The mission of the Southwest Florida Watershed Council is to protect, conserve, manage and/or restore the land and water resources of the Caloosahatchee and Big Cypress Watersheds.   Through increased awareness, participation and cooperation among all stakeholders in consensus building, planning and decision making, we are working to meet the economic, natural and cultural needs for this and succeeding generations.

4,203 Square Miles

Major hydrological units

Caloosahatchee River

San Carlos Bay

Estero Bay

Corkscrew Swamp

Big Cypress Swamp

Ten Thousand Islands

Counties

Lee

Collier

Hendry

Glades

Charlotte

Guiding Principals of the Watershed Council

§        Stakeholder Partnerships  

§        Geographic Focus  

§        Sound Science 

Building Partnerships

§        Between Public and Private Sector

§        Between different levels of Government

§        Between different water-using sectors

§        Between technical experts and laypeople 

Opportunities For Partners

            §        Pool financial and technical resources  

§        Gather scientific and socio-economic data  

§        Chart a course for watershed conservation and restoration  

§        Implement protection and restoration 

Primary Benefits

§        Improve coordination and promote integration among the various interests involved 

§        Facilitate policy development from good science 

Potential Products

§        Develop regional database on water quality, water levels and conditions.

§        Provide an Internet news and networking forum on agency and stakeholder activities in the region.

§        Create a forum for dispute resolution and consensus building.

§        Promote citizen based subwatershed associations.

§        Propose amendments to land use plans.

§        Sponsor research and educational seminars on water resource issues.