Florida DEP Continues Restoration of Rivers, Lakes, Estuaries
Florida has marked yet another significant milestone in its comprehensive strategy to address waterbody restorations around the state. As part of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program and the on-going initiative to set water quality goals for impaired waterbodies, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole has approved the establishment of specific reduction targets for 20 waterbodies. This latest round of pollutant reductions have been adopted for waters located in the St. Marks/Ochlockonee River, the Suwannee/Santa Fe River, and the Everglades West Coast Basins. These limits have also been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency under federal law.
“It is a great tribute to the diligent work of our scientists and staff, working in cooperation with multiple groups of interested stakeholders, that we have completed these complex and challenging water quality goals” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “This effort highlights the joint commitment by DEP and the people living in these watersheds to the local environment and will be the foundation for restoration, water quality improvements, and healthier natural systems.”
Under the federal Clean Water Act, each state in the nation must identify impaired rivers, lakes and estuaries for clean-up. Science-based pollution limits, called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), are then developed for each impaired waterway. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a specific pollutant a waterbody can absorb and still meet its designated uses, such as fishing, swimming, shellfish harvesting, or as a source of drinking water. In 1999, Florida adopted a nationally-recognized law (Florida Watershed Restoration Act, Section 403.067, F.S.) and program to govern TMDL development and implementation within the state. Florida has developed more than 40 TMDLs in 2008.
As the next step, the State is working with federal and local governments, water management districts, public and private utilities, industry, agriculture and environmental groups to develop, adopt and implement Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). A blueprint for restoration, BMAPs lay out the actions to be taken to reduce pollutant loadings and restore a water body. The plans may include activities that will promote improved farming practices and land use planning, and increase wastewater and stormwater treatment to reduce pollution.
Additionally, together with its sister federal, state, and local government agencies, DEP is improving water quality through the continued enforcement of long-standing environmental regulations, technical assistance and an annual investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to build water infrastructure, acquire conservation lands, and restore waterways.
To protect Florida’s precious water resources, it is important to develop alternative means of meeting public demand for water as well as restore the state’s waterbodies. Since 1999, Florida has invested more than $3.5 billion to upgrade and improve water and wastewater facilities and clean up stormwater pollution, funding about 2,100 projects statewide. Since 1999, the State Revolving Fund Programs have committed more than $2.2 billion, including more than $150 million last year, to plan, design and build wastewater facilities across the state.
TMDLs have been approved for the following:
BASIN
WATERBODY
Munson Slough
Juniper Creek
Ochlockone-St. Marks River Basin
Swamo Creek
Black Creek
Henry Creek
Henry Creek Marine
Imperial River
Everglades West Coast Basin
Lake Trafford
Gordon River Extension
Cocohatchee River Estuary
Suwannee - Santa Fe River Basin
Alligator Lake
New River
Suwannee River, Santa Fe River, Branford Spring, Falmouth Spring,
Fanning Spring, Manatee Spring, Royal Spring, Ruth Spring, and Troy
Spring
Outdoors 
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