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Home My WebLink AboutCC 2007-03-27 PresentationSOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our Mission is to manage and protect water resources of the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems, and water supply. NOTE: Florida's lifestyle depends on a clean, ample supply of water. As you read through these 50 ways to save water, you'll notice that some are based on simple common sense, while others utilize new technology. It's important that we all do our part. 50 Ways To Be Water Smart HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE FLORIDA'S LIMITED WATER SUPPLY Saving Water Outdoors 1. Don't overwater your lawn — no more than once a week in the winter or twice a week in the summer. A good rain eliminates the need for watering for up to two weeks. Buy a rain gauge. Most of the year, lawns only need one inch of water per week. 2. Plant it smart. Xeriscape landscaping is a great way to design, install and maintain both your plants and irrigation system. It will save time, money and water. 3. Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces evaporation and waste. 4. Position sprinklers so water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not on paved areas. 5. Install irrigation devices that are the most water efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of efficient devices. 6. Check sprinkler systems and timing devices regularly to be sure they operate properly. Florida law now requires that "any- one who purchases and installs an auto- matic lawn sprinkler system MUST install a rain sensor device or switch which will over- ride the irrigation cycle when adequate rain- fall has occurred" 7. Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches, or to its highest level. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil mois- ture. 8. Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Applying fertilizer increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers which contain slow -release, water - insoluble forms of nitrogen. 9. Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. (Help preserve native cypress forests by selecting other types of mulch such as treated melaleuca.) Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with landscape plants for water. 10. Plant native and/or drought -tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need water as frequently and usually will survive a dry period without watering. They also require less fertilizer or herbicides. Group plants together based on similar water needs. 11. Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean leaves and other debris from your driveway or sidewalk. 12. Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose which can be adjusted down to a fine spray, so that water flows only as needed. When finished, turn it off at the faucet instead of at the nozzle, to avoid leaks. Check hose con- nectors to make sure plastic or rubber wash- ers are in place. Washers prevent Teaks. 13. Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unat- tended. A garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours. Use a bell timer to remind yourself to turn sprin- klers off. 14. Avoid purchasing recreational water toys which require a constant stream of water. 15. Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park on the grass and use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle. It's Worth Saving RESIDENTIAL/COMMUNITY WATER -USE RESTRICTIONS - 50 WAYS TO BE WATER SMART I 16. Avoid installing ornamental water fea- tures (such as fountains) unless they use recycled water. 17. If you have a swimming pool, consider a new water -saving pool filter. A single backflushing with a traditional filter uses 180 to 250 gallons of water. In Your Home 18. Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. Use it to water your indoor plants or garden. 19. Make sure your home is leak -free. Check your water meter when you are cer- tain that no water is being used. If the meter reading changes, you have a leak! 20. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water per year! 21. Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors. 22. Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If you have a leak, the color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. (Flush immediately to avoid stains.) 23. If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run con- stantly, replace or adjust it. 24. Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush. (Don't use a brick! There are devices available at most hardware and home centers.) Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts. Consider low -volume toilets which use less than half the water of older models. NOTE: In many areas, low -volume units are required by law. 25. Take shorter showers. Replace your showerhead with an ultra -low -flow version. 26. Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water to water plants. • 27. In the shower, turn water on to get wet; turn off to lather up; then turn the water EN11 /7/06 back on to rinse off. Repeat when washing your hair. 28. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of load you are using. 29. When hand washing dishes, save water by filling two containers - one with soapy water, one with rinse water contain- ing a small amount of chlorine bleach. 30. Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don't let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool. 31. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator, or use the defrost setting on your microwave. 32. Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste. 33. Do not waste water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave. 34. Consider installing an instant hot water heater on your sink and insulating your water pipes. 35. Think twice about installing a water -to - air heat pump or air-conditioning system. Newer air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water. 36. Don't let water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving. 37. Install water softening systems only when necessary. Turn softeners off while on vacation. 38. If you have a well at home, check your pump periodically. If the pump kicks on and off while water is not being used, you have a leak. 39. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet. South Florida Water Management District 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, Florida 33406 561-686-8800 • FL WATS 800-432-2045 www.sfwmd.gov MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 24680 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 SERVICE CENTERS General Water Saving Tips 40. Follow water conservation guidelines and ordinances in your community. Even if your water comes from a private well - you are expected to comply. 41. Report water losses (broken pipes, open hydrants, errant sprinklers, aban- doned free -flowing wells, etc.) to the prop- erty owner, local authorities or your water management district. 42. Promote water conservation in commu- nity newsletters, on bulletin boards and by example. Encourage your friends, neigh- bors and co-workers to "be water smart:' 43. Patronize businesses which practice water conservation, such as restaurants that only serve water upon request. 44. Encourage your employer to promote water conservation in the workplace. 45. Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and pro- mote a water conservation ethic. 46. Support projects that will lead to an increased use of reclaimed waste water for irrigation and other uses. 47. Support efforts that promote water con- servation among tourists. 48. Conserve water because it is the right thing to do - even when someone else is footing the bill, such as when you are stay- ing at a hotel. 49. Participate in public water conservation meetings conducted by your local govern- ment, utility or water management district. 50. Try to do one thing each day that will result in saving water. Every drop counts! - FOR MORE WATER CONSERVATION INFORMATION & MATERIALS - Please contact the SFWMD at 1-800-662-8876 or visit us on the Web at www.sfwmd.gov. Big Cypress Basin 941-597-1505 Broward 954-713-3200 or 877-350-3897 Florida Keys 305-853-3219 or 800-464-5067 Fort Myers 941-338-2929 or 800-248-1201 Martin/St. Lucie 561-223-2600 or 800-250-4100 Miami/Dade 305-377-7274 or 800-250-4300 Okeechobee 863-462-5260 or 800-250-4200 Orlando 407-858-6100 or 800-250-4250 Palm Beach 561-682-6792 or 800-432-2045 ext. 6792 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our Mission is to manage and protect water resources of the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems, and water supply. NOTE This document represents a summary of Phase I Water -Use Restrictions as they apply to residential/ community use. For more details, or for a copy of the Water Shortage Rule visit www.sfwmd.gov 0 RESIDENTIAL/COMMUNITY Water -Use Restrictions PHASE 1 Water Shortages Water shortages and water conservation fall under the District's mission for water supply. South Florida depends upon rainfall for its water supply. While South Florida gets an average of 52 inches of rain a year, the rainfall is seasonal, falling mostly in the summer and fall. The rainfall is also cyclical, meaning there are typically 10-year cycles of drought and flood. To manage water shortages in an organized and efficient manner, the District has adopted a Plan and a Rule to restrict water use when supplies fall short. (Sec. 373.246, Florida Statutes; Ch. 40E-21, Florida Administrative Code). The goal is to protect the remaining supply by conserving water, preventing saltwater intrusion and assuring a fair distribution of available supplies. Water Users Water users are grouped into categories according to use — residential, agricultural, industrial, recreational, etc. — and, according to the source from which the water comes. Residential users are the largest user -group affected by water restrictions. Water -Use Restrictions The District has established specific water -use restrictions according to the severity of the water shortage — Phase I, moderate; Phase II, severe; Phase III, extreme; and, Phase IV, critical — each requiring an increasingly larger reduction in water use. The District correlates each phase of the restrictions to the overall percentage of reductions needed. Phase I water restrictions require water users to limit outdoor water use (see back page). These actions are intended to produce a 15 percent reduction in overall demand MARCH 2007 on our water resources by all users. Because all users do not use the same amount of water, Phase I restrictions DO NOT mean that public utilities must reduce the amount of water they sell by 15 percent. It is up to ALL water users from all sources to get us to the overall 15 percent reduction. General