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Big Cypress Basin

The Big Cypress Basin Board and Big Cypress Basin Service Center manage a network of 143.6 miles of primary canals, 35 water control structures and three back pumps providing flood control during the wet season and protecting regional water supplies and environmental resources from over-drainage during the dry season. The basin includes Collier County and part of Monroe County.

Members of the Big Cypress Basin Board, like members of the SFWMD Governing Board, are appointed by the Governor and must be approved by the Florida Senate. This Board sets the Basin regional policy, budget and millage rate. The Governing Board member appointed to represent the Southwest region on the SFWMD Governing Board also serves as the Basin Board's Chairman. The Basin Board typically meets once every quarter, unless otherwise announced. Meetings are open to the public. Big Cypress Basin staff work in administration, planning, environmental permitting, right-of-way permitting and operations and maintenance. Tasks related to Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) project management are also supported by this office.

When you see Freddy the Alligator waving from a sign next to a canal, you can be sure that the Big Cypress Basin is providing flood control and protecting water resources for Southwest Coast families, businesses and the environment.

ADDRESSES

  • Big Cypress Basin Service Center
    Administration Building
    2660 Horseshoe Drive North
    Naples, FL 34104
    (239) 263-7615
    Fax: (239) 263-8166
    Google Map
     
  • Big Cypress Basin Field Station
    3875 City Gate Blvd. N.
    Naples, FL 34117
    (239) 348-7530
    Fax: (239) 348-7535
    Google Map 

Related Links

  • Basin Board 2021 Meeting Dates [PDF]
  • Basin Board 2019 Meeting Dates [PDF]
  • Basin Board 2020 Meeting Dates [PDF]
  • Basin Board Meetings & Agendas
  • Basin Board Members
  • BCB Strategic Plan 2018-2023 [PDF]
  • Works of the Basin Map [PDF]
  • Lake Trafford Management Plan – October 2018 [PDF]

 

Budget Documents

The Big Cypress Basin's annual operating budget is funded by a combination of property taxes and other sources such as permit fees and investment income. The budget supports water management goals within the Basin, including maintenance of the primary flood control system, protection of regional water supplies, water quality improvements and ecosystem restoration.

Following adoption by the Basin Board, the budget is included as part of the overall South Florida Water Management District budget for approval by the SFWMD Governing Board. The Big Cypress Basin's Fiscal Year starts October 1 and ends September 30 of the following year.

  • Summary of Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Adopted Budget [PDF]
  • Presentation: Big Cypress Basin FY2019-2020 Final Millage and Budget Adoption – Aug. 22, 2019 [PDF]
  • Previous Basin Budgets
     
  • February FY2019-20 Basin Monthly Financial Statement [PDF]
  • Previous Basin Monthly Financial Statements
     

Real-time Hydrologic Data – Flood Stages and Gate Operations for Big Cypress Basin

  • Site Status Report (Click BCB in the blue bar at the top.)
  • Surface Water Management Facilities Map (Collier County)

The subtropical weather of southwest Florida, its low relief topography and rapid human encroachments into our natural wetlands have made us vulnerable to frequent floods and droughts. The flood conveyance capacity of our drainage system, particularly in the Golden Gate Estates, is limited, as the canals were primarily constructed to lower the water table for building home-sites, and not designed to effectively carry runoff from large storm events. In spite of numerous enhancements made to our canals and water control structure network, they remain deficient for providing the desired levels of flood protection of the Estates area.

In order to provide more efficient flood protection services to residents, Big Cypress Basin staff worked with modeling, scientific data and information systems staff together developed a real-time flood modeling and decision-making support system for operation of the water control gates. The project uses the Basin's real-time meteorological and hydrologic data for surface and groundwater levels and gate positions to model and forecast both surface water and groundwater stages, and provide flood warning and real-time decision-making information to the field staff to operate the control gates accordingly. The information on real-time surface and ground water levels, flows, rainfall, gate positions and forecasted water levels is available here (click BCB in the blue bar at the top).

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South Florida Water Management District

Contact Information

3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

561-686-8800

800-432-2045 (Florida Only)

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