Lake Panasoffkee SWIM Plan - Southwest Florida Water ...

INTRODUCTION
The SWIM Act
In recognition of the need to place additional emphasis on the restoration, protection and
management of the surface water resources of the State, the Florida Legislature, through the
Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act of 1987, directed the State's water
management districts to "design and implement plans and programs for the improvement and
management of surface water" (Section 373.451, Florida Statutes). The SWIM legislation
requires the water management districts to protect the ecological, aesthetic, recreational, and
economic value of the State's surface water bodies, keeping in mind that water quality
degradation is frequently caused by point and non-point source pollution, and that degraded
water quality can cause both direct and indirect losses of habitats.
Under the Act, water management districts prioritize water bodies based on their need for
protection and/or restoration. This prioritization process is carried out in cooperation with the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWCC, formerly known as the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission
or FGFWFC), the Department ofAgriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), the Department
of Community Affairs (DCA) and local governments. Lake PanasofFkee was ranked as the fifth
priority water body for the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District).
Following the selection of the priority water bodies and in accordance with the SWIM Act, a
SWIM Plan must be drafted, reviewed and approved, before State SWIM funds can be spent
on restoration, protection or management activities. The purpose of the Lake Panasoffkee
SWIM Plan is to set forth a realistic course of action, identifying the projects and the effort
needed to accomplish them, consistent with the levels and trends of SWIM funding. The law
also requires that the plans must be updated at a minimum once every three years. The
evolution of the SWIM Plans for Lake Panasornee is discussed in the following section.
Lake Panasoffkee Swim Plan Evolution
The original Lake PanasofFkee SWIM Plan, approved in 1989, was based on preservation
strategies and focused on diagnostic studies regarding water quality, sediment accumulation,
vegetation, wildlife and fisheries. However, during implementation of this Plan, a broader set
of issues began drawing attention.
A revision scheduled for 1993 was deferred with the formation of the Withlacoochee River
Work Group to allow time for the work group to study watershed issues, such as raising lake
levels, improving fisheries and enhancing recreational and aesthetic uses of the lake. The
Work Group final report was completed in 1994 and included options for raising lake levels.
Additionally, in 1996, the FDEP initiated the Withlacoochee River Ecosystem Management
Area to address watershed issues including lake levels.
During this time, SWIM diagnostic studies, delayed due to State funding limitations, were
completed. The final diagnostic study (Water and Nutrient Budget Study) was completed in
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