At the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, we believe the more we can connect people with nature, the more willing they are to protect it. Our Nature Center and programs help us to do just that!

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida advocates for better stormwater management, treatment, and regulations to protect our region’s water resources from stormwater runoff.

Florida’s environment, economy and quality of life rely heavily on the health of streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters.  Thus, identifying when waterbodies are polluted or at risk of becoming polluted is the underpinning for any water quality protection and restoration program.  Moreover, a data collection program at the scale required by Florida’s vast mosaic of waterbodies necessitates robust funding and technological resources, as well as sufficient staffing in order to be successful.

Moreover, there are times when design flaws, changing precipitation patterns, and increased pollutant loading make these BMPs insufficient to meet the treatment needs of stormwater runoff.

In an order from the Court of Appeals on May 20, 2024, efforts to reverse our court win and temporarily return the flawed and unlawful state wetland permitting program were denied. Florida is appealing the lower court’s decision but asked for the wetland permitting program to be returned to them in the interim. This could have allowed Florida to continue processing permits for bad projects in wetlands and listed species habitats. Thanks to this decision, our wetland protection victory has been defended thus far!

By comparison, “nonpoint source” pollution may result from several impairment contributors, including precipitation, residential runoff, golf courses, urban stormwater, or agricultural fields, making its source difficult to trace. That’s where Basin Management Action Plans (BMAP’s) come in.

Despite strong public support for acquiring conservation land, Florida Forever remains underfunded by the state legislature.  Florida Forever projects are located throughout the estuarine watersheds, and the resources necessary to complete these land acquisitions are critical.  Conservation easements through Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Program also require additional funding.  Conservation easements offer a way to protect the natural resources or agricultural character of a property by removing development and/or intensification rights, while the landowner retains title to the land itself.  Another key program through Florida Forever, Florida Communities Trust, offers grants to partner with local communities for open space protection and recreational opportunities.

Water quality data collection is foundational for determining whether a waterbody is or is not meeting water quality standards. Without data, there is no information upon which to base assessments or identify when and where water quality problems originate. Consistent sampling provides a long-term dataset to assess the health of estuarine ecosystems and associated watersheds.

The Conservancy works to ensure the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are sufficiently stringent and that the Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) are updated regularly with the most recent data and information for restoring the water body back to a healthy state.

Stormwater runoff occurs when impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent rain from naturally soaking (infiltrating) back into the ground.

Wetland ecosystems are essential to our water quality, water supply, storm resilience, quality of life – and they support a diversity of plants and animals.

To promote better water management, the Conservancy works with stakeholders and decision-makers to ensure that stringent water management tools and best practices are in place and utilized.

The Conservancy works to prevent harm to wildlife by preserving their habitats from land use changes, conserving landscape corridors to provide habitat connectivity, and ensuring that habitat protections are strong.

The Conservancy recommends that decision-makers prioritize hydrologic restoration projects for funding and seek collaborative partnerships in order to achieve restoration to support southwest Florida’s water quality, wildlife habitat, quality of life and economic viability.

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Over 90 percent of Florida’s drinking water supply is dependent on aquifers, underground groundwater storage areas that collect water that seeps from the surface. That means we also depend heavily on rainfall to replenish the aquifer system. While much of Florida gets potable water from the deep Floridan aquifer, Southwest Florida relies on a surficial aquifer system for drinking water supplies.

Today, we face continued threats, as Florida is now the third most populous state in the union. Southwest Florida is experiencing much of that growth directly and is a hotspot of wetland loss in the nation.

This not only benefits the environment, but is also good for your wallet.  An economic study completed in 2008 estimated that coastal wetlands provided $23.2 billion on an annual basis for storm protection. With 1,350 miles of shoreline, Florida needs these natural buffers.

Locally, the Conservancy advocates that new and existing developments be required to utilize sufficient mechanisms of stormwater treatment in order to prevent exacerbation of current water quality problems or the creation of new ones. At the state level, the Conservancy has been involved in the development of updated statewide stormwater rules, which have already been implemented by several cities and counties.

The Conservancy actively advocates for solutions for ineffective BMP’s, such as required monitoring of stakeholder BMP implementation for effectiveness and enforcement.

