S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T
South Florida WaterManagement DistrictBudget Year 2013–2014
The South Florida Water Manage ment Districtis a regional, governmentalagency that oversees thewater resources in thesouthern half of the state. It is the oldest and largestof the state’s five watermanagement districts.
Our Mission is to manageand protect water resourcesof the region by balancingand improving waterquality, flood control,natural systems and watersupply.
MAY 2014
Agency OverviewThe South Florida Water Management District(SFWMD) serves 16 counties from Orlando toKey West and from Fort Myers to FortLauderdale, encompassing 31% of the state’sland area and 41% of the population.
The SFWMD operates the region’s primary floodcontrol network along with other systemcomponents made up of major canals, levees,water storage areas, pump stations and otherwater control structures.
The agency also safeguards and plans regionalwater supplies for people and the environment.Other core responsibilities include improvingand protecting water quality and restoringnatural systems in one of the most diverseecosystems in the world – America’s Everglades.
The budget year starts October 1 and endsSeptember 30 of the following year. Tounderscore transparency and publicaccountability, staff look for and implementways to improve operations, achieve efficienciesand implement good business practices.
State legislation divides the District into twotaxing basins: the Okeechobee Basin(comprising the bulk of the counties) and the BigCypress Basin (includes Collier County and aportion of mainland Monroe County). A nine-member SFWMD Governing Board, appointedby the Governor and confirmed by the Senate,provides oversight and sets policy for bothbasins. The Governor also appoints five CollierCounty residents to oversee Big Cypress Basinplanning, budgeting and operations.
The Governing Board appoints an ExecutiveDirector, also subject to Senate approval, to carryout the Board’s directives. Key leadershipsupport is provided by the Assistant ExecutiveDirector, General Counsel and Chief of Staff.
District Divisions
Field Operations & LandManagement encompasses the year-roundand emergency operations and maintenancefunctions conducted by the agency’s eight fieldstations to ensure water management systemreadiness. Stewardship of District-owned publicland includes vegetation management, exoticspecies control and opportunities for recreationalaccess.
Operations, Engineering &Construction is responsible for 24-houroperational control and monitoring of Districtstructures and water levels to provide regionalflood control, water supply and environmentalenhancement. Water management systemcomponents are routinely inspected, andrefurbishments are completed on a plannedschedule. In addition, this group oversees thedesign and construction of new restorationprojects and other District facilities.
Everglades Policy & Coordinationcomprises all aspects of the District’sinvolvement and commitment regarding stateand federal initiatives to implement Evergladesrestoration. This group coordinates, developsand implements comprehensive policy andprojects to preserve, restore and protect theSouth Florida ecosystem while recognizing theneeds of stakeholders.
Orlando
LakeOkeechobee
LoxahatcheeRiver
India
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Riv
er La
go
on
BiscayneBay
FloridaBay
Caloosahatchee
St. Lucie
UpperChain of
Lakes
Florida Keys
Big
Cypres s
National
Preserve
Everglades
National
Park
West PalmBeach
FortLauderdale
FortMyers
Miami
Naples
Key West
Kissi m
mee
Riv
e
r
River
River
WCA1
WCA2
WCA3
South Florida Water Management District3301 Gun Club Road • West Palm Beach, Florida 33406561-686-8800 • 800-432-2045 • www.sfwmd.gov
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 24680 • West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680
EN05/22
District LocationsHeadquartersWest Palm Beach: (561) 686-8800 or (800) 432-2045
Big Cypress BasinNaples: (239) 263-7615
Field StationsBig Cypress Basin: (239) 597-2236
Clewiston: (863) 983-1431
Fort Lauderdale: (954) 452-4814
Homestead: (305) 242-5933
Miami: (305) 513-3420
Okeechobee: (863) 462-5328
St. Cloud: (407) 891-3550
West Palm Beach: (561) 791-4100
Regulatory Service CentersLower West Coast: (239) 338-2929 or (800) 248-1201
Okeechobee: (863) 462-5260 or (800) 250-4200
Orlando: (407) 858-6100 or (800) 250-4250
Toll-free numbers are Florida only.
SFWMD 2013–2014
District activities are funded by a combination of ad valorem (property) taxesand other sources such as federal and state revenue, licenses, permit fees,agricultural taxes, fund balances and investment income.
Funding Sources
Where the Money Comes From2013–2014 Budget ($ Millions)
Adopted Budget $622.2 Million
Water Resources assesses South Florida’s diverse watersupply and environmental protection needs by conductingscientific research, collecting and analyzing field samples,developing computer models and utilizing many other tools andmethodologies. This information is used to plan and implementeffective strategies for ensuring water supply for both people andthe environment, restoring ecosystems and improving waterquality.
Regulation ensures fair, consistent and timely review ofenvironmental and water use permit applications. Streamlinedregulatory programs, including online accessibility andcompliance, help manage the region’s groundwater supplies andprotect natural resources such as wetlands, rivers, lakes andestuaries from adverse impacts.
Administrative Services consists of the primary businessfunctions of the agency: budget, finance, procurement, informationtechnology, facilities and human resources. This group providesefficient and cost-effective resources needed to support theDistrict’s core mission responsibilities.
For More InformationVisit www.sfwmd.gov for additional details about the agency,including Governing Board members and meetings; agencyorganization; major projects; permitting; publications; agencynews; career opportunities; and more.
QUICK STATS
Area and population: • Spans all or part* of 16 counties:
Broward Charlotte*CollierGladesLeeHendryHighlands*Martin
• 18,000 square miles • 7.9 million residents
One of the world's largest water management systems:• Approximately 2,100 miles of canals and 2,000 miles of levees/berms
• More than 600 water control structures and625 project culverts
• 70 pump stations• About 3,500 hydrological monitoring stations at 650+ flow sites, including 200 rain gauges and 26 weather stations
Miami-DadeMonroeOkeechobee*Orange*Osceola*Palm BeachPolk*St. Lucie
Ad ValoremFund Balances$148.1 M
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