Guidelines • All wasteful and unnecessary water use is prohibited. • Essential services involving public health and safety, such as fire -fighting, are not restricted. • Water -use restrictions DO NOT apply to the use of reclaimed water. • Water -use restrictions generally DO apply to water from public utilities, private wells and all surface waters such as canals, lakes, ponds and rivers. - Any exemptions from the restrictions must be through a formal process, that is, by obtaining a variance from the District. Residential/Community Water -Use Restrictions Phase 1 Summary Because about half the water used in South Florida is for landscape irrigation, the District targets outside water -use for restrictions. Irrigation is most efficient in the early -morning hours when less evaporation occurs. Oray, QiN It's Worth Saving RESIDENTIAL/COMMUNITY WATER -USE RESTRICTIONS - PHASE 1 Landscape Irrigation Et Maintenance for Homes With Less Than Five Acres of Land • Watering is permitted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4-8 a.m. for homes with addresses that end with an odd number (1,3,5,7,9). • Watering is permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 4-8 a.m. for homes with addresses that end with an even number (0,2,4,6,8) or with no address. • Hand watering with one hose and an automatic shut-off nozzle is also allowed from 5-7 p.m. on the same days. • New landscaping, planted for Tess than thirty days, may be watered Monday through Friday from 2-8 a.m. • New landscaping may be watered at any time by hand with one hose and an automatic shut-off nozzle. • Pesticide applications by homeowners or nonlicensed individuals are allowed during hours and days of the watering schedule. • Pesticide application is permitted by a licensed pesticide technician at any time. The applicator must be present during application. • When cleaning, adjusting or repairing existing irrigation systems, ten minutes of operating the irrigation system per zone/per week is permitted. And, ten minutes of system operation is permitted on a one-time basis for new irrigation systems. Landscape Irrigation & Maintenance for Homes With More Than Five Acres of Land • Watering is permitted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12:01- 8 a.m. for homes with addresses that end with an odd number (1,3,5,7,9). • Watering is permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 12:01- 8 a.m. for homes with addresses that end with an even number (0,2,4,6,8) or with no address. . • New landscaping, planted for less than thirty days, may be watered Monday through Friday from 12:01- 8 a.m. • New landscaping may be watered at any time by hand with one hose and an automatic shut-off nozzle. • Pesticide applications are allowed during the hours/days of the watering schedule. • Pesticide application is permitted by a licensed pesticide technician at any time. The applicator must be present during application. • When cleaning, adjusting or repairing existing irrigation systems, ten minutes of operating the irrigation system per zone/per week is permitted. And, ten minutes of system operation is permitted on a one-time basis for new irrigation systems. Car, Boat & Equipment Washing • Washing of cars, boats and other equipment is permitted 4-8 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. on the landscape watering days. Washing must be done on, or must drain to, a non -paved surface that permits water to soak into the ground. And, it must be done using a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle or low -volume press cleaner. • Washing and detailing of cars is allowed anytime if done by a licensed individual or company using an automatic shut-off nozzle and low water -use techniques. • Rinsing and flushing of boats after saltwater use is allowed once a day for up to 15 minutes per boat. i Other Outdoor Water Uses • Washing or rinsing of sidewalks, driveways, streets or other paved surfaces is NOT ALLOWED at any time unless done with low -volume pressure cleaning equipment. That is, the equipment must be designed to reduce the volume of water used. • Low -volume pressure cleaning of any surface and structure is permitted. • Live -aboard boats that serve as a primary residence may be washed or rinsed during the landscape watering day/time schedule based on the number of the boat slip or the address of the location of the dock. • Filling or refilling of swimming pools is allowed. If a pool is emptied, it must drain onto a non -paved surface such as a lawn. • Re -circulating fountains and ornamental water features may be operated if the water use is efficient, meaning that there is no wind draft, leaking or overflowing of water. Further Water Supply Shortages The District may declare more stringent restrictions as set forth in Phases II, III and IV. For the average person, the major difference in the phases is the number of days and hours that water may be used outside the home. Residential/Community irrigation hours: Phase II, two days per week for 4 hours; Phase III, one day for three hours; Phase IV, one day for one hour; and, in more severe conditions, the District may restrict all outside watering. Find more water conservation tips, visit our web site at www.sfwmd.gov/conserve or call our Water Conservation Hotline at (800) 662-8876 to request more information. South Florida Water Management District 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, Florida 