The regulation of water quality standards is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as delegated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the CWA. Limits are set for various pollutants, such as nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), metals, bacteria, etc., in order to maintain levels that are safe for human consumption/contact, aquatic life, and vegetation.

The Conservancy recommends that local, state and federal decision-makers and agencies implement and enforce existing and new policies and regulations to protect critical wetlands and flowways.  In addition, the Conservancy recommends improving the standards of review for projects impacting wetlands and wildlife habitat, and increasing protections for wetlands, such as supporting proposals like the Waters of the United States rulemaking.

We work to ensure that stringent TMDL’s and BMAP’s are updated regularly with best available science to restore Florida’s waterbodies back to their healthiest states.

Water quality is an ongoing challenge throughout Florida.  According to FDEP, in the 2016 305(b) report, 67% of assessed rivers and streams, 73% of assessed estuaries and 100% of assessed canals were not meeting state water quality standards (these percentages include waterbodies in category 5 and waterbodies with TMDLs).

The DEP, in coordination with other agencies, local governments and diverse stakeholders, allocates specific contaminant reduction goals to each contributing polluter including cities, counties, and other municipalities. Contaminant reduction goals are also set for nonpoint sources, like agriculture, which are asked to implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to reduce their contribution to the water impairment.

A federal court struck down an unlawful scheme that threatened Florida’s wetlands and the species that inhabit them on February 16, 2024. The judge’s ruling will allow for a better review of the proposed development as the state of Florida is experiencing extreme pressure from growth. Read more about this landmark victory here.

Poor water quality can manifest in a number of ways, some visible – such as harmful algae blooms – and some invisible– like metals or bacteria.  Yet whether seen or unseen, these indicators of poor water quality can be detrimental to both wildlife and human health.  Due to southwest Florida’s reliance on tourism and waterfront real estate, declining water quality is both an environmental and economic concern.  A 2015 report published by the Florida Realtors Association indicated that a one-foot decrease in water clarity has an estimated 541 million-dollar negative impact on Lee County’s property values.   Lee County includes portions of the Caloosahatchee, Pine Island Sound, Estero Bay, and the Wiggins Pass/Cocohatchee watersheds, areas with a significant influence on southwest Florida’s economy and quality of life.

Many counties have volunteer workdays to remove litter near coastal areas.  Help clean up a local spot for a few hours at an event near you!

One of the lessons learned from the 2018 summer of toxic algae is that water quality impacts our environment, economy, and quality of life. We know there is no single solution to fix our complex water quality problems. Indeed, water quality can be improved when we come together to support long-term projects, such as Everglades Restoration, and shorter-term solutions, such as the acquisition of conservation lands that protect the water supply and water quality.

Southwest Florida is home to some of the most unique habitats and natural resources in America, making it a top destination for ecotourism, scientific research, and recreational enjoyment. It also hosts some of Florida’s most productive estuaries, and many species of plants, wildlife, and aquatic life rely on this area where freshwater meets saltwater. A mosaic of mangroves, freshwater wetlands, saltwater marshes, rivers, and streams intertwine with canals, coastal development, agriculture, and other human-influenced environments to create an interconnected system that is uniquely challenging to manage and preserve.

Unplug from your technology, round up family and friends and take a walk through a preserve, a kayak trip in an estuary or a swamp walk through the cypress.  Consider one of the many educational programs, boat rides or other activities offered by the Conservancy.  Being immersed in nature is fun and good for you.

To promote better water management, the Conservancy works with stakeholders and decision-makers to ensure that stringent water management tools and best practices are in place and utilized. Our policy positions are legally sound and based on the best-available science.

Altered hydrology severely impacts the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of water deliveries to coastal areas.  Therefore, restoring hydrology to pre-development conditions (to the greatest extent practicable) is an important strategy for protecting and restoring southwest Florida’s estuaries.  Hydrologic alterations can occur through increases in impervious surface cover, such as pavement; construction activities such as dredge and fill operations; canal construction; channelization of existing waterways; building water control structures; and road construction, which causes subsurface impaction  interfering with tidal flushing and both surface water and groundwater flow .  Another potential impact on hydrology is over-allocation of available water supplies through consumptive use permits.  When water is over-allocated through permitting, it can result in lowering the water table, depletion of aquifers and also contribute to low flows in streams and rivers that flow into estuaries.

