The Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) stretches from the
St. Marks River Basin in Jefferson County to the
Perdido River
Perdido River, historically Rio Perdido (1763), is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 15, 2011 river in the U.S. states of Alabama and Florida; the Perdido, a desig ...
in Escambia County. The District is one of five water management districts in Florida created by the Water Resources Act of 1972. The District has worked for decades to protect and manage water resources in a sustainable manner for the continued welfare of people and natural systems across its 16-county region. It serves Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington and western Jefferson County.
Within the District's area, there are several major hydrologic (or drainage) basins:
Perdido River
Perdido River, historically Rio Perdido (1763), is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 15, 2011 river in the U.S. states of Alabama and Florida; the Perdido, a desig ...
and Bay System,
Pensacola Bay
Pensacola Bay is a bay located in the northwestern part of Florida, United States, known as the Florida Panhandle.
The bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, is located in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County, adjacent to the city of Pensacol ...
System (Escambia, Blackwater and Yellow Rivers),
Choctawhatchee River
The Choctawhatchee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map , accessed 15 April 2011 river in the southern United States, flowing through southeast Alabama and the Panhandle o ...
and Bay System,
St. Andrew Bay System,
Apalachicola River
The Apalachicola River is a river, approximately 160 mi (180 km) long in the state of Florida. The river's large watershed, known as the ACF River Basin, drains an area of approximately into the Gulf of Mexico. The distance to its fa ...
and Bay System and
St. Marks River Basin (
Wakulla River
The Wakulla River is an U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 18, 2011 river in Wakulla County, Florida. It carries the outflow from Wakulla Springs, site of the Edward ...
).
A nine-member Governing Board, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida House of Representatives being the lower house. Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of Florida, adopted ...
, guides District activities. Board members serve four-year terms without compensation and may be reappointed. An Executive Director oversees a staff of approximately 100 that includes hydrologists, geologists, biologists, engineers, planners, foresters, land managers and various administrative personnel.
Lands
The district reports having acquired more than 85 percent of the floodplains along the
Choctawhatchee River
The Choctawhatchee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map , accessed 15 April 2011 river in the southern United States, flowing through southeast Alabama and the Panhandle o ...
,
Escambia River
The Conecuh River and Escambia River constitute a single river in Alabama and Florida in the United States.
The Conecuh River rises near Union Springs in the state and flows in a general southwesterly direction into Florida near Century. The r ...
and
Econfina Creek
Econfina Creek is a small river in the middle Florida Panhandle. It flows through hilly country, and has sections of whitewater rapids. Much of its flow comes from springs. The river ends at Deer Point Lake, a reservoir that provides the freshw ...
have been acquired by the district.
[
Land Management
]
Recreation
Recreational opportunities are available on NWFWMD land along the following waterways: springs, and pristine bottomland hardwood and associated upland forests.[Land & Recreation tab]
Land and Recreation, Northwest Florida Water Management District website
* Apalachicola River
The Apalachicola River is a river, approximately 160 mi (180 km) long in the state of Florida. The river's large watershed, known as the ACF River Basin, drains an area of approximately into the Gulf of Mexico. The distance to its fa ...
* Chipola River
The Chipola River is a tributary of the Apalachicola River in western Florida. It is part of the ACF River Basin watershed.
The U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 15 ...
* Choctawhatchee River
The Choctawhatchee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map , accessed 15 April 2011 river in the southern United States, flowing through southeast Alabama and the Panhandle o ...
* Econfina Creek
Econfina Creek is a small river in the middle Florida Panhandle. It flows through hilly country, and has sections of whitewater rapids. Much of its flow comes from springs. The river ends at Deer Point Lake, a reservoir that provides the freshw ...
* Escambia River
The Conecuh River and Escambia River constitute a single river in Alabama and Florida in the United States.
The Conecuh River rises near Union Springs in the state and flows in a general southwesterly direction into Florida near Century. The r ...
* Holmes Creek (Florida)
Holmes Creek is a stream in Clay County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a tributary to the Fishing River.
The stream headwaters arise at just south of U.S. Route 69. The stream flows northeast passing under Route 69 and past the community ...
* Perdido River
Perdido River, historically Rio Perdido (1763), is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 15, 2011 river in the U.S. states of Alabama and Florida; the Perdido, a desig ...
* Yellow River (Florida)
The Yellow River (historically known as the Chester River or the Middle River) is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 15, 2011 river in the southern United States whic ...
Acreages by basin
Conservation acreages by basin are:Lands
Northwest Water Management District website
*Perdido River 5,454
*Escambia River 34,919
*Garcon Point 3,245
*Blackwater River 380
*Yellow River 17,725
*Choctawhatchee River/Holmes Creek 60,595
*Econfina Creek 41,135
*West Bay
*719
*Upper Chipola River 7,377
*Apalachicola River 35,506
*Lake Jackson 516
*Conservation Easements 11,000
See also
*
St. Johns River Water Management District
The St. Johns River Water Management District ("SJRWMD") is one of five Florida water management districts that is responsible for managing groundwater and surface water resources in Florida. SJRWMD covers an 18-county region in northeast and east ...
*
South Florida Water Management District
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is a regional governmental district that oversees water resources from Orlando to the Florida Keys. The mission of the SFWMD is to manage and protect water resources by balancing and improving w ...
*
Southwest Florida Water Management District
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (or SWFWMD, pronounced as "swiftmud" based on the word acronym), is one of five regional agencies directed by Florida State law (United States), state law to protect and preserve water resources. Es ...
*
Suwannee River Water Management District
References
External links
Official Website
{{authority control
Water management authorities in the United States
State agencies of Florida
1972 establishments in Florida
Government agencies established in 1972