Alternative Text Description for FDEP Strategic Monitoring Plan (SMP)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays waterbody identification units in Florida that are scheduled for monitoring under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Strategic Monitoring Plan. The map shows polygon areas representing drainage basins, lakes, rivers, streams, springs, and coastal waters that will be monitored to determine whether they meet surface water quality standards. These monitoring efforts are prioritized to focus data collection where there may be shortfalls and to combine with critical ongoing sampling needed for assessment.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida and portions of southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama. Major cities labeled include Montgomery and Columbus in the north, Savannah in the northeast, Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west-central coast, West Palm Beach and Palm Coast on the east coast, Cape Coral in southwest Florida, and Miami in the southeast. The Gulf of America coastline is visible along the western and southwestern borders, while the Atlantic Ocean borders the eastern coast. The Florida panhandle extends westward, with cities like Tallahassee, Dothan, Albany, Valdosta, and Gainesville marking the northern portion of the state.

KEY INSIGHTS

The mapped waterbody identification units show a distinct coastal and near-coastal concentration pattern. The heaviest clustering of monitoring plan areas occurs along the Florida panhandle coast, particularly around Tallahassee and extending westward, with numerous irregular polygon shapes indicating complex coastal waterbodies and estuaries. The central peninsula of Florida shows relatively sparse coverage, suggesting fewer waterbodies are scheduled for monitoring in inland areas. Another significant concentration appears in the southern peninsula, particularly in areas south of Lake Okeechobee near the Everglades region and around the southwest coast near Cape Coral and Fort Myers. Moderate concentrations are visible along the northeast coast near Jacksonville and Palm Coast, as well as scattered locations in southeast Florida near West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

FDEP Strategic Monitoring Plan Waterbody Identification Units

This layer represents waterbody identification units scheduled for monitoring under Florida's Strategic Monitoring Plan.

Strategic Monitoring Plan Areas (light purple polygon fill with purple outline)

Appearance:

The features are displayed as light purple or lavender-colored polygons with purple outlines. The polygons vary significantly in size and shape, ranging from small irregular patches to larger complex coastal configurations.

Distribution:

Features are distributed throughout Florida with heaviest concentration along coastal areas. The Florida panhandle shows the most extensive coverage, particularly along the Gulf of America shoreline. Secondary concentrations appear in southern Florida near the Everglades and southwest coast, and along portions of the northeast Atlantic coast.

Notable locations:

Major concentrations occur west and south of Tallahassee along the panhandle coast, in the Big Bend region where the peninsula meets the panhandle, scattered throughout the southwest Florida coastal area from Tampa Bay southward to Cape Coral, throughout the southern Everglades region, and along coastal portions near Jacksonville and Palm Coast. The inland peninsula shows minimal coverage except for scattered features in central Florida.

Spatial patterns:

The polygons show strong coastal affinity, with most features located within approximately 50 miles of either the Gulf of America or Atlantic coastlines. Many features follow the irregular shapes of estuaries, bays, and coastal waterbodies. Inland features are less common and tend to be smaller and more isolated. The pattern suggests prioritization of coastal and estuarine waterbodies for monitoring, with limited inland lake or river monitoring planned at this time.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are evident in this single-layer thematic map.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a strategic prioritization of waterbody monitoring efforts rather than a comprehensive inventory of all Florida waterbodies. The areas shown identify where the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled monitoring to assess whether waterbodies meet minimum surface water quality standards established in Florida Administrative Code Chapters 62-302 and 62-303. Following data collection, sample results are uploaded to the Watershed Information Network or the state biological database. Waterbodies assessed as impaired are placed on the Verified List of Impaired Waters and prioritized for Total Maximum Daily Load development to determine the maximum amount of pollutants a waterbody can receive while still attaining water quality standards. The absence of polygons in certain areas does not necessarily indicate that waterbodies are not present, but rather that they are not currently prioritized for monitoring under this strategic plan.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This dataset is maintained to identify waterbody identification units scheduled for monitoring to determine surface water quality standards attainment. For questions regarding waterbodies identified on the Strategic Monitoring Plan, contact Kevin O'Donnell at kevin.odonnell@dep.state.fl.us or 850-245-8469. Data source layer name: WBIDS_SMP_MAY25.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was provided. The map appears to show the complete Strategic Monitoring Plan dataset.

Scale Information:

The map shows a statewide view of Florida with surrounding portions of neighboring states. At this scale, individual small waterbodies may not be easily distinguishable, and the map is appropriate for understanding the overall geographic distribution and prioritization of monitoring efforts rather than identifying specific waterbody boundaries.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The dataset is dated May 2025 based on the data source layer name. This represents the waterbodies scheduled for monitoring as of that date.

Limitations:

This map shows only those waterbodies prioritized for monitoring under the Strategic Monitoring Plan and does not represent all waterbodies in Florida. Monitoring priorities may change over time as data collection progresses and new assessment needs are identified. The map does not indicate current water quality status, only which waterbodies are scheduled for future monitoring.

Map Coverage:

The map extent includes the entire state of Florida from the Alabama and Georgia borders in the north to the Florida Keys in the south, and from the Gulf of America coast in the west to the Atlantic Ocean coast in the east. Portions of southern Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and surrounding water bodies are shown for geographic context.

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