As the 2022 hurricane season comes to a close, we’re recognizing the South Florida Water Management District’s dedicated team of employees who work all year long to support our complex system for regional drainage. Even outside of the rainy season, water managers must be prepared for rainfall and drainage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

Did you know SFWMD proactively prepares year-round for significant weather events to support the District’s system of canals, levees and water control structures?

During this season of thanksgiving and gratitude, we are showing our appreciation for our talented SFWMD employees working from Orlando to the Florida Keys to carry out the District’s public service mission. 

This year, SFWMD employees worked diligently to proactively prepare for and rapidly respond to Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole. Did you know our SFWMD team worked over 20,000 hours during both hurricanes? District crews worked around-the-clock to move water away from communities and provide relief for residents who were impacted by the storms.

Did you know the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) uses cutting-edge GIS technology to monitor and protect South Florida’s precious water resources and ecosystems? From state-of-the-art drones to georeferenced images to highly specialized spatial data, GIS tools provide important information that help guide water management decisions throughout the District’s 16-county region.    

A record-breaking 231 invasive Burmese pythons were removed from the Greater Everglades Ecosystem during the 2022 Florida Python Challenge®, marking the largest number of destructive snakes ever captured as part of the annual competition. 

Did you know invasive pythons are one of the most harmful invasive species in the Everglades, preying upon native birds, mammals and even alligators? Safely capturing and eliminating these destructive snakes protects native wildlife and our one-of-a-kind Everglades ecosystem.

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is using data collected before, during and after Hurricane Ian to enhance South Florida’s regional water management system and ensure its continued resiliency in the event of a future storm.

Did you know the SFWMD analyzes the impacts of hurricanes and other storm events to guide water management decisions and make enhancements to our regional flood control infrastructure?  

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is working in partnership with Lee County to expedite the removal of storm debris left in major waterways by Hurricane Ian’s strong winds, significant rainfall, and powerful storm surge. This debris includes fallen trees, vegetation and construction material from damaged homes and properties.

Did you know that keeping canals and waterways clear of trees and other obstructions is an important component of providing flood protection throughout South Florida? 

As many Floridians continue to recover from the historic impacts of Hurricane Ian, crews at the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) are working around the clock to reduce regional lake levels in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes system and provide relief to impacted communities.

Did you know the SFWMD continues to strategically deploy resources and utilize every structure possible to lower water body levels and move water away from communities?

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is always ready for a major storm event and we are ready for Hurricane Ian. The SFWMD is closely monitoring Hurricane Ian and continues to prepare the District’s water management system for heavy rainfall that is already starting to impact the region.

Did you know there are many precautions that residents can take to help reduce the risk of flooding and allow excess rainwater to drain in their communities? 

Did you know the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is constantly collecting and analyzing data to assess our region’s water quality and safeguard South Florida’s ecosystem? 

Did you know the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) operates water management infrastructure to store excess water that can be used in drier conditions? 

Additional storage infrastructure projects like the EAA Reservoir Project, Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir and the C-44 Reservoir will help reduce the harmful discharge of excess water out of the system while storing it for when communities and the environment can use it.