NORTHWEST NEWS & UPDATES
NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
FEBRUARY 2011 VOL. 3, NO. 1
Restored Springs Dazzle Guests
“Unique and beautiful,” “So
pretty,” “I’m overwhelmed,” were
some responses to a sneak peek
of completed facilities at Pitt and
Sylvan springs Despite the cold
morning, 15 participants showed
up in winter jackets at 9 a.m. on
January 22. They toured restored
Econfina Creek and springs during
two workshops offered by the
Northwest Florida Water Manage-
ment District and design engi-
neers, Genesis Group, LLC.
Participants were led down
boardwalks to a tube launch dock
on Econfina Creek near a restored
riverbank, an overlook deck at Syl-
van Spring, a restored Pitt Spring
pool and adjacent canoe/kayak
dock. At Pitt Spring, workers had
removed debris,
eroded sediment and
a rock that was block-
ing the vent, and re-
leased fresh flows
into a more open
pool. A confining wall
was replaced with
gently sloping natural
vegetation and stabi-
lizing limerock.
“We have to let
plants grow in and
slopes stabilize be-
fore we can open it
for recreation in late
summer,” said Wil-
Pitt Spring flows more freely following restoration.
liam O. “Bill” Cleckley, Director
of the District’s Division of Land
Management and Acquisition.
A second workshop at 11
a.m. unveiled preliminary spring
restoration and protection engi-
neering designs for Williford
Spring by Genesis Group. Par-
ticipants toured Williford Spring
(about 1/3 mile north of Highway
20 on Strickland Road). They
commented on proposed spring/
stream bank restoration and pro-
tection measures, a limestone
access deck with steps into the
spring pool and two elevated,
disability accessible overlook
decks. Picnic pavilions, a com-
posting toilet, a boardwalk to a
canoe/kayak dock on the spring
Bill Cleckley photo
run and nature trails are also
planned (see p. 5).
“The District’s goal for Econ-
fina Springs restoration is to allow
continued and enhanced public
access and recreation while pro-
tecting spring resources,” said
Douglas Barr, District Executive
Director.
“Public response to prelimi-
nary engineering designs for Willi-
ford Spring allows the public to
participate in the restoration and
protection process,” said Cleck-
ley.
The District Governing Board
reviewed designs last month and
they will be presented to an ad
hoc Spring Restoration Group
and Florida Department of Envi-
ronmental Protec-
tion (DOT) permit-
ting staff.
“This step-wise
process will allow
the District to pro-
ceed to permitting,
bidding and con-
struction by Fall
Tyler Macmillan photo
2011, subject to
funding,” Cleckley
said. Another
workshop will be
held to receive
public input on
final designs.”
(More photos p.4)
 Page 2 NORTHWEST NEWS & UPDATES

Pine Log Creek Next for Tate’s Hell Restoration

Surface water will flow will enhance
drain more naturally in groundwater recharge,
Pine Log Creek basin benefit critical aquatic
following contract ap- nurseries and offset
proval by the District regional wetland loss-
Governing Board in Jan- es.”
uary. As part of the Hy- A private contractor
drologic Restoration will eliminate about
Plan for Tate’s Hell State three miles of dirt
Forest approved in logging roads and

Kris Barrios photo

2010, this project will re- adjacent ditches by
store natural grade and pushing road fill into
improve quality and tim- ditches, construct-
ing of surface water run- ing 11 hardened
off to Pine Log Creek low water cross-
and East Bay. ings, 30 earthen ditch
“Restoring natural plugs, one flashboard
hydrology in the Apala- Road removal will help restore Pine Log Creek flows. riser and 22 culvert
chicola River and Bay system will state purchase in 1994 and a Dis- modifications.
benefit one of the most diverse, trict wetland restoration priority This will enhance wetland
productive and economically im- since 1996. function, restore historic wet sa-
portant estuaries in the U.S.,” “The State Forest covers over vannas and improve fish and
said District Executive Director half of Franklin County,” said Ron wildlife habitat in Tate’s Hell State
Douglas Barr. Bartel, Director, Division of Re- Forest and Apalachicola Bay.
The Apalachicola River water- source Management. “Restoring Funding for the $190,051 project
shed is a District priority, and drainage patterns from gridded is through Florida Forever capital
Tate’s Hell was a District initiated pine plantation to natural overland improvement funds.