33406 561-686-8800 • FL WATS 800-432-2045 www.sfwmd.gov MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 24680 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 SERVICE CENTERS Big Cypress Basin/Naples 239-263-7615 Broward 954-713-3200 Florida Keys (Plantation Key) 305-853-3219 or 800-464-5067 Lower West Coast 239-338-2929 or 800-248-1201 Martin/St. Lucie 772-223-2600 or 800-250-4100 Miami -Dade 305-377-7274 or 800-250-4300 Okeechobee 863-462-5260 or 800-250-4200 Orlando 407-858-6100 or 800-250-4250 Palm Beach County 561-682-2283 or 800-432-2045 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our Mission is to manage and protect water resources of the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems, and water supply. NOTE This document represents a summary of Phase I Water -Use Restrictions as they apply to commercial/ recreation use. For more details, or for a copy of the Water Shortage Rule visit www.sfwmd.gov quick facts on... COMMERCIAL/RECREATION Water -Use Restrictions PHASE 1 Water Shortages Water shortages and water conservation fall under the District's mission for water supply. South Florida depends upon rainfall for its water supply. While South Florida gets an average of 52 inches of rain a year, the rainfall is seasonal, falling mostly in the summer and fall. The rainfall is also cyclical, meaning there are typically 10-year cycles of drought and flood. To manage water shortages in an organized and efficient manner, the District has adopted a Plan and a Rule to restrict water use when supplies fall short. (Sec. 373.246, Florida Statutes; Ch. 40E-21, Florida Administrative Code). The goal is to protect the remaining supply by conserving water, preventing saltwater intrusion and assuring a fair distribution of available supplies. Water Users Water users are grouped into categories according to use — residential, agricultural, industrial, recreational, etc. — and, according to the source from which the water comes. Residential users are the largest user -group affected by water restrictions. Water -Use Restrictions The District has established specific water -use restrictions according to the severity of the water shortage — PHASE I, moderate; PHASE II, severe; PHASE III, extreme; and, PHASE IV, critical — each requiring an increasingly larger reduction in water use. The District correlates each phase of the restrictions to the overall percentage of reductions needed. Phase I water restrictions require water users to limit outdoor water use (see back page). These actions are intended to produce a 15 percent reduction in overall demand on our water resources by all users. Because MARCH 2007 all users do not use the same amount of water, Phase I restrictions DO NOT mean that public utilities must reduce the amount of water they sell by 15 percent. It is up to ALL water users from all sources to get us to the overall 15 percent reduction. General Guidelines • All wasteful and unnecessary water use is prohibited. • Essential services involving public health and safety, such as fire -fighting, are not restricted. • Water -use restrictions DO NOT apply to the use of reclaimed water. • Water -use restrictions generally DO apply to water from public utilities, private wells and all surface waters such as canals, lakes, ponds and rivers. • Any exemptions from the restrictions must be through a formal process, that is, by obtaining a variance from the District. Commercial/ Recreation Water -Use Restrictions PHASE 1 Summary Low volume water use for irrigation, mobile equipment washing, and hand watering is permitted anytime, with voluntary reduction. Low volume methods include: Irrigation: Using equipment designed to limit watering to plant requirement. Mobile Equipment Washing: Using bucket and sponge or hose with automatic shut-off nozzle or low -volume pressure cleaner. Pressure Cleaning: Using equipment designed to reduce inflow volume as accepted by industry standards. COMMERCIAL/RECREATION WATER -USE RESTRICTIONS - PHASE I Irrigation Systems (cleaning, adjusting, repairing) * Licensed Individual/Company • Less Than One Acre: Watering is permitted 10 minutes per zone per week. • One Acre or More: Watering is permitted one hour per acre per week. * For recreation areas, golf courses, nurseries, and other agricultural uses refer to the Water Shortage Rule. Landscape Watering Licensed Individual/Company • Same schedule as residential landscape watering. Pesticide Application Licensed Individual/Company - Voluntary Reduction • Application is permitted anytime. Pesticide technician must be on premises when water is applied. Mobile Equipment Washing Commercial Establishment - Voluntary Reduction • Washing is limited to 75 gallons or less per vehicle for cars, vans, and small trucks (under 10,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight). • Large trucks (over 10,000 lbs.) limited to 150 gallons or less. Mobile Equipment Washing Licensed Individual/Company - Voluntary Reduction • Washing/detailing is permitted anytime using low volume methods. Nurseries • Low volume irrigation and hand watering is voluntarily reduced. • Inside overhead irrigation is permitted daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. • Outside overhead irrigation is pemiitted daily, 7 p.m :7 a.m. • Moisture stress relief for containerized nursery stock is permitted daily, 10 minutes per irrigation zone: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. • Flood irrigation is permitted 8 days per month. Agriculture • Low volume irrigation and hand watering is voluntarily reduced. • Overhead irrigation (including portable volume guns) is permitted daily, 2 p.m.