Related Links

A variety of links to Big Cypress Basin data, SFWMD sites, and sites to local, state and federal government, as well as community and business groups related to the region are listed below.

BCB Data

Local rainfall, evaporation, temperature, surface water levels, flows in canals and streams, groundwater levels, flood elevations and hydrologic reports are available. This data can be obtained through DB Hydro, an online database with historical and current environmental data.

Over the years, the Basin has developed a database of geographic information on topography, land use, soils, vegetation and wetlands. Most of this information is available in electronic Geographic Information System (GIS) format. The SFWMD maintains a GIS database and uses the ARC/INFO and ARCVIEW software packages.

*NEW* Real Time Data

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) web site includes a Real Time Data page, which provides real-time water level information, as well as information about the status of water control structures, such as coastal locks and gates. All sites do not monitor all parameters listed. The primary parameters available for BCB are stage (water stage), gate opening and rainfall.

How To Access Realtime Data

Sites and parameters in the Big Cypress Basin can be accessed using the following steps:

1. Determine Site name and Parameter of interest using the Monitoring Sites Table (Note: Highlighted sites are currently not accessible, but will be available soon) and Monitoring Sites Map, then return to this page
2. On the Real Time Data page, you will be asked for Field Station, Site and Parameter
3. Under Field Station, select Big Cypress Basin
4. Under Site, select Site name from Monitoring Sites Table
5. Under Parameter, select desired Parameter
6. Now that you know the Field Station, Site and Parameter of interest, click on the link for the Real Time Data page above.
7. Select Field Station, Site and Parameter from drop-down lists.
8. Click on 'Go'

What Does It Mean?

Regional & Local Partners

• Big Cypress Restoration Coordination Team
• BCB - Estero Bay Regional Research Database Project
• Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association
• Collier County Government Services
• Rural Land Stewardship Area (RLSA) Overlay Program
• Rural Fringe Mixed Use District - TDR Program
• Conservancy of Southwest Florida
• Florida counties
• Florida municipalities
• Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
• Expedited Everglades Restoration
• Everglades Restoration - A state and federal partnership
• Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Southwest Florida Watershed Council
• More links to other local, state, and federal agencies

Water Bills or Water Service

The South Florida Water Management District regulates large water users such as city or county water supply utilities, but is not directly involved in the delivery of water to your home, nor the billing for that service. The same is true for sewage service.

In Collier County, the major water-supply utilities include Collier County Utilities; City of Naples Public Works; City of Marco Island Utilities; Immokalee Water and Sewer District; Everglades City Water Utility; and Florida Governmental Utility Authority (Golden Gate City).

Look for either a phone number or web address on your water bill. Most utilities provide some type of contact information on the paperwork they send you.

Flood Insurance

While the SFWMD works to minimize flooding, and collects data about regional and local flooding, it is not involved in establishing the criteria for flood insurance. These are established by the federal government.

Your county government has maps and can help you determine if you live in a flood zone and require flood insurance.

The SFWMD and other regional water management districts are working with counties to modernize flood maps. See the Map Modernization web site.

• Lower West Coast