Watson Bayou to Receive Stormwater Treatment

Water quality and flooding
problems are expected to im-
prove in the St. Andrew Bay wa-
tershed following recent action by
the District Governing Board.
The board agreed to provide up
to $800,000 in grant funding to
help Bay County build a storm-
water treatment pond, enhance
wetlands and alleviate flooding in
a basin that drains to Watson
Bayou.
“We are pleased to partner
with Bay County to improve wa-
ter quality and aquatic habitat in
Watson Bayou,” said Executive
Director Douglas Barr. “The Dis-
trict has worked with the County
for over five years to find the right
site for this facility.”
Bay County will provide a
10.3 acre parcel for a stormwater
pond on a major Watson Bayou
tributary that will reduce flooding
and water quality problems from
a 200-acre sub-basin area. Wat-
son Bayou drains a 4,200-acre
urban area that has reduced di-
rect industrial discharges. How-
ever, stormwater runoff from in-
dustrial, commercial and residen-
tial land use (nonpoint source
pollution) continues, since storm-
water infrastructure is inade-
quate.
“The proposed facility takes
another step toward improving
ecosystem conditions,” said Ron
Bartel, Director, Division of Re-
source Management. “It will also
restore a wetland that has been
degraded by invasive plants.”
The District will provide tech-
nical assistance with hydraulic
modeling and design of storm-
water improvements. Funding for
the project includes remaining
Florida Forever capital improve-
ment funds.
Bay County will be responsi-
ble for permitting, construction
oversight, operation, mainte-
nance and building park ameni-
ties for the facility.
 FEBRUARY 2011 VOL. 3, NO. 1 Page 3

District completes largest planting ever in 2010

Purchase Enhances Protection
its 10 millionth
The Northwest Florida Water
Management District has com-
pleted its largest planting of trees
and groundcover in a single year.
In its ongoing reforestation and
groundcover habitat restoration,
the Division of Land Management
and Acquisition contracted to
hand plant 2,827 acres of dis-
of Escambia River
longleaf pine and
its 5 millionth groundcover plug
since 1994,” said Tyler Macmil-
lan, Chief of the District’s Bureau
of Land Management Operations.
Over 1.6 million longleaf pine
tubelings were planted on 2,237
acres of disturbed longleaf pine
habitat on the Perdido River,

David Morse (DOF) photos

turbed longleaf pine, bottomland
hardwood and wiregrass habitat
in Bay, Escambia, Liberty, Santa
Rosa and Washington counties.
“Species diversity has been
significantly enhanced or restored
and water resource health has
improved in many areas across
northwest Florida,” said David
Clayton, Environmental Scientist
in the District’s Resource Man-
agement Division. “Where natural
ecosystems were impacted by
hydrologic alterations and habitat
conversion, disturbed natural
habitats have thrived. This re-
quired harvesting offsite species,
conducting prescribed burns, ap-
plying selective herbicide to com-
peting vegetation and replanting
native species.”
“In 2010, the District planted
Planting pines, Tate’s Hell.
Choctawhatchee River/Holmes
Creek and Econfina Creek Water
Management Areas (WMAs).
More than 35,000 mixed hard-
wood and cypress trees were
planted on 87 acres of mitigation
tracts on the Perdido River, Yel-
low River and Choctawhatchee
River/Holmes Creek (WMA), as
well as Womack Creek mitigation
project in Tate’s Hell Swamp.
The District also re-
established groundcover habitat,
planting wiregrass (over 711,000
plugs), toothache grass (58,000
plugs) and mixed wet pine flat-
wood species (over 185,000
plantings) on disturbed natural
habitat sites on the Perdido and
Yellow rivers, Choctawhatchee
River/Holmes Creek and Econ-
fina Creek WMAs and on the
Sand Hill Lakes Mitigation
Bank and the Ward Creek
West mitigation tract.
“The District is a leader in
restoring disturbed upland/
wetland overstory canopy and
groundcover habitat,” said Ex-
ecutive Director Douglas Barr,
“especially in xeric (dry)
sandhill, mixed bottomland
hardwood, wet prairie and wet
pine flatwoods habitats. Suc-
cess ensures we adequately
offset wetland losses due to
DOT projects.”
“Years of longleaf pine/wire
Planting oaks at Womack Creek.
-grass habitat restoration experi-
ence on District uplands helped
us succeed recently with wet pine
flatwoods restoration,” said Wil-
liam O. “Bill” Cleckley, Director,
Division of Land Management
and Acquisition. “On some sites,
we must achieve specific habitat
restoration success in five years
or less to satisfy permit require-
ments and obtain mitigation credit
from the U.S. Army Corps of En-
gineers and DOT.”
Seeds for most District
groundcover projects were col-
lected from Garcon Point and
Econfina Creek WMAs. Seeds
from at least 45 native species
were released following shrub re-
duction and seasonal prescribed
fires that mimic natural lightning-
induced fire cycles. In all these
efforts, the District continues to
research, refine and establish
new habitat restoration tech-
niques that increase species di-
versity and ecosystem health.
 Page 4 NORTHWEST NEWS & UPDATES

Restored Springs Gallery

Tyler Macmillan photos

Stately palms, pillared picnic pavilions, composting toilets, new docks, decks and boardwalks
greeted workshop participants at Pitt Spring on January 22.

Williford Spring (above) is

next for restoration.

Participants strode new

boardwalks to a tube launch
dock with ladder built near a
restored bank on Econfina
Creek (left).
FEBRUARY 2011 VOL. 3, NO. 1 Page 5

A preliminary Williford Spring

restoration design includes
walkways from a proposed
parking lot (top) south of
Strickland Road, three picnic
pavilions, a composting toilet,
limestone deck and steps into
Williford Spring and partial
spring bank restoration with
limestone and native vegeta-
tion. An elevated boardwalk
will extend to a canoe/kayak
mooring dock on the spring
run, nature trails will connect
to Sylvan and Pitt springs.
Decks around the springs will
be handicapped accessible.
 Page 6 NORTHWEST NEWS & UPDATES

Water Management Plan is Strategic

A plan to accomplish sions to further in-
the District’s vision of crease ownership
protecting and manag- and accountability.”
ing water resources “Each strategy
sustainably for resi- is applied to an is-
dents and natural sys- sue with a defined
tems was approved in target,” said Ron
December. Bartel, Director,
The District Gov- Division of Re-
erning Board endorsed source Manage-
its first annually- ment. “The annual
reviewed Strategic Wa- update will ensure
ter Management Plan that the plan re-
(SWMP), which replac- mains valid, based
es a former multi-year on current water
document. The plan resource challeng-
describes District re- es and financial
sponsibilities, objec- resources.”
tives, strategies, finan- Among the
cial resources and suc- major priorities

David Clayton photo

cess criteria. are alternative
Plan objectives fo- water supply
cus on high leverage development,
activities that will make consumptive
a significant difference use permitting,
for water supply, flood environmental
protection, water quality resource permit-
and natural system func- ting, flood hazard
tions. The plan also en- mapping, reuse of
hances accountability High quality bottomland hardwood forest was protected reclaimed water and
by annually evaluating recently by removing exotic invasives on the District’s restoration of water-
outcomes and progress 7,716-acre Chipola River Water Management Area. sheds. The public
toward goals. may read the plan at
“Our strategic priorities are on financial resources available the District’s website, http://
both practical and forward look- to achieve our goals. Activities www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubs/
ing,” said Executive Director for each major strategy are as- swmp2010/swmp2010.html
Douglas Barr. “They are based signed to specific District divi-