-10 a.m. • Moisture stress relief for field -grown citrus nursery stock is permitted daily, 10 minutes per irrigation zone: 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (noon) 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m. • Soil flooding is permitted ONLY for vegetable seed planting, rice planting, burning of sugarcane prior to harvest, and to permit harvesting of sod, with voluntary reduction. Golf Courses • 15 percent cutback from permitted allocation. Recreation Areas • Watering new or existing landscaping permitted during residential landscape watering schedule. • Watering newly seeded and/or sprigged areas (planted for less than 30 days) is permitted daily, 10 minutes per irrigation zone: 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.-4 p.m. • Watering porous, non -vegetated recreation/sporting surfaces (baseball infields, clay tennis courts and racetracks) is permitted 10 minutes prior to each event. Applications for Variances Users seeking relief from water -use restrictions should file an application that states how the request qualifies for a variance and describes the nature of the relief desired. The applicant must provide reasonable assurances that the variance will not otherwise harm the water resources of the District. Users must conform to water use restrictions until the variance is granted. More information is available at www.sfwmd.gov/curre/watshort/varinstructions.html. Find more water conservation tips, visit our web site at www.sfwmd.gov/conserve or call our Water Conservation Hotline at (800) 662-8876 to request more information. 1RO3/14/07 South Florida Water Management District 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, Florida 33406 561-686-8800 • FL WATS 800-432-2045 www.sfwmd.gov MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 24680 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 SERVICE CENTERS Big Cypress Basin/Naples 239-263-7615 Brownrd 954-713-3200 Florida Keys (Plantation Key) 305-853-3219 or 800-464 5067 Lower West Coast 239-338-2929 or 800-248-1201 Martin/St. Lucie 772-223-2600 or 800-250-4100 Miami -Dade 305-377-7274 or 800-250-4300 Okeechobee 863-462-5260 or 800-250-4200 Orlando 407-858-6100 or 800-250-4250 Palm Beach County 561-682-2283 or 800-432-2045 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Who we are and what we do SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT to manly and yrotec water resources of the rejion by balauciiij and i provi J water quality, flood control, natural systems and water suyyly ON THE COVER A scientist monitors plants in a stormwater treatment area, part of an Everglades nutrient removal project. These marsh plants will uptake phosphorus and filter the water before it flows to the Everglades. There was a time in southeastern Florida when a continuous cypress swamp narrowly bordered the Everglades' eastern edge. These ancient trees can grow to heights of 130 feet with bases over 10 feet in diameter. Wet -footed mystery trees, cypress stand guard in South Florida's remaining freshwater swamps. The weather in South Florida can be erratic In fact, it has been said that if you don't like a few moments or cross the str DRENCHED IN SUNSHINE for most of the year, it is easy to call South Florida, "Paradise:' Turquoise seas lap the shoreline and gently swaying palm trees stir the breezes for easy living and great recreation. But there was a day the area was much less than a desirable place to live. WET is southern Florida in its natural state. One could argue the first letters once stood for Soggy and Flat. As recently as a hundred years ago, for most of the year, the terrain was wild and wet. Hardy pioneers assumed the plentiful, large mosquitoes had to be the state bird. Because the land is so flat, during the wet season (May through October) water could flow from lake to lake, spill over natural river channels, and spread into floodplains. There were no barriers or canals to direct or control the path of water. In the aftermath of large storms, water could stand for weeks and months and leave devastating damage and disease in its wake. During the drier months of winter and spring, Florida had its own version of the dust bowl days — cows went thirsty and crops withered on parched land. Geography sentences Florida to total dependence on rainfall. To make our watery state more inhabitable, through the years we attempted to control the water. For more than a century, from 1850 to 1950, the solution was to dredge and drain the "swamp:' After years of severe hurricanes, then drought, then more deadly storms, Florida asked the federal government for a master plan to tame nature's excesses. SOUTH FLoHioa WA1EB MANAGEMEMi DISiRIC1 : In 1948, the U.S. Congress authorized the : largest civil works project in the country. : Construction began the next year and : continued for over 20 years as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a massive plumbing system called the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project. The project stretches from just south of Orlando to Florida Bay. It consists of over 1,000 miles of canals, 700 miles of levees, and hundreds