We continue to advocate for adequate sampling of water bodies, more stringent BMPs with effective enforcement, and controlling pollution at the source in order to avoid the more costly and time-consuming clean-up and restoration required after a water body has become impaired.

Therefore, to adequately protect and restore water quality the Conservancy recommends effective source control to treat water on-site, protective and enforceable water quality standards, protective local stormwater and fertilizer ordinances, and adherence to TMDLs and implementation of BMAPs.

Waste often collects in stormwater drains, increasing pollution.  Make sure that you don’t put any waste into stormwater drains, including fertilizers, motor oils, paints, grass, and pet waste.  Wash your car on your lawn.  Dispose of hazardous waste (including motor oil) at your county’s collection facility.  Participate in your county’s yard waste collection program.  Learn how to compost your food waste.   Never dispose of grass clippings or other yard waste down storm drains, into waterways, or onto impervious surfaces.

Creating a program to educate on these issues and implementing fertilizer ordinances that limit the amount of nutrients entering our ground and surface waters is one of the most important steps a community can undertake to protect its water quality and quality of life.

Our very existence depends on water for everyday consumption, commerce, recreation, and the overall economic vitality of the region. Many of our natural treasures also rely on clean water - our beaches, native wildlife, marine life, sea grasses, mangroves, and plants.

Transportation planning is tied closely to land use planning and, just as new developments need to be directed to areas where they will least impact hydrology, wetlands, wildlife movement and key habitat areas, so too should new and expanded roadways be located away from sensitive natural areas.  Numerous projects in Southwest Florida, such as the 951 Extension in north Collier and south Lee counties and a new I-75 interchange in eastern Collier County, threaten to bisect key water and wildlife habitat areas.  New roadways extending out to rural areas, such as the Vanderbilt Beach Extension, will spur sprawl-style development more than they alleviate congestion and serve existing residents’ needs. Transportation improvements should avoid impacting key natural resources and focus on meeting existing community needs.

These percentages only reflect waterbodies for which sufficient data was available to meet the requirements for assessment.  The numbers may be even higher, but without sufficient sampling and data collection, this is impossible to determine.  Regardless, sufficient data is available to demonstrate that estuarine watersheds in southwest Florida are similarly struggling to meet applicable water quality standards.

The Conservancy Policy Department advocates for CERP projects and funding to restore the River of Grass, reduce damaging discharges of polluted water to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries, and send clean water south to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.

Between 2008 and 2010, updated stormwater regulations were considered, but not adopted, by FDEP during the development of a statewide stormwater rule.  Reinitiating such rulemaking now is very important given that the real estate industry is thriving and driving the construction of new developments throughout southwest Florida.  Local stormwater ordinances or stormwater utilities are other methods municipalities can employ to address stormwater runoff.  Local municipalities can require more protective standards for new developments than the current standards applied by the state of Florida.  Whereas, a stormwater utility can provide the resources to upgrade stormwater infrastructure or implement innovative technologies. Until updated statewide standards are adopted, the current strategy for stormwater treatment in new developments will continue to undermine efforts at water quality protection and restoration.  For example, within the BMAP areas in the Estero Bay and Caloosahatchee watersheds, even though filter marshes and other projects have been implemented and there is a strong fertilizer ordinance, nutrient concentrations are still trending up in many areas.  The extensive development continuing within the watersheds is the most likely contributor to this situation.

In many cases, it is impossible to completely restore an area to historic conditions.  However, restoration can improve water retention and filtration and enhance water supply and water quality.  Hydrologic restoration projects also contribute to wildlife habitat enhancement both within the estuaries and within the contributing watershed.  The Picayune Strand project in Collier County can be a model for large-scale successful restoration.  The project scope includes filling 48 miles of canals, degrading and removing 227 miles of roads, and building three pump stations to rehydrate the wetland areas.

