Water Management Districts

The Department is involved in managing the quality and quantity of water through its relationship with the state's five water management districts (WMD) Northwest Florida WMD, Suwannee River WMD, St. Johns River WMD, South Florida WMD and Southwest Florida WMD, and the adoption and implementation of The Florida Water Policy and The Florida Water Plan. Water Management District Map, provided by the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, gives the Department "general supervisory authority" over the districts and directs the Department to delegate water resources programs to them where possible.

Pursuant to these delegations, the districts are authorized to administer flood protection programs and to perform technical investigations into water resources. The districts are also authorized to develop water management plans for water shortages in times of drought and to acquire and manage lands for water management purposes under the Save Our Rivers program. Regulatory programs delegated to the districts include programs to manage the consumptive use of water, aquifer recharge, well construction and surface water management.

As part of their surface water management programs, the districts (except for Northwest) administer the Department's stormwater management program. This law also increases the districts' contacts with local governments by directing the districts to help with the development of the water elements in local government comprehensive plans.

Water Management District	Location	Phone	Toll-Free Number
Northwest Florida WMD	81 Water Management Dr, Havana, FL  32333	850-539-5999
Suwannee River WMD	9225 CR 49 Live Oak, FL 32060	386-362-1001	800-226-1066 (Florida only)
St. Johns River WMD	P.O. Box 1429 Palatka, FL   32178	386-329-4500	800/-451-7106
Southwest Florida WMD	2379 Broad Street Brooksville, FL  34604	352-796-7211	800-423-1476 (Florida only)
South Florida WMD	3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, FL  33406	561-686-8800	800-432-2045 (Florida only)