Skip to main content
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
Home South Florida Water Management District
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board Chairman
    • Open Government
    • Governing Board
    • Budget & Finance Reports
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Python Elimination Program
    • Addressing Blue-Green Algae
    • Resiliency
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • Right of Way Permits
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Grants/Funding Opportunities
  • Community & Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Recreation
    • Navigation
    • Education Center
    • Everglades License Plate
  • Science & Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • GIS
    • Survey Data
    • Modeling
  • News & Meetings
    • News Releases
    • Public Meetings
    • Calendar
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Photo & Video
    • Fact Sheets
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Locations
  1. Home
  2. science data
  3. habitat suitability
  • Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Water Levels
    • DBHYDRO
    • Vertical Datum
  • Weather
  • Scientific Publications & SFER
  • Operational Planning
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Survey Data
  • Web Board
  • Modeling
    • Overview
    • Statewide Model Management System (SMMS)
    • Habitat Suitability Indices
    • Groundwater Modeling
    • Natural Systems Models
    • Regional Simulation Model
    • South Florida Water Management Model
    • Water Depth Assessment Tool (WDAT)
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Hurricane Irma

Habitat Suitability Indices

The Habitat Suitability Indices (HSI) is a scoring model used to evaluate water management operations on plant and animal habitats. The model analyzes the responses of alligators, fish, birds, periphyton, ridge and slough landscape, and tree island habitats and "scores" the performance of a particular run, for different species, relative to their baseline conditions. The model scores from zero to one, with zero meaning undesirable impacts and one meaning more desirable impacts For example, water levels and the number of days flooded at a certain level are important to habitats, but the seasonality and duration may have different impacts on each species.

Water managers, scientists and engineers may use the results from the model runs to adjust water management operations to achieve the greatest ecosystem restoration benefits. The HSI model was developed to use simulated output from the South Florida Water Management Model (SFWMM) and the Natural System Model (NSM).

Related Documents

  • HSI Complete Documentation [PDF]
  • Alligator Suitability Indices Definitions [PDF]
  • Fish Suitability Indices Definitions [PDF]
  • Periphyton Suitability Indices Definitions [PDF]
  • HSI Ridge & Slough Suitability Indices Definitions [PDF]
  • Tree Island Suitability Indices Definitions [PDF]
  • Wading Bird Suitability Indices Definitions [PDF]

 

 

  • ASK US
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board
    • Big Cypress Basin Board
    • Open Government
    • Public Records Request
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Resiliency
    • Emergency Management
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Land Management
  • Community and Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Year-Round Rule
    • Recreation
    • Educational Center
    • Volunteering
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • ePermitting
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Cooperative Funding
    • Agriculture
    • AVATAR
  • Science and Information/Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Water Levels
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • Environmental Monitoring
    • Modeling
  • News and Events
    • News Releases
    • Meeting Agendas & Minutes
    • Calendar
    • Photo and Video Resources
South Florida Water Management District

Contact Information

3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

561-686-8800

800-432-2045 (Florida Only)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Login
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
  • Careers