Therefore, the Conservancy recommends that the state government and local jurisdictions prioritize funding for water quality data collection and assessment in order to identify water quality problems quickly and accurately.

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The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been working to protect our wetlands for over 60 years. Our mission was seeded in 1964 when we worked to stop a proposal that would have destroyed Rookery Bay.

The Conservancy recommends the re-initiation and adoption of an updated and effective statewide stormwater treatment rule.

Monitoring water quality is critical to evaluating the health of an estuary.  The Report Card found that there is often not enough data available to know whether all of our waterbodies are meeting state standards.  There are two notable water monitoring groups that residents can join in the region.  The Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network, comprised of over 100 volunteers, regularly conducts water quality monitoring throughout the six Aquatic Preserves in the Charlotte Harbor Estuary.  After receiving initial classroom training, volunteers collect monthly water samples and input their data.  To learn more, visit the  Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network website. Residents can also join the Florida LakeWatch program consisting of 1,800 trained volunteers who monitor 600+ lakes, rivers and coastal sites in more than 40 counties.  Find a LakeWatch site near you.

For 60 years, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been a leading environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the water, land, wildlife and future of our five-county area.

Currently, the clearinghouse for Florida’s water quality data is through FDEP’s Watershed Assessment Program and is housed in the online database STORET.  As discussed in Appendix 7.4, different entities (local governments, FDEP, the water management districts, etc.) collect water quality data and upload it to STORET.  FDEP uses the data in STORET in the rotating watershed assessments to determine whether waters are meeting water quality standards.  These assessments form the basis for the water quality grades in the Estuaries Report Card.  Over the past several years, FDEP has made many of the assessment lists (like the verified impaired waterbodies) more readily accessible to the public with website-based tools.  However, there were still a number of accessibility challenges and data gaps encountered in the compilation of the Report Card.  For example, many waterbodies throughout the watersheds are categorized in the “no data”, or “insufficient data” categories for various parameters using the assessments that were available at the time of the Report Card’s compilation (see Appendix 7.6).

The most prevalent pollutants in Florida are nutrients and mercury. Nutrient pollution—excess nitrogen and phosphorous—can come from many different sources, including untreated sewage, leaking septic tanks, inadequately treated stormwater, and animal waste. Nutrient pollution can also come from the improper application of fertilizer either on agricultural lands or even from our own backyards.

This runoff picks up debris, chemicals, insecticides, fertilizers, dirt, pet waste, and other pollutants as it flows into a storm sewer system or directly to rivers, wetlands, or coastal waters. Any water which enters a storm sewer system without first being treated by a Best Management Practice (BMP), such as a detention or retention pond, swale, raingarden, or other BMP, can carry pollutants directly into waters we use for swimming, fishing, and consumption.

Water policy addresses the quality, quantity, timing, and distribution of water. In other words, we need the right amount of clean water — at the right times and equitably distributed — in order to sustain Southwest Florida’s human population and natural systems.

At the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, we believe the more we can connect people with nature, the more willing they are to protect it. Our Nature Center and programs help us to do just that!

Red tide blooms that occur in the Gulf of Mexico can also be exacerbated by nutrient-laden stormwater runoff. Red tide can cause respiratory issues for some beachgoers and has been linked to fish kills and manatee deaths.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is involved at all levels of these processes — from identifying polluted water bodies to ensuring that the TMDL limits and the BMAP implementation are effective in cleaning up and restoring water bodies in a timely manner.

Featured Project: Conservancy biologists have been researching mangrove systems since the Conservancy’s inception and have one of Florida’s longest continuous mangrove monitoring projects. Today’s Mangrove research primarily focuses on forests adjacent to human development, such as the Clam Bay Estuary and Fruit Farm Creek – Goodland Die-off.

Government officials at the local, state and federal levels make decisions impacting whether a residential development or hydrologic restoration project will be built as well as many other decisions that impact the health of our estuaries.  Call or send an e-mail to your representatives, asking them to approve projects that improve the environmental health of your estuary.  Sign up for the Conservancy’s action alerts to be notified when important issues are being considered that need your input!

