Florida Administrative Code › 40 - WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS › 40D - Southwest Florida Water Management District › Chapter 40D-8 - WATER LEVELS AND RATES OF FLOW › Section 40D-8.021 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
The terms set forth herein shall have the meanings ascribed
				  to them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and such meanings shall
				  apply throughout these rules. The terms defined in Rule
				   40D-1.102, F.A.C., shall also
				  apply throughout Chapter 40D-8, F.A.C., and the terms defined in this Rule
				   40D-8.021, F.A.C., apply
				  throughout the District rules except that where there is a conflict or a
				  difference between Rule
				   40D-1.102, F.A.C. and this Rule
				   40D-8.021, F.A.C., the
				  definition in this Chapter 40D-8, F.A.C., will control.
(1) "Current" means a recent Long-term period
				during which Structural Alterations and hydrologic stresses are
				stable.
(2) "Guidance Levels" means
				water levels, determined by the District using the best available information
				and expressed in feet relative to National Geodetic Vertical Datum (of 1929),
				or in feet relative to the North American Vertical Datum (of 1988), used as
				advisory information for the District, lake shore residents and local
				governments, or to aid in the management or control of adjustable structures.
				Established Guidance Levels include the Low Level and the High Level.
(3) "Historic" means a Long-term period when
				there are no measurable impacts due to withdrawals and Structural Alterations
				are similar to current conditions.
(4) "Hydrologic Indicators" means those
				biological and physical features, which are representative of previous water
				levels as listed in Section
				 373.4211(20),
				F.S.
(5) "Long-term" means an
				evaluation period used to establish Minimum Flows and Minimum Water Levels,
				determine compliance with established Minimum Flows and Minimum Water Levels,
				and assess withdrawal impacts on established Minimum Flows and Minimum Water
				Levels that represents a period which spans the range of hydrologic conditions
				which can be expected to occur based upon historical records, ranging from high
				water levels to low water levels. In the context of an average water level, the
				average will be based upon the historic expected range and frequency of levels.
				Relative to Minimum Flow and Level establishment and compliance, the best
				available information, selected through application of reasonable scientific
				judgement, that is sufficiently representative of Long-term conditions will be
				used.
(6) "Minimum Flow" means the
				flow for a surface watercourse at which further withdrawals would be
				significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area and which
				may provide for the protection of non-consumptive uses.
(7) "Minimum Level" means the Long-term level
				of surface water, water table, or potentiometric surface at which further
				withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources of the area
				and which may provide for the protection of nonconsumptive uses. Such a level
				shall be expressed as an elevation, in feet relative to National Geodetic
				Vertical Datum (1929) or in feet relative to the North American Vertical Datum
				(1988) and includes Minimum Wetland Levels, High Minimum Lake Levels, Minimum
				Lake Levels, and Minimum Aquifer Levels.
(8) "P10" means the percentile ranking
				represented by the elevation of the water surface of a lake or wetland that is
				equaled or exceeded 10 percent of the time as determined from a Long-term stage
				frequency analysis.
(9) "P50" means
				the percentile ranking represented by the elevation of the water surface of a
				lake or wetland that is equaled or exceeded 50 percent of the time as
				determined from a Long-term stage frequency analysis.
(10) "P90" means the percentile ranking
				represented by the elevation of the water surface of a lake or wetland that is
				equaled or exceeded 90 percent of the time as determined from a Long-term stage
				frequency analysis.
(11)
				"Structural Alteration" means human alteration of an inlet outlet of a lake or
				wetland that affects water levels.
Rulemaking Authority
					 373.044,
					 373.113,
					 373.171 FS. Law Implemented
					 373.036,
					 373.0361,
					 373.042,
					 373.0421,
					 373.086,
					 373.216,
					 373.219,
					 373.223,
					 373.229,
					 373.413,
					 373.414,
					 373.416
					 FS.
New 6-7-78, Amended 1-22-79, Formerly 16J-8.02, Amended
					 8-7-00, 1-8-04, 2-18-08, 9-27-21.