Alternative Text Description for SWFWMD Water Use Permit Boundaries

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays Water Use Permit Boundaries administered by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The map shows the geographic extent of permitted water use areas throughout the district's jurisdiction in west-central Florida. These boundaries represent the best cartographic representation of water use permits according to District Permit Review staff and are maintained for regulatory and public information purposes.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers a large portion of west-central Florida, extending from north of Ocala in the north to Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte in the south. Major cities visible on the map include Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Orlando, Lakeland, Sarasota, Ocala, Leesburg, and Kissimmee. The mapped area spans multiple counties and encompasses both coastal areas along the Gulf of America and inland regions. The western boundary follows the Gulf of America coastline, while the eastern extent reaches into central Florida near Orlando.

KEY INSIGHTS

Water use permit boundaries are extensively distributed throughout west-central Florida, with particularly dense coverage in several key areas. A major concentration of permit boundaries exists in a corridor running north-south through the center of the mapped area, roughly following the path between Tampa-St. Petersburg northward through Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties. Another significant cluster appears in the Polk County area around Lakeland, extending east toward the Orlando region. The southern portion of the district, particularly around Sarasota and extending inland, also shows substantial permit boundary coverage. Coastal areas along the Gulf of America show moderate permit density, while some inland areas show sparser coverage with more fragmented permit boundaries.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Water Use Permit Boundaries

This layer represents the authorized boundaries within which permitted water use activities may occur under SWFWMD jurisdiction.

SWFWMD Water Use Permit Boundaries (blue/purple polygons)

Appearance:

Solid blue to purple-colored polygons of varying sizes and shapes. The boundaries appear as filled areas rather than outlines, creating a mosaic pattern across the mapped region.

Distribution:

Permit boundaries are distributed throughout the SWFWMD jurisdiction, spanning from the northern extent near Ocala southward to Sarasota and Port Charlotte, and from the Gulf of America coast eastward into central Florida.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

The permit boundaries create a complex mosaic pattern with considerable variation in size, ranging from very small parcels to large contiguous areas covering several square miles. Many boundaries are irregular in shape, likely following property lines, hydrologic features, or jurisdictional boundaries. There is noticeable clustering in urban and suburban areas, particularly around major population centers. In some areas, permit boundaries abut one another with little to no gap, creating nearly continuous coverage, while in other regions they are more dispersed with visible gaps between individual permits. A north-south corridor of higher density extends through the central portion of the district.

Overlapping Patterns

The permit boundaries show particular density where urban development, agricultural areas, and water resource management needs intersect. The heaviest concentrations align with major population centers and their surrounding service areas, suggesting correlation between water demand and permit distribution.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents administrative boundaries for water use permits rather than physical features on the landscape. The boundaries shown are the official cartographic representation of permits as determined by District Permit Review staff. The extensive coverage throughout the region reflects the critical role of water resource management in west-central Florida, where water supply needs must be balanced with environmental protection. Not all areas within the SWFWMD jurisdiction are shown with permit boundaries; areas without blue/purple coloring may represent unpermitted areas, public lands, water bodies, or areas where permits are not required. The map provides a comprehensive view of where authorized water use activities are permitted throughout the district's service area.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

Data is collected and maintained by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Regulatory Geographic Information Systems (REG GIS) staff. The boundaries are developed based on permit information provided by District Permit Review staff and represent the best available cartographic representation of water use permits. The data is maintained through the District's permitting and regulatory processes.

Data source layer name: SW_WUP_BNDPERM_SEP18

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied. The map displays all available water use permit boundaries in the dataset.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional-scale view appropriate for understanding the overall distribution and extent of water use permit boundaries across the SWFWMD jurisdiction. At this scale, individual permit details and precise boundary delineations may not be fully visible, but the general pattern and coverage of permits throughout the region is clearly conveyed.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The dataset version shown is from September 2018 (SEP18), as indicated in the source layer name. Water use permits are ongoing regulatory instruments that may be modified, renewed, or expire over time, so the boundaries represent permit status as of that date.

Limitations:

The boundaries represent administrative permit areas and may not precisely reflect actual water withdrawal locations or areas of water use impact. Permit boundaries are subject to change through permit modifications, renewals, transfers, or expirations. The map shows the cartographic representation of permits as maintained by REG GIS staff, which represents the best available spatial representation but may be simplified from legal descriptions in some cases. Some small permits or recent permit changes may not be visible at this map scale.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the full jurisdiction of the Southwest Florida Water Management District in west-central Florida, extending from approximately Marion and Lake counties in the north to Charlotte and DeSoto counties in the south, and from the Gulf of America coast in the west to portions of Orange, Polk, and Hardee counties in the east.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.