Many of Florida's waterways do not meet water quality standards, and nutrient pollution is one of the state’s biggest issues. Nutrient pollution — excess nitrogen and phosphorous — can come from many different sources, including untreated sewage, leaking septic tanks, inadequately treated stormwater, and animal waste. Nutrient pollution can also come from the improper application of fertilizer either on agricultural lands or even from our own backyards.

If a water body does not meet its applicable water quality standard(s) for any type of pollutant, DEP is required to develop what is known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a set of regulatory standards for the numeric limits on the amount of pollutant loading allowed within the “impaired’ water body.

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People who know about environmental issues are more likely to take steps to reduce their impact.  Distribute copies of this Report Card and other educational materials to your family, friends, and neighbors.  Learn about local, state and federal environmental regulations.  Encourage others to reduce their waste pollution.  Set up an educational activity for your kids or a class to demonstrate the impacts of pollution and habitat loss on the environment and wildlife.

Though the Army Corps of Engineers — which is the major federal entity currently responsible for wetland permits — certainly does not have a perfect record in denying bad projects, the federal players have produced more positive outcomes than the state agencies.

A variety of fun volunteer opportunities are available. Interact with diverse people, learn new skills, and enhance and share your knowledge.

Earthjustice files suit on behalf of Conservancy of Southwest Florida and our partners to protect wetlands throughout Florida. The complaint was filed January 14, 2021 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

When polluted stormwater enters our drinking water resources, it affects human health and taxpayers’ pocketbooks by increasing treatment costs for potable water supplies. Contaminated stormwater can also carry bacteria to beaches or other swimming areas, impacting human health, marine life, and the safety of our shores.

The Conservancy advocates for appropriate and timely BMAP clean-up projects and enforcement of required pollution reductions if targets are not being met.

A TMDL sets the maximum amount of any given pollutant that is allowed in a waterbody at a given time. Once a waterbody is assigned a TMDL, certain management facilities, like wastewater treatment plants, are automatically required to make sure their discharges into the regulated waterbody are in compliance with the TMDL. These types of dischargers are referred to as “point sources,” because their releases come from identifiable sources.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has worked with several communities to adopt stringent protective ordinances and has also worked to educate Southwest Florida about the importance of such measures. Most recently, the Conservancy was a proud advocate for updates to the City of Naples fertilizer ordinance. We advocated for an ordinance that included rainy season blackouts and regulations for fertilizer contents and methods of application. We were happy to see the court upheld the City’s efforts to protect its waters when challenged by industry.

The beauty and productivity of Florida’s coastal ecosystems are driving forces of the state’s growth. Southwest Florida’s economy, health, and quality of life depend on the condition of our waterways.

Some algae blooms can also be toxic, posing threats to both our seafood industry and the health of Floridians and their environment. Red tide is one such type of algae whose blooms have been documented to intensify and lengthen with the presence of excess nutrients in our water.

The Conservancy works on behalf of 6,000 member families to protect Southwest Florida’s natural resources and wildlife.  The more members we have, the stronger voice we have as an organization when speaking with government agencies and businesses.  Also, your annual contribution will fund our research and advocacy to protect the environment.

Many municipalities in our five-county area have adopted a good set of practices to minimize fertilizer pollution — some better than others. The Conservancy can provide a draft ordinance for any city or county to use in order to protect their water quality.

Fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are key pollutants in stormwater.  To reduce these impacts, do not apply fertilizer before a rain event, do not allow fertilizer to be dispersed too close to impervious surfaces (like the sidewalk, driveway, or street) or waterbodies (like canals, swales, or storm drains), use products with slow-release nitrogen, and keep your grass clippings on the lawn as a natural fertilizer or use summer-safe products that do not contain nitrogen or phosphorous.  Use of reclaimed water for irrigation would reduce the amount of fertilizers to be used on your lawn.  Be aware of local fertilizer ordinances and make sure your lawn company is following best practices.  Replacing your patio, walkways, and driveway with permeable pavers will also increase the amount of water retention in your yard, and decrease runoff.

A Collier County resilience study needs public attention. Your help is needed to help create a more sustainable storm resilience plan for the place we call home.

For 60 years, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been a leading environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the water, land, wildlife and future of our five-county area.

