Experience Florida's Water Story Without Leaving Home

-- ProtectingOurWater.org allows visitors to dive into local watersheds digitally --

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today the launch of a new interactive Web site for citizens to learn about their hometown waterbodies and the ongoing restoration activities associated with them. The Web site features videos highlighting the accomplishments and significant investment by the Department and stakeholders in preserving the state’s water resources. The videos are narrated by some of the most experienced water quality authorities in Florida. One main theme is woven into every section of the Web site, that all citizens influence the watershed in which they live and are responsible for protecting it as their own.

{sidebar id=1}Citizens are able to view interactive maps and locate their home within their watershed, and see its proximity and relationship to nearby waterbodies. Each watershed description includes an overview of the physical basin, a summary of the human impacts to the water quality of the basin and a listing of various restoration projects within the watershed. Each basin features links to local environmental groups and current projects sponsored by DEP, the Water Management Districts and local governments. The Web site is also useful as a teaching tool for children, as well as an invaluable resource for citizens of all ages with information on restoration activities going on in their own backyard and how they can become involved.

“Water is the lifeblood of our state, and this Web site provides citizens the tools to understand and explore the water issues and challenges specific to their neighborhoods” said Janet Llewellyn, Director of DEP’s Division of Water Resource Management. “Most importantly, it enables them to be part of the solutions.”

Through its nationally recognized water quality restoration program, Florida is using the best science available to identify and restore impaired waters. Additionally, through stringent water quality standards, rigorous environmental permitting requirements and a strong commitment to reuse, the state has eliminated nearly 300 discharges of industrial and domestic wastewater into Florida’s rivers in the last twelve years. In addition, Florida has invested $3.1 billion since 1999 to protect the state’s rivers by cleaning up stormwater pollution and improving wastewater treatment

To visit the new Web site visit ProtectingOurWater.org .

This article originally published on May 25, 2009.

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