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Watershed Management

Surface Water Improvement and Management Program (SWIM)

In the late 1980’s, it was determined that Florida had to do more to protect and restore its priceless surface

waters. While "point" sources--end-of-pipe sewage and industrial wastes--were being controlled, "nonpoint"

source pollutants that enter water bodies in less direct ways were still a major concern. In 1987, the Florida

Legislature created the Surface Water Improvement and Management program (SWIM) as one mechanism

to address these nonpoint pollution sources.

SWIM was the first major state program to address a waterbody’s needs as a system of connected resources

rather than simply as isolated wetlands or water bodies. To accomplish this, SWIM cuts across governmental

responsibilities, forging important partnerships in water resource management. While the state’s five water

management districts are directly responsible for the SWIM program, they work in concert with DEP, federal,

state, and local governments and the private sector. All the partners contribute--with funding or in-kind

services. In fact, in many areas, state-appropriated money is not the biggest part of program funding.

SWIM develops carefully crafted plans for at-risk water bodies, and directs the work needed to restore

damaged ecosystems, prevent pollution from stormwater runoff and other sources, and educate the public.

SWIM plans are used by other state programs, like Save Our Rivers, to help make land-buying decisions,

and by local governments to help make land-use management decisions.

Since its inception, SWIM has made great strides toward improving the quality of a number of troubled

water bodies and increasing our understanding of healthy water bodies. The initial legislation identified

specific water bodies that would fall under SWIM--Lake Apopka, Tampa Bay, the Indian River Lagoon

System, Biscayne Bay, the St. Johns River, Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. Today, twenty-nine water

bodies are now on the SWIM waterbody priority list. 

Originally, the Florida Legislature funded the SWIM program annually, matched by moneys raised by the

water management districts. This original dedicated annual funding was ended after the 1997-98 fiscal year.

However, many SWIM water bodies have benefited from significant individual legislative appropriations

throughout the years, associated with the Community Budget Issue Request water project funding process

under s. 403.885, F.S.

The Department's watershed management and TMDL programs have used elements of the SWIM program as

models in their development since the late 1990s, focusing on the inter-connectedness of surface and

ground water systems and on comprehensive, cross-jurisdictional approaches to solving pollution problems.

Swim Priority Waterbodies

Northwest Florida Water Management District

 (Revised January 2006)

Apalachicola River and Bay Watershed

Pensacola Bay Watershed

Choctawhatchee River and Bay Watershed

St. Andrew Bay Watershed

St. Marks River and Apalachee Bay Watershed

Ochlockonee River and Bay Watershed

Perdido River and Bay Watershed

St. Johns River Water Management District

Upper St. Johns River

Lower St. Johns River

Lake Apopka

Upper Ocklawaha

Middle St. Johns River

Northern Coastal Basin

Orange Creek

Southwest Florida Water Management District

South Florida Water Management

District

 (Revised January 2003)

Tier 1

Biscayne Bay

Florida Keys

Lake Istokpoga

Lake Okeechobee

Lake Trafford

Lower Charlotte Harbor

(incl. Charlotte Harbor,

Estero Bay,

and Caloosahatchee River

& Estuary)

Loxahatchee River

St. Lucie Estuary

Tier 2

Florida Bay

Indian River Lagoon

Florida DEP - Surface Water Improvement and Management Program Page 1 of 2

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/swim.htm 10/4/2011
Banana lake

Charlotte Harbor

Crystal River/Kings Bay

Lake Panasoffkee

Lake Tarpon

Lake Thonotosassa

Rainbow River

Sarasota Bay

Tampa Bay

Winter Haven Chain of Lakes

Lake Worth Lagoon

Naples Bay/Gordon River

Rookery Bay/Marco

Tier 3

Lake Arbuckle

Lake Butler

Lake Weohyakapka

Upper Kissimmee Chain of

Lakes

Suwannee River Water Management

District

Alligator Lake

Aucilla River

Coastal Rivers

Santa Fe River

Suwannee River

Waccasassa River

Last updated: September 21, 2011

2600 Blair Stone Road M.S. 3500 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 850-245-8336 (phone) / 850-245-8356 (fax) 

DEP Home | About DEP | Contact Us | Search | Site Map

Florida DEP - Surface Water Improvement and Management Program Page 2 of 2

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/swim.htm 10/4/2011