Prominent members of the community stand with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida on important environmental issues. Will you stand with us as well?

Protecting natural areas is foundational for the continued sustainability of not only estuarine watersheds, but also the entire state.  Furthermore, it is the most cost-effective way of preserving southwest Florida’s water quality and drinking water supply for future generations.  Such land acquisition projects work in conjunction with other water protection mechanisms.

The consequences of the loss of wetlands’ habitat, recharge and cleansing capabilities are far-reaching.  Less water is held on the landscape to recharge aquifers and water drains off more quickly and at higher volumes.

Surface waters and wetlands play a significant role in replenishing aquifer systems, and wetlands provide natural filtration of pollutants. Unfortunately, increasing development in urban and rural areas, drainage and filling of wetlands, mining and oil drilling activities, lax or unenforced regulations, stormwater runoff from urban and agricultural sources, over-allocation of consumptive use permits to industry activities, and a host of other pressures threaten Southwest Florida’s water resources.

Typically, development proposals are reviewed and permitted by local, state, and federal levels. With assumption, the federal agency review would largely be removed.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida advocates for better stormwater management, treatment, and regulations to protect our region’s water resources from untreated stormwater runoff.

As Florida continues to grow, these issues cannot go unaddressed if the region is to have a sustainable supply of clean water for both our human population and the unique habitats, wildlife, and recreational opportunities which are enjoyed by current residents and visitors.

Water levels are stressed during the winter months with the increase in population and lack of rainfall, and overall population in Florida continues to grow – resulting in greater demands on finite water supplies.  According to 1000 Friends of Florida’s Water 2070 Report, “the single most effective strategy to reduce water demand in Florida is to significantly reduce the amount of water used for landscape irrigation.”  By conserving water, you will also be reducing your water bill!  Visit Lee County’s Water Conservation site and review the recommendations in the Water 2070 Report for lists of water-saving techniques for your home and your lawn.

Importance ofwater quality

Removing the federal agency from the process means removing protective laws from consideration. It removes the checks and balances we need in overseeing requests for new developments, new roadways, and new mines.

Areas of intact wetlands and wildlife habitat still exist in southwest Florida, but are becoming increasingly vulnerable to development.  Numerous regional studies including the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study/Southwest Florida Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, Critical Lands and Waters Identification Project, and the Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource Area Study have identified target protection areas.  These areas support essential wetlands and groundwater recharge zones for water supply, as well as habitat for some of Florida’s most endangered species.  As southwest Florida’s population continues to increase and the urban boundary moves further inland from the coast, critical flowways, wildlife corridors and aquifer recharge areas are put at greater risk by expanding development and infrastructure.

Prominent members of the community stand with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida on important environmental issues. Will you stand with us as well?

Historically, large projects like the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project authorized by Congress in 1948 did not take into account the ecological consequences of draining vast swaths of the historic Everglades. Another example is the southern Golden Gate Estates planned development that constructed canals and roads in approximately 55,000 acres of Collier County and destroyed wetland habitats and restricted groundwater recharge.

In the past several years, southwest Florida and the entire state have reaffirmed the public’s strong support for protecting natural areas through conservation land acquisition.  In 2014, Florida’s Water and Land Legacy constitutional amendment passed with 75% of Florida voters affirming the need to reinstate funding for the Florida Forever state land acquisition program.  In 2016, 84% of Lee County voters supported the continuation of the Conservation 20/20 program, and in 2017 Collier County reinitiated the land acquisition component for Conservation Collier.

The Conservancy recommends that land use and transportation planning initiatives direct impacts away from sensitive ecological resources, while protecting agricultural lands that support important habitat needs.

Wetland loss calculated for the 2017 Report Card watersheds range from 11% in the Ten Thousand Islands to 70% in the Naples Bay watershed, with an average of 39% across all ten watersheds.  The current upswing in the economy is reflected in the increased number of development applications and proposals, some of which may imperil the remaining wetlands and flowways.  Attempts to permit projects that would impact mangroves and other salt water wetlands are also on the rise.

