About St. johns river water management district
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) is a state environmental regulatory agency in Florida that is dedicated to ensuring the quality and quantity of water resources in the region. The district covers an area of 18 counties, stretching from Indian River County in the south to Nassau County in the north, and includes all or part of several major cities such as Orlando, Jacksonville, and Daytona Beach.
The primary mission of SJRWMD is to protect and manage water resources for sustainable use by balancing human needs with those of natural systems. This involves monitoring water quality, managing water supply, protecting against floods and droughts, restoring natural habitats, and promoting conservation practices.
One of the key functions of SJRWMD is to ensure that drinking water sources are safe for human consumption. The district works closely with local utilities to monitor groundwater levels and quality, identify potential sources of contamination such as agricultural runoff or industrial discharges, and implement measures to prevent pollution.
Another important role played by SJRWMD is managing surface waters such as rivers, lakes, wetlands and estuaries. This involves regulating activities that may impact these ecosystems such as dredging or filling wetlands for development purposes. The district also works on restoring degraded habitats through projects like reforestation or removing invasive species.
SJRWMD also plays a critical role in flood protection by identifying areas at risk from flooding events like hurricanes or heavy rainfall events. The district develops plans for mitigating these risks through measures like building levees or improving drainage systems.
In addition to its regulatory functions related to water management issues within its jurisdictional boundaries; SJRWMD also collaborates with other agencies at both state-wide level (such as Florida Department Environmental Protection)and national level (such as US Army Corps Engineers)to address broader environmental challenges facing Florida's ecosystems including climate change impacts on sea-level rise , habitat loss due urbanization etc .
SJRWMD has a team comprising hydrologists , biologists , engineers , planners etc who work together towards achieving their goals . They conduct research studies on various aspects related to their work which helps them make informed decisions about how best they can manage our precious natural resources .
Overall St.Johns River Water Management District plays an essential role in ensuring sustainable use of Florida's precious freshwater resources while balancing human needs with those nature . Their efforts help protect our environment while supporting economic growth across the region .