It is National Estuaries Week, and we are highlighting the South Florida Water Management District’s (District) continued efforts to protect and restore South Florida’s coastal watersheds.
DID YOU KNOW: South Florida is home to several major coastal estuaries, including Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, the Lake Worth Lagoon, the Indian River Lagoon, the Caloosahatchee and the St. Lucie estuaries, to name a few.
In fact, there are a total of 11 distinct estuaries within the District's 16-county region.
A CLOSER LOOK: In coastal areas, waters from rivers flow into bays, lagoons and estuaries brimming with biological diversity. Many coastal habitats are found in and around estuaries, including salt marshes, oyster reefs, mangrove forests, coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Maintaining this diversity is a key part of maintaining the health of Florida's ecological systems and future resources.
PROTECTING COASTAL WATERSHEDS: The District works to manage stormwater flows to rivers and freshwater discharge to South Florida's estuaries in a way that preserves, protects and, where possible, restores these essential resources.
The District works in partnership with federal, state, and local officials to, within the system's limitations, ensure that rivers and estuaries receive not only the right amount of water at the right time but also clean, high-quality water.
INTERCONNECTED ECOSYSTEMS: Many of South Florida's coastal ecosystems are interconnected. Projects to restore or protect one part of the system provide benefits for those areas connected to it, whether upstream or downstream.
The comprehensive plan to restore America’s Everglades includes many projects and components that provide significant benefits for South Florida’s coastal watersheds and protect these important natural resources.
LEARN MORE: As we recognize National Estuaries Week, we encourage you to visit SFWMD.gov/Restoration to learn more about the District’s work to protect and restore our coastal watersheds in South Florida.