A review ofwater qualityindex models and their use for assessing surfacewater quality

The Conservancy recommends a strong emphasis by the state’s elected leaders to fully fund state land acquisition and conservation easement programs to support landscape level conservation priorities.  The Conservancy also recommends continued support of county land acquisition programs in order to meet the specific needs of local communities.  Prioritizing the protection of natural areas will safeguard the state’s tourism-based economy and its extraordinary water and habitat resources.

Septic tank leaks are not only harmful to the environment, but are also expensive to fix (and no fun to mess with!)  Prevent damage to your tank by getting it pumped every 4 to 5 years, avoid flushing wipes (even flushable ones), and spread out your laundry loads over the week. Have your septic tank inspected regularly.

The alteration of southwest Florida’s wetland landscapes for the benefit of urban and agricultural development has drastically impacted drainage patterns, depleted water supply, and degraded water quality and wildlife habitat .

Water Qualityby topic

Unfortunately, BMP’s have been insufficient to control nonpoint source pollution, and there has been little enforcement of BMP’s by DEP or other agencies thus far. This is one of many challenges for restoration plans like BMAP’s—ensuring the achievement of targeted reductions in the real world.

On both large and small-scale projects, local, state and federal agencies rarely deny permits for developments that fall within wetland or wildlife habitat areas. Despite the “no net loss” wetlands policy at the federal and state level, which directs the three-step, avoid, minimize and mitigate strategy for wetland impacts, minimization measures are usually nominal and do not substantially reduce the loss of these sensitive lands to intensification. Mitigation measures can typically account for replacing lost function of the wetlands, but not necessarily the loss of wetland acreage; this results in an overall loss of wetland acres over time. Moreover, cumulative impacts of wetland and habitat loss, both coastal and inland, are not fully accounted for when the agencies make permit application decisions.  The wetland permitting system at both the state and federal level does not require like-for-like replacement of wetlands. Consequently, in southwest Florida there has been a disproportionate loss of short-hydroperiod wetlands - seasonal wetlands important for wildlife habitat and aquifer recharge.  The Waters of the United States rulemaking proposed at the Federal level in 2014 would have reinstated more protections for seasonal and isolated wetlands.  Unfortunately, the Rule has not taken effect yet due to legal challenges and is in danger of being severely weakened or eliminated altogether.

After developing the TMDL, the implementation of regulations to reach the prescribed pollutant limits is driven by a process known as a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), which assigns responsibility for reducing pollutants to counties, cities, and other municipalities. DEP also requires nonpoint source polluters (like agricultural operations) to implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to reduce their contribution to the impairment.

BMAP’s are multi-year water-management implementation plans designed to achieve the pollutant limits set by a TMDL within a 20-year timeframe.

Unfortunately, BMP’s are not always effective to control nonpoint source pollution, and more needs to be done to ensure the BMP’s are working successfully — both in urban and agricultural areas.

Stormwater also transports excess nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus from lawns, agricultural areas, and golf courses which can stimulate harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs degrade water quality by releasing toxins into the water and lowering levels of dissolved oxygen, which leads to loss of sea-grasses, fish kills, and catastrophic effects to aquatic ecosystems. Some HABs are toxic to humans as well. Freshwater cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can produce toxins that affect the liver, skin, and nervous system.

There are many other restoration projects planned or ongoing throughout the ten watersheds as detailed in Appendix 7.3.  Often, the limiting factor for achieving timely hydrologic restoration is funding constraints.  Restoration to correct hydrologic conditions can be an expensive endeavor.  However, the ecologic and economic benefits derived from restoring hydrologic function in the watersheds is critical for maintaining the region’s viability both from an environmental and economic standpoint.

Another potential influence on data availability is the promulgation of revised water quality standards or changes in assessment practices.  Generally, standards are revised in order to reflect new science, sometimes as a result of federally promulgated criteria by EPA, sometimes as a state initiated process through the Clean Water Act required Triennial Review of State Water Quality Standards.  When standards change, one of the results can be different data sampling requirements and assessment methodology.  Some examples include: more samples may be required, or samples taken at specific times of the year in order to be temporally independent, or the samples may go from an annual average to an annual geometric mean.  If data sampling is not increased (whether through lack of staff resources/training, funding, or other constraints), it can lead to more waterbodies with insufficient data to make an assessment determination.  See Appendix 7.5 for a discussion of recently adopted water quality standards for dissolved oxygen and nutrients.

