(The Northwest Florida Water Management District protects and manages water resources, including wetlands, across 16 counties in northwest Florida)
The Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD), created by Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, is charged with protecting and managing the water resources of northwest Florida in a sustainable manner for the continued welfare of its residents and natural systems. Inherent in this statutory mandate to manage water resources is the protection, preservation, restoration and enhancement of wetlands within NWFWMD boundaries.
Wetlands are vital to the economic and ecological welfare of the watershed, providing a broad array of functions and services for environmental resources and human communities including:
- Water quality protection, improvement and groundwater recharge
- Shoreline stability, flood protection and moderation of surface water runoff
- Ecological integrity including support for natural systems
- Promotion of a natural resource economy including commercial, aesthetic and recreational benefits
To accomplish the goal of protecting wetland water resources in northwest Florida, the NWFWMD implements a number of programs that carry out wetland mitigation, land acquisition and management, wetlands restoration, and regulation of wetland impacts. The NWFWMD regional wetland mitigation program (Umbrella Plan / In-Lieu Fee Program), other wetland restoration activities, and related resource management activities are further discussed at:
- Umbrella Plan
- Sand Hill Lakes Mitigation Bank
- Tates Hell
- Other Wetlands Restoration, Protection, and Mitigation Efforts
Links to other NWFMWD programs are found at:
- NWFWMD Land Acquisition Program
- NWFWMD Environmental Resource Permitting
- Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program
- Management and Storage of Surface Waters (MSSW) Program
NWFWMD offers mitigation, as an option, to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for road projects with wetland impacts. Proposed transportation projects in northwest Florida with potential wetland impacts may be found at the FDOT Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM) website.
