Alternative Text Description for NWFWMD Wells

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the spatial distribution of permitted water wells regulated by the Northwest Florida Water Management District. The map shows thousands of individual well locations across a coastal region, revealing where well construction, repair, and abandonment permits have been issued since 1976. The dense concentration of points illustrates the extensive groundwater resource development and management activity within the District's jurisdiction.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers a coastal region in northwest Florida, extending along the Gulf of America shoreline. Several cities are labeled in the northern portion of the map area, including Montgomery, Columbus, and Albany in the north, and Andalusia, Enterprise, and Dothan in the central region. The mapped well locations form a distinct geographic boundary that appears to follow county or water management district borders, creating a clearly defined service area that spans multiple counties from west to east along the coast. The southern edge of the well distribution follows the Gulf of America coastline, including coastal areas, barrier islands, and peninsular features.

KEY INSIGHTS

The map reveals an extremely dense and widespread distribution of permitted wells throughout the entire Northwest Florida Water Management District jurisdiction. Wells are distributed relatively uniformly across the mapped area with thousands of individual points visible, indicating extensive groundwater utilization throughout the region. The density appears relatively consistent across inland and coastal areas, suggesting widespread dependence on groundwater resources. Coastal areas show notable concentrations following the shoreline and barrier islands, while inland areas maintain similarly high well density. The abrupt boundary of well locations clearly delineates the District's regulatory jurisdiction, with virtually no wells shown outside this defined area.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

NWFWMD Wells

This layer represents the location of water wells that have been permitted by the Northwest Florida Water Management District for construction, repair, or abandonment since 1976.

Well Location Points

Appearance:

Each well is represented by a small circular point symbol composed of a blue circle with a bright yellow or lime-green center, creating a distinctive two-tone appearance.

Distribution:

Wells are distributed throughout the entire mapped jurisdiction area, covering inland counties and coastal regions. The distribution extends from the western boundary of the District jurisdiction eastward to western Jefferson County, and from inland areas southward to the Gulf of America coastline.

Notable locations:

Particularly dense concentrations of wells appear throughout the mapped area with no single location showing dramatically higher density than others. Coastal communities and barrier islands show continuous well distributions following the shoreline. Some isolated well points appear outside the main concentration area to the northeast and east of the primary jurisdiction boundary.

Spatial patterns:

The overall pattern shows remarkably uniform coverage across the District's jurisdiction with thousands of individual well locations. The distribution follows natural and political boundaries, creating a distinct geographic footprint. Wells extend into coastal areas including barrier islands and peninsular features, indicating groundwater use in these specialized environments. The density suggests this region relies heavily on groundwater resources for various water supply needs.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents well construction permitting data and shows only wells that have been permitted through the District's regulatory program beginning in 1976. The mapped locations represent a subset of all wells that may exist in the area, as wells constructed prior to 1976 are not included in this dataset. Location information may have been provided by well contractors or owners and may not have been independently verified by the District. The Water Resources Act of 1972 granted the Northwest Florida Water Management District authority to regulate well construction, repair, and abandonment to protect and manage groundwater resources. The spatial distribution helps permitting personnel assess whether proposed wells comply with Florida Statutes and whether they might adversely affect ground or surface water resources or be located near contamination areas.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

Well construction permitting data maintained by the Northwest Florida Water Management District. Location information is derived from permit applications submitted by well contractors or property owners beginning in 1976 when the District initiated well construction regulation under Chapter 40A-3, Florida Administrative Code. Data source layer name: WELLS_NWFWMD_JAN18.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied to this dataset.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional-scale view appropriate for understanding the overall distribution pattern of permitted wells across the District's multi-county jurisdiction. Individual well points are visible but specific site-level details would require closer zoom levels.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

Data represents wells permitted from 1976 through January 2018, based on the data source layer name indicating a January 2018 dataset version.

Limitations:

This dataset represents only a small fraction of existing wells in the region. Wells constructed prior to 1976, before the District began regulatory oversight, are not included. Location information may have been self-reported by contractors or owners and may not have been field-verified by District staff. The dataset may not include all permitted wells if records are incomplete. Users should not assume this represents a complete inventory of all wells in the mapped area.

Map Coverage:

The map extends across northwest Florida from Escambia County in the west to western Jefferson County in the east, covering the Northwest Florida Water Management District's regulatory jurisdiction. The coverage includes coastal areas along the Gulf of America and extends northward into inland counties. Surrounding areas outside the District jurisdiction are shown for geographic context but contain minimal well location data.

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