Featured Project: Conservancy biologists have been researching mangrove systems since the Conservancy’s inception and have one of Florida’s longest continuous mangrove monitoring projects. Today’s Mangrove research primarily focuses on forests adjacent to human development, such as the Clam Bay Estuary and Fruit Farm Creek – Goodland Die-off.

Now is a pivotal time in Collier County’s history. A huge area of eastern Collier County is vulnerable to intensive development. If the eastern lands are developed as currently planned, the county could add over 300,000 residents.

On August 20, 2020, Florida asked the US Environmental Protection Agency to assume the Clean Water Act 404 “dredge and fill” permitting program. This meant that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would take over the central federal role in permitting destructive wetland development projects.

Traditional stormwater ponds (wet detention) typically used in new developments only remove approximately 40% of nitrogen and 70% of phosphorus generated.  “Treatment train” systems that utilize a number of different types of BMP systems in concert, such as swales, dry retention, constructed wetlands, filter marshes, pervious pavement, etc., are more effective at pollutant removal.

Having a native lawn will maximize the yard’s perviousness (ability to absorb water) and can eliminate the need for fertilizers or yard chemicals.  The University of Florida has a Florida-Friendly Landscape™ program that can help get you started. Natives for Your Neighborhood is another helpful south Florida resource.

Inadequate stormwater management (i.e., insufficient retention and treatment of stormwater on-site), creates widespread water quality impacts in southwest Florida.  Nonpoint source pollution from stormwater carries many of the common pollutants that can impair the region’s waters.  Today sophisticated stormwater management technology is readily available and continuing to apply outdated stormwater standards puts the region’s waterbodies and estuaries at risk.

The Conservancy is involved at all levels of local TMDL and BMAP development, from the time the waterbody is designated impaired through the various phases of BMAP development.

Southwest Florida waterbodies suffer from a number of pollution problems, including excess nutrients from fertilizer and stormwater runoff, bacteria, and metals such as copper, iron and mercury. If a waterbody is polluted due to anthropogenic (i.e., human related) activities, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is required to set a pollutant limit known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).

One acre of wetland can store 1-1.5 million gallons of floodwater, and wetlands help filter out pollutants.  Other natural landscapes provide critical buffer areas for waterbodies as well.

Fertilizers used to keep our lawns green have the same effect on algae species in our waterways—they help them grow. Excess nutrients in the water can have catastrophic effects on our delicate marine life. The intensified algal blooms produced from nutrient-enriched waters can monopolize available oxygen in an aquatic ecosystem, resulting in fish kills and the demise of essential seagrasses that act as a nursery and food source for many fish and wildlife species. These imbalances can have detrimental effects on several species upstream in the food chain and have dangerous consequences for entire ecosystems.

Innovative land use planning techniques can be an important mechanism for balancing the needs of the environment, agriculture and future development.  Unfortunately, such planning policies may not function in the manner originally envisioned for a variety of reasons, including a lack of buy-in from local elected officials, resistance on the part of landowners or program complexity.  Whether the program uses incentives, such as Transfer of Development Rights, or design flexibility to encourage specific types of development in appropriate locations, the Conservancy advocates the following principles as guidance for smarter planning:

Although large-scale water restoration projects and strong, enforceable regulations are important, everyone can take action to improve the quality of local waterways. Here are some ways YOU can protect our water and wildlife habitat!

The public continues to ask if there is an immediate, simple, and cost-effective way to address our water woes. Fortunately, the answer is yes — enactment of strong and effective local fertilizer ordinances, which have already been implemented in over 90 counties and cities, including the City of Marco Island and the City of Naples. This can prevent excess nutrients from polluting our water supply.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is dedicated to protecting Southwest Florida’s water resources.  Abundant clean water is the foundation of our region’s environment, quality of life, and economy.

Per the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), Florida is required to have a set of water quality standards for its surface waters to ensure that waterways can support the use for which they are designated, such as swimming, fishing, or drinking.