of gates and water control structures. It includes dozens of pump stations to send water south • ▪ and through waterways eastward and westward : to both coasts. In 1949, the state created our agency — the South Florida Water Management District — to be the local sponsor for the federal project. We operate and maintain the system. Our primary role is to smooth the peaks and valleys of the dry and wet seasons. Specifically, our mission is to manage and protect water resources of the region by balancing and improving four major elements: water quality, flood control, natural systems, and water supply. The large public works project built in the '50s and '60s to manage the water works very well. As well as provide flood control during the wet season and water supply during the dry months, the project drained floodplains and wetlands making them more accessible to humans. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Over the last four decades, urban development and agricultural production have flourished. At the same time, the altered natural areas became inhospitable to native wildlife. As a result, the environment began to flounder. The number of wading birds decreased along with the amount of floodplains. In the 1970s, as more habitats showed signs of distress, our responsibilities expanded to encompass environmental restoration. During the last century, the Everglades decreased in size dramatically. Current restoration projects include not only the Everglades proper, but encompass the entire Everglades ecosystem — the area from the upper chain of lakes to Florida Bay where the water once flowed naturally down the state. A major initiative called the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is under way. It will provide the right amount of water and the right flow conditions to the Everglades WHILE providing water for urban and agricultural needs for a 50-year population projection. With the collaborative effort of our federal partners, the Army Corps of Engineers, and our state partners, the Department of Environmental Protection, we are committed TODAY to shape the Florida our children will have TOMORROW. PROVIDING FLOOD N TRL is at the core of our mission; however, our responsibilities have increased greatly since being created by the state legislature in 1949. We employ approximately1,800 people. Employees operate and maintain the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control project, monitor the weather, and are stewards of public lands. Our workforce develops water supply plans, provides research, regulates land and water use, purchases land for preservation, and implements ecosystem restoration. Our employees handle the economics and information components of managing water. They conduct environmental monitoring and assessment, develop the budget, produce public outreach materials, and oversee contractual services. Staff integrate, manage, and implement the Everglades Construction Project and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. We activate our Ernergen4r Operations Center for hurricanes, wild fires, floods, and droughts. Upper Chain of Lakes EN/11/03 SOUTH HISTORICALLY, was a giant marsh fed by rainfall. Like an ice glacier slowly moving over a huge mass of land, during the rainy wet season, sheets of water would move down the state through what was then the great expanse of Everglades. eoretically, a drop of water could fall on a leaf in the upper chain of lakes, travel down the meandering Kissimmee River, float over the natural southern shore of Lake Okeechobee, ride the sheet of water slowly gliding over the southern peninsula, and finallydri into Florida Bay. Florida Bay We oversee water resources in the southern half of the state. We manage water in one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world - the Kissimmee -Okeechobee -Everglades system - stretching 240 miles from Orlando to the Florida Keys. We provide water when there is not enough and take it away when there is too much. We channel and regulate water through canals that crisscross the southern peninsula to meet the needs of all users. We safeguard the region's water quality to ensure enough usable water 50 years from now. Managing water for cities, farms, and the natural environment is a balancing act with competing needs and conflicting responsibilities. Major restoration projects dovetail our missions of flood control and water supply. We restore floodplains along the Kissimmee River, revitalize the shoreline habitats on Lake Okeechobee, and will retool the flood control system to capture the 1.7 billion gallons of water now lost to sea and to better mimic the way nature delivered water to the Everglades. • to b Th e world"; pif2Trli.,?r wcir rPs.D.Licr.P figrincy REFLECTIONS is one in a series of brochures that reflect the mission of the South Florida Water Management District. This information is also available on CD as a PowerPoint presentation. South Florida Water Management District 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, Florida 33406 561-686-8800 • FL WATS 800-432-2045 www.sfwmd.gov MAILING ADDRFSS P.O. Box 24680 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Jose Keichi Fuentes Director Miami -Dade Regional Service Center (305) 377-7274 Ext. 7278 (305) 299-4900 2121 S.W. 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, Miami, FL 33129 Fax: (305) 377-7293 • email: jfuentes@sfwmd.gov