Water Resources and Growth Management in South Florida

The role of water resource planning and regulation in the management of growth in South Florida during the past decade has been to provide for orderly, directed growth that is consistent with resource limitations and local government plans and decisions. Potentially large quantities of potable water are available, and drainage problems can usually be overcome with effective engineering. These factors limit the effectiveness of managing growth by water resource constaints alone. The South Florida Water Management District's authority to regulate water use and drainage has affected, to some degree, the magnitude, distribution and timing of urban development by requiring new development to meet reasonable standards of flood protection, resource impact, and environmental protection. The district's philosophy during the past decade has been to support local government growth management efforts by coordinating plans and regulatory actions and by providing a mechanism for local land use decision makers to understand the water management implications of their decision prior to making it.