depend.
Research Reports and Water-Related Data
2010 South Florida Environmental Report
www.sfwmd.gov/sfer/
The report spans two volumes comprising more than 50 individual reports. The illustrated volumes, including a 44-page executive summary, provide extensive research summaries, data analyses, financial updates and a searchable database of environmental projects. The report covers environmental information for Water Year 2009 (May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009) and project/budgetary information for Fiscal Year 2009 (October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009).
Everglades Consolidated Reports
www.sfwmd.gov/sfer/previous_ecr.html
The Everglades
Reports summarize available data and findings from research and monitoring of
the Everglades Protection Area and will be used by the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection for making decisions affecting implementation of the Everglades Construction
Project and related activities.
Florida International University Water Quality Monitoring
www.fiu.edu/%7Eserp/jrpp/wqmn/wqmn.html
Research
from Southeast Environmental Research Program (SERP) addressed regional water
quality concerns that exist outside the boundaries of individual political
entities and included Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and Whitewater Bay, Ten
Thousand Islands, Florida Key National Marine Sanctuary and the Southwest
Florida Shelf.
Minimum Flows and Level
https://my.sfwmd.gov/
This website provides general information on the State mandate for minimum flows and levels to protect estuaries. For specific information on the impacts of flows on submerged aquatic vegetation in the Caloosahatchee Estuary, visit http://sofia.usgs.gov/sfrsf/rooms/coastal/caloosahatchee/door/ to see an overview of the research of Peter Doering and Robert Chamberlain.
NOAA-Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological
www.aoml.noaa.gov
The
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AMOL) mission is to
conduct basic and applied research in oceanography, tropical meteorology,
atmospheric and oceanic chemistry, and acoustics. AMOL is one of the Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research Facilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is
located in Miami, Florida. The homepage for the
Ocean Chemistry Division (OCD), one of the four scientific research divisions
within the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), can be
found at www.aoml.noaa.gov/ocd. Its work
includes projects that are important not only in enhancing our basic
understanding of the coupled atmospheric/ocean system but also in assessing the
current and future effects of human activities on the coastal and oceanic
environments.
Real-time Stream Flow Data
waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/current/?type=flow
U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) real-time stream flow data tables.
Southwest Florida Water Data
www.sfwmd.gov/site/index.php?id=7
SFWMD
data and documents for Southwest Florida.
Total Maximum Daily Load Programs
www.tmdls.net
Where water's of the nation are not meeting appropriate water
quality standards after implementation of technology-based effluent limits or
other pollution control programs, the Federal Clean Water Act requires that Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) be established for the pollutants of concern. This
website, created as a joint effort of America's Clean Water Foundation and the
Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators, is
designed to convey important information relating to Total Maximum Daily Loads
and to enhance state and local capacity to develop and implement TMDLs and
other watershed-based approaches to help solve water quality issues.
U.S. Department of EPA Total Maximum of Daily Loads for Florida
oaspub.epa.gov/waters/state_rept.control?p_state=FL
Water Quality Monitoring Program for Caloosahatchee River
www.sfwmd.gov/org/ema/envmon/wqm/cr/crindex.html
The
Caloosahatchee River water quality monitoring program was established in 1979
by SFWMD and extends from Lake Okeechobee west to the coastal structure that
releases fresh water to the Caloosahatchee Estuary. The water quality
monitoring program provides a water quality and nutrient loading data base for:
- Determining loadings to the Caloosahatchee River estuary
- Assessing potential downstream impacts on the Caloosahatchee River Estuary
- Implementing Lake Okeechobee Technical Advisory Committee's (LOTAC) recommendation for a comprehensive monitoring and research plan as described in the Department of Environmental Protection "Lake Okeechobee Monitoring and Research Plan"
- Determining long- and short-term trends necessary to identify potential problem areas in terms of water quality degradation and nutrient loadings. Water quality data from the Caloosahatchee River also are used to determine the effect of Lake Okeechobee discharges and tributary impacts on the Caloosahatchee River
Other Resources
Center for Watershed Protection
www.cwp.org
Center
for Watershed Protection is a non-profit corporation that provides local
governments, activists and watershed organizations around the country with the technical
tools for protecting some of the nation's most precious natural resources: our
streams, lakes and rivers.
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)
www.ccaflorida.org
CCA
Florida is a statewide, nonprofit marine conservation organization working in
an advocacy role to protect the state's marine resources and the interests of
saltwater anglers.
Everglades National Park
www.nps.gov/ever
Everglades National Park has been designated a World Heritage Site,
an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance.
Florida Division of Forestry
www.fl-dof.com
The
Florida Division of Forestry official website that contains information about its
mission to protect and manage the forest
resources of Florida, insuring they are available for future
generations.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
www.floridafisheries.com
Managing fish and wildlife resources for their
long-term well-being and the benefit of people.
Florida Gulf Coast University Library
Natural Resources Defense Council
www.nrdc.org/water/conservation/default.asp
National
organization focused on clean water and oceans and conservation and
restoration.
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
www.rookerybay.org
Located at the northern end of the Ten Thousand Islands on the
gulf coast of Florida, the Rookery Bay Reserve represents one of the few
remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America. The mission of the
Reserve is to provide a basis for informed coastal decisions through land
management, restoration, research and education. The Reserve works in
partnership with local communities to promote coastal stewardship.
Smart Communities Network
www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/
Network
designed to create energy smart communities that offers a website with links to
articles and publications as well as community success stories on a variety of
topics from Community Energy, to Green Development, to Sustainable Business to
help strengthen your local economy, improve and protect the quality of your
local environment, enhance the quality of life in your community, and build
towards a more sustainable future.
Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council
www.swfrpc.org/
The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council is a locally
formed regional planning agency serving six counties: Charlotte, Collier,
Glades, Hendry, Lee and Sarasota. Its mission is to protect and improve the
Region's physical, economic and social environment. The agency is directed by a
34-member Council composed of local elected officials and gubernatorial
appointees.
The Living Everglades
glades.sfwmd.gov/empact/home/index.shtml
Website
from SFWMD designed to provide citizens, scientists, teachers and students
access to a vast amount of information and data about the Florida Everglades.
This means that you can find maps and data on water quality, hydrology and
weather, nitrogen and phosphorus levels, water levels and flows, and rainfall
throughout the Greater Everglades region. These data are provided by the SFWMD
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System
nerrs.noaa.gov
The
National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of protected areas
established for long-term research, education and stewardship. This partnership
program between NOAA and the coastal states protects more than one million
acres of estuarine land and water, which provides essential habitat for
wildlife; offers educational opportunities for students, teachers and the
public; and serves as living laboratories for scientists.
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org
The
Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization dedicated
to preserving the diversity of life on earth.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA
Website for specific information on wetlands, oceans and watersheds. Other EPA
Websites include:
www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/ for the national estuary program
and www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/lessons/index.html for the top 10
watershed lessons learned.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov/index.html
Homepage
for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which is committed to working with
others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service Southeast Region website, visit www.fws.gov/southeast
Practice Responsible Yard Care and Environmental Stewardship
50 Ways to be Water Smart
www.sfwmd.gov/curre/watshort/pdfs/spl50ways.pdf
Tips
from SFWMD on how you can help save Florida's limited water supply.
Fertilize Smart
www.FertilizeSmart.com
Complete details of Lee County Fertilizer Ordinance No. 08-08 that took full effect in June 2009 to limit the use of fertilizer and ensure the quality of coastal waters. The site provides an overview of the ordinance, fertilizer tips, and more.
Florida-Friendly Yard Tips
www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/yards
Transform your yard into a beautiful oasis; save
water, time and energy; and reduce pollution.
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods for Lee County
http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/FYN/FYNHome.shtml
Information
from the University of Florida IFAS Extension Lee County on creating a
Florida-friendly yard and a recognition program that can help you transform
your yard into a beautiful oasis that will not only conserve precious water
resources and reduce pollution, but also will help you save time, energy and
money.
Lee County Water Use Regulations
www.sfwmd.gov/org/wsd/wateruse/yearrndlndscape.htm
Mandatory
year round landscape irrigation measures for Lee County.
Natives for Your Neighborhood
www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/default.asp
A
program of the Institute of Regional Conservation in which you can discover how
to turn simple gardening into habitat restoration by using plants that are
native to your specific area.
Sensible Sprinkling
www.sfwmd.gov/curre/watshort/pdfs/splsensprnk.pdf
Tips
from SFWMD on irrigation and sprinkling.
Water Wisely Southwest Florida
www.sfwmd.gov/sw_camp
Information
and links from the South Florida Water Management District water conservation
program called "Water Wisely: Conservation Starts in Your Backyard."
