Page Banner

Office of Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration

Ensuring adequate, high quality water for human use and natural systems is essential to sustaining the state’s economy and quality of life. The Office of Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration is responsible for the regulatory programs that focus on water supply protection and environmental restoration in Florida.

Water Policy

The Water Policy section leads the department in developing appropriate policies based on statutory direction and ensuring effective implementation of its responsibilities under the Florida Water Resources Act. This section addresses statewide water management issues in coordination with the water management districts, other agencies and local governing entities.

What's New?
Pursuant to 373.536(6)(b) Florida Statutes, the Department welcomes comment on the Water Management District’s Five Year Water Resource Development Work Programs.


Water Management District

Web Link to Five-Year Water Resource Development Work Program

Submit Comments to Water Policy Staff

Deadline for submitting comments

Northwest Florida Water Management District

Fiscal Year 2024-25 Five-Year Water Resource Development Work Program (NWFwater.com)

Lisa Van Houdt

November 7, 2024

South Florida Water Management District

Fiscal Year 2024-25 Five-Year Water Resource Development Work Program (sfwmd.gov)

Andrew Clement 

November 6, 2024

St. Johns River Water Management District

2025 Five-Year Water Resource Development Work Program (sjrwmd.com)

Chris Rothenberg

November 1, 2024

Suwannee River Water Management District

Five-Year-Water-Resource-Development-Work-Program-2024-2025-Draft (mysuwanneeriver.com)

Lisa Van Houdt

October 31, 2024

Southwest Florida Water Management District

Five-Year Water Resource Development Work Program (swfwmd.state.fl.us)

Mary-Elizabeth Parker

November 5, 2024


Ecosystems Restoration

The Ecosystems Restoration section oversees Everglades restoration efforts for the department, which entails planning, permitting and compliance assistance, and ensuring resources are available for current and future projects. The section’s activities focus on protecting and improving water quality and restoring the ecology and hydrology of the greater South Florida ecosystem, which stretches from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes near Orlando to the Florida Keys.


Edward C Smith-Director of Ecosystems ProjectsMeet the Director

Edward Smith, Director, Office of Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration

Edward Smith oversees Everglades restoration efforts for the state of Florida, which entails planning, permitting and compliance assistance for the restoration efforts, as well as working to ensure resources are available for current and future projects.

Prior to his current position, he worked for the Department of Environmental Protection in the Division of Water Facilities Regulation in various roles including NPDES Stormwater Program Administrator, statewide compliance coordinator for wastewater facilities and permit writer in the power plant group.



  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Some content on this site is saved in an alternative format. The following icons link to free Reader/Viewer software:
PDF: | Word: | Excel: