Minimum Flows and Levels

Minimum Flows and Levels Annual Priority List

Requirements for the establishment of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) are specified in section 373.042, F.S. Minimum flows and levels are defined as the limit at which further withdrawals of ground or surface water would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area (s. 373.042(1)(a)-(b), F.S.). A priority list and schedule for the development of MFLs are submitted to DEP for review and approval each November. The final list is incorporated within the Consolidated Annual Report.

In accordance with statutory requirements, the priority list and schedule are based on the importance of the waters to the state or region and the existence of or potential for significant harm to the water resources or ecology of the state or region. The list includes those waterbodies experiencing or that may reasonably be expected to experience adverse impacts. The list also includes first magnitude springs and second magnitude springs within state or federally-owned conservation lands. The schedule for establishment of spring minimum flows and levels is planned so as to be commensurate with the existing or potential threat to spring flow from consumptive uses. The Northwest Florida Water Management District Minimum Flows and Levels priority areas are illustrated in Figure 3.1, and the 2011 MFL priority list is the table below.

NWFWMD MFL Priorities

MFL map

Northwest Florida Water Management District MFL Priority List (2011)

#	WMD	Waterbody	WB Type	County	2010 List	2011 List	Date Estab.	Peer Rev.	Reason for Schedule Change	Existence of or Potential for Significant Harm
1	NWF	Floridan Aquifer	A	Coastal Portions of Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton	2017	2017		N		Potential migration of saline water due to significant drawdown of Floridan Aquifer in coastal portions of these counties.
2	NWF	Inland Sand and Gravel Aquifer	A	Santa Rosa, Okaloosa	2015	2015		N		Identified in Regional Water Supply as likely future water supply. Monitoring and Hydrologic modeling is ongoing to consider potential for harm.
3	NWF	Deer Point Lake	E/L	Bay	2015	2015		N		Potential increase in withdrawals greater than currently projected that result in reduced discharge to North Bay.
4	NWF	Wakulla Spring	S	Wakulla	2012	2012		N		Scheduling of first order magnitude springs is a Requirement of Chapter 373.042, F.S. Monitoring and technical analyses to determine hydrology and aquatic resource needs are ongoing.
5	NWF	Jackson Blue Spring	S	Jackson	2012	2012		N		Scheduling of first order magnitude springs is a Requirement of Chapter 373.042, F.S. Monitoring and technical analyses to determine hydrology and aquatic resources needs are ongoing.
6	NWF	Yellow River	R	Santa Rosa, Okaloosa	2017	2017		N		Monitoring and Technical analyses to determine consumptive demands, hydrology and aquatic ecosystem needs are ongoing.
7	NWF	Morrison Spring	S	Walton	2015	2015		N		Scheduling of 2nd order magnitude springs on state lands is a Requirement of Chapter 373.042, F.S. Monitoring and technical analyses to determine hydrology and aquatic resource needs are ongoing.

WB Type: A=Aquifer, Fl=Floridan, E=Estuary, L=Lake, R=River, S=Spring, W=Wetland; Peer Rev.=voluntary peer review of MFL; * MFL in rule making; ** MFL rule challenged.

Map and Table as an Adobe PDF Document