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Division of Water Resource Management

Marshy Wetland at DawnThe Division of Water Resource Management (DWRM) is responsible for implementing state laws providing for the protection of the quality of Florida’s drinking water, ground water, rivers, lakes, estuaries, wetlands and the reclamation of mined lands.

The division is composed of several programs that perform water facilities regulation along with operational support services and functions. The majority of division staff is located in Tallahassee; however, the Mining and Mitigation, Oil and Gas, Phosphate Management and Onsite Sewage programs have staff operating in satellite offices throughout the state.

The division serves as Florida’s central point of contact for federally delegated water programs, such as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Drinking Water, Underground Injection Control (UIC) and the assumed State 404 Program, and has regulatory oversight of certain functions of water and wastewater facilities throughout Florida. These facilities include industrial and domestic wastewater, septic tanks, NPDES stormwater, power plants, municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and public drinking water systems. The division is also responsible for permitting phosphate mineral processing facilities and associated phosphogypsum stack systems, the environmental resource permitting of mines and mitigation banks and coordinates the interagency review and certification for building, operating and maintaining power plants, transmission lines and natural gas pipelines.

We continue to work toward safeguarding Florida’s water resources and enhancing natural systems through partnering with local communities, and providing a more certain, consistent and effective regulatory process.

Meet the Director

Michael Lynch

Michael was appointed director of the Division of Water Resource Management in February 2022 to continue the mission of safeguarding Florida’s water resources through proactive partnering with local stakeholders, other regulatory agencies and communities, and providing a more consistent and effective regulatory process.

The division is committed to working to achieve more now for Florida’s environment. The division’s ultimate goal is to enhance both the quality and available quantity of water needed by the state’s residents, tourists and industries, while also providing protection of the state’s wetlands, managed lands, and ground and surface waters today and for generations to come.

Before joining the division, Michael served as the permitting program administrator in DEP's Southwest District Office where he oversaw all permitting related activities and the development of district policies, strategic planning and employee growth. Prior to that, he managed the Potable Water, Industrial Wastewater, Environmental Resource Permitting, Coastal Construction Control Line, Domestic Wastewater, Underground Injection Well, Hazardous Waste and Air Compliance Assurance programs. He is also an inaugural graduate of DEP's LEAPS program.

Michael holds two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in geography from the University of South Florida and one in geology from the University of Florida.

 

Water Resource Management Programs

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