The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) actively operates and maintains one of the largest water management systems in the world. This vast system of canals, levees, pump stations and other important water management infrastructure is key to protecting water supplies and providing flood control for over 9 million people in Central and Southern Florida.
Did you know the SFWMD uses cutting-edge technology to assess the status of its infrastructure, prioritize long-term needs, and develop adaptation strategies to help ensure the resiliency of the regional water management system?
A key component of the SFWMD’s resiliency efforts is the Flood Protection Level of Service Program (FPLOS). Under this program, the SFWMD studies the status of its flood control infrastructure and evaluates adaptation and mitigation strategies to ensure these assets can continue to provide flood protection while accounting for population growth, land development and changing climate conditions.
The FPLOS program is implemented in three continuous phases:
Assessment Phase: Assesses the level of flood protection provided by existing infrastructure under current and future scenarios. Highly advanced modeling tools are used to evaluate basin conditions using performance measures.
Adaptation and Mitigation Planning Phase: Priority locations and adaptation and mitigation strategies are identified within the basin where infrastructure is under performing or where there are increased flooding risks.
Implementation Phase: Implements the selected and approved mitigation and adaptation strategies. The activities in this phase include the development of high-level cost estimates and the design for recommended projects which are integrated into the SFWMD Sea Level Rise and Flood Resiliency Plan.
The SFWMD continues to make significant infrastructure adaptation investments to ensure its mission of safeguarding and restoring South Florida’s water resources and ecosystems, protecting communities from flooding, and ensuring an adequate water supply for all of South Florida’s needs.
To learn more about the SFWMD’s FPLOS program and resiliency efforts, visit SFWMD.gov/FPLOS.