Well Permitting Expanded

The Regulation of Wells Pro- Another upgrade allows con-
gram expanded service to Flori- tractors to make required notifi-
da licensed water well contrac- cations via automated phone
Mark Pritzl photo

tors by adding an online ac- system. Both services allow 24-

count function to pay for appli- hour business access to the Dis-
cations, request permit exten- trict. These upgrades and other
sions and check applications database changes will facilitate
and permits. future online permitting.
 Page 7
FEBRUARY
DECEMBER2011
2009 VOL. 1,
VOL. 3, NO.
NO. 31

District Accepts Grant to Expand Flood Warning Network

The Panhandle
will receive addition-
al flood and storm
surge protection fol-
lowing a $406,000
grant approved by
the District Govern-
ing Board in No-
vember. The project
includes a $305,000
grant from the Fed-

Patrick Casey photo

eral Emergency
Management Ad-
ministration (FEMA)
to enhance the Dis-
trict’s flood and
storm surge warn-
ing network. Project
funding will also be
provided by the Dis-
trict, Leon County
and the City of Tal-
lahassee.
The network records and
transmits continual, real-time
rainfall, water level and stream
flow data. Emergency managers,
local officials and the public will
be able to access data online
and evaluate impending flood
conditions and potential emer-
gency measures.
“This data is critical in deter-
mining exactly when certain
bridges, roads and neighbor-
hoods will flood, and in improv-
ing public safety during major
storm events,” said District Exec-
utive Director Douglas Barr.
Emergency managers will be
better informed about which
roads to close and when to issue
advance warnings so that people
have time to protect property and
leave the area. Improved infor-
mation will also help local offi-
cials coordinate evacuation of
The Ochlockonee River flooded in 2009.
the elderly, disabled or people
who have difficulty getting out.
“In late March and early
April 2009, a series of low pres-
sure systems moving through
the Florida Panhandle and Big-
Bend regions caused severe
thunderstorms and flooding,”
said Ron Bartel, Director, Divi-
sion of Resource Management.
“As a result, federal funds were
made available through Florida’s
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
to provide additional flood warn-
ing capability in the Panhandle.”
District staff discussed prob-
lem areas with emergency man-
agers and local officials. They
set priorities for upgrading 21
existing stations to real-time re-
porting capability and installing
12 new monitoring stations in
flood-prone areas of Jefferson,
Leon, Wakulla, Franklin, Gulf,
Bay and Calhoun counties.
Monitoring information will be
available at the District’s web-
site, http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.
us/pubsdata/hydrologicdata.html
and Leon County’s website,
http://www.cafwn.org/.
The data will also provide hy-
drologists and engineers with
historical records to analyze long
term conditions and predict flood
conditions with greater accuracy.
This is especially helpful for the
many streams and drainage ba-
sins that have delayed respons-
es to rainfall events. Also, the
District, City of Tallahassee and
Leon County use these records
to design stormwater drainage
improvements that significantly
reduce flooding and improve wa-
ter quality.
 Protecting and managing water resources sustainably ... Page 8

Rewards of Habitat Restoration

January February March April May June

Trillium Phlox Sundial lupine Ladies tresses Gopher weed Water lily

David Clayton photos

July Coastal August Coastal plain September October November December
morning glory honeycomb head Persimmon Sourwood Sumac Virginia creeper

We’re on the web!

nwfwmd.state.fl.us

NORTHWEST
FLORIDA WATER
MANAGEMENT

Jess Van Dyke photo

DISTRICT

81 Water
Management Drive
Havana, FL 32333
Phone: 850-539-5999
Fax: 850-539-2777
E-mail:
Faith.Eidse@nwfwmd.state.fl.us

Text by Faith Eidse; other

contributions by District
staff.
Michael Hill photo

This sinkhole,
discovered on private prop-
erty near Lake Miccosukee
in October, has since filled
with water (right). After a dry
fall, rainfall has been about normal
in January.