Alternative Text Description for Major Dams

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the distribution of major dams across the state of Florida as documented in the 2025 National Inventory of Dams (NID). The map displays hundreds of dam locations throughout the state, representing dams that meet specific hazard potential or size criteria established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The visualization focuses on identifying where dam infrastructure is concentrated and how it is distributed across Florida's diverse geography.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, from the panhandle region in the northwest to the southern tip of the peninsula. Major cities labeled on the map include Montgomery and Columbus in neighboring Alabama to the north, Dothan and Albany in southern Georgia, Savannah on the Atlantic coast, and Jacksonville, Gainesville, Palm Coast, Orlando, Tampa, Petersburg, Cape Coral, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Miami within Florida. The map also shows Florida's extensive coastline along both the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of America to the west, with the Keys extending southward from the mainland.

KEY INSIGHTS

Major dams in Florida show distinct regional clustering patterns rather than uniform distribution across the state. The most significant concentration of dams appears in the northern and central panhandle region, particularly in areas west of Tallahassee and extending toward the Alabama border. Additional clusters are visible in north-central Florida around and northeast of Jacksonville, throughout the central peninsula in the Tampa-Orlando corridor, and in southern Florida around the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area. Southern coastal areas, particularly along the eastern peninsula south of Palm Bay and throughout the Keys, show notably fewer dam locations. The northern regions of Florida contain substantially higher densities of dam infrastructure compared to the southern portions of the state.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Major Dams Layer

This layer represents dam locations throughout Florida that are included in the National Inventory of Dams based on hazard potential classification or size criteria.

Major Dams (small circular icons with a dam symbol)

Appearance:

Each dam is represented by a small white circular icon containing a simplified dam structure symbol.

Distribution:

Dams are distributed across the entire state of Florida, with varying densities by region. The highest concentrations appear in the northern panhandle, north-central areas, the Tampa-Orlando corridor, and southwestern Florida near Cape Coral.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

Dams show clear regional clustering with the densest concentrations in northern Florida. There is a notable absence of dams in the extreme southern peninsula and the Florida Keys. The distribution suggests correlation with population centers and agricultural regions, particularly in the panhandle and central areas. Coastal areas show varying dam density, with northeastern coastal regions having more dams than southeastern coastal areas.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map displays dams that meet specific inclusion criteria for the National Inventory of Dams, including high or significant hazard potential dams and dams meeting minimum size requirements for height and storage capacity. Not all water control structures in Florida are represented on this map, only those meeting the established federal criteria. The dams shown are owned and operated by various entities including private owners, state agencies, and federal entities, with approximately 75 percent regulated by state dam safety offices. The map provides a statewide overview suitable for understanding the general distribution of significant dam infrastructure across Florida.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This dataset contains the State of Florida subset of the 2025 National Inventory of Dams (NID), a congressionally authorized database maintained and published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in cooperation with the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), state and territorial agencies, and federal dam-regulating agencies. Starting in November 2021, state and federal dam safety regulatory entities can enter data directly, providing real-time, up-to-date information. Data source layer name: USACE_DAMS_MAR25.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was provided. This map appears to show the complete Florida subset of the NID without additional filtering.

Scale Information:

The map displays statewide coverage at a scale appropriate for viewing the entire state of Florida and understanding regional distribution patterns. Individual dam symbols are visible but detailed site-level information is not discernible at this scale.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The data represents the 2025 National Inventory of Dams as of March 2025.

Limitations:

This inventory includes only dams meeting specific federal criteria: high hazard potential dams where loss of human life is likely if the dam fails; significant hazard potential dams that could cause economic loss, environmental damage, or disruption of lifeline facilities; dams equal to or exceeding 25 feet in height with more than 15 acre-feet of storage; or dams exceeding six feet in height with 50 or more acre-feet of storage. Smaller dams and water control structures not meeting these criteria are not represented. Users should contact the respective state or federal regulatory authority for the most up-to-date information, as USACE manages the database but does not own most of the dams listed.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the panhandle to the southern tip of the peninsula and the Florida Keys. Portions of neighboring states including southern Alabama and Georgia are visible for geographic context.

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