Welcome to SFWMD.gov

Water is critical to life in South Florida – both for the 9 million people who call this region home and for our unique ecosystems including the Everglades. As someone who had the opportunity to grow up in South Florida and views it through a prism of 50 years of change, I consider it a privilege to serve as the Chairman of the South Florida Water Management District.

SFWMD is charged with managing and protecting the water resources of 16 counties stretching from Orlando to the Florida Keys. One of five water management districts in the state, SFWMD is the oldest and the largest. As Chairman, I am just one of nine Governing Board Members chosen by the Governor from distinct geographical areas of the District and confirmed by the Senate. We work closely with the Governor to ensure his vision for SFWMD is fully realized.

We have a dedicated staff of nearly 1,500 people who work all across the District and we have strong partnerships with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. In addition, we work closely with the elected representatives from the region.

Over the last 70 years as South Florida’s population has grown, the District’s primary role of providing flood control has expanded from operating one of the largest water management systems in the world to now include restoring the Everglades and Kissimmee River, improving water quality, protecting coastal estuaries, and managing the regional water supply. 

On behalf of my colleagues on the Governing Board, I invite you to explore these web pages, to learn of the many interesting and important projects the District undertakes, and to become involved in protecting one of our most valuable resources.

Chauncey Goss,
Chairman, South Florida Water Management District