Office Location: Winter Haven City Hall 451 Third St. NW Winter Haven, Florida 33881 Contact Information: Phone: (863) 291-5881 Fax: (863) 297-3090

Our Division
The Natural Resources Division is responsible for ensuring Winter Haven’s natural environment is clean and healthy. This division has two employees and is funded through a stormwater quality utility. One of the primary division functions is protecting water quality through stormwater treatment projects.

Areas of Special Interest:
Stormwater Treatment Projects: Stormwater is the greatest threat to water quality of area lakes. The City has constructed several stormwater treatment projects, including two “stormwater parks” that also provide recreational opportunities. Staff constructed three smaller projects and has secured grant funding for two more large projects. Numerous grants are applied for regularly to help fund projects.

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permitting (NPDES): The City permitted the discharge of stormwater through the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. Development of inspection, educational and monitoring programs for this permit falls under this division.

Water Quality Improvement: Other projects and programs for water quality improvement include managing 2.5 miles of public shorelines; the investigation of other sources of pollution besides stormwater, including organic sediments; and the monitoring of 50 lakes. This division is also responsible for meeting requirements of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Program for Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for area lakes. Two large studies are underway to determine whether pollution sources are affecting our lakes.

Waterfront Development and Environmental Planning: This division provides internal technical assistance for managing waterfront development, nature-based recreational opportunities, floodplain management, hazardous waste management and water supply planning.

Environmental Lands and Lakefronts Initiative (ELLI): This program is one of only two such programs in the State established by municipal governments to acquire environmentally sensitive lands. The program will allow for the purchase/acquisition of various parcels throughout the City for protection of natural habitats, development of passive recreational lands and the management of stormwater.

Water Resource Sustainability Plan:

The Water Resource Sustainability Plan takes a long-term approach to planning for water resource management, including water supply, water quality, flooding and natural systems, including lakes.  The plan has been developed over the past 18 months and has already received significant input from the public.  One of the primary considerations of the Water Resource Sustainability Plan is that the area has been subject to nearly a century of drainage practices which have allowed water resources to be discharged during times of need.  Many of the lakes within the watershed have been below normal levels for a number of years.   Because of changes in how water moves to the lakes, water quality has suffered.  Recharge to the Floridan aquifer has declined.  One of the founding principles behind the plan is that with proper planning, enough water is available for all uses, including people, industry, agriculture and the environment.

The plan is primarily focused on Winter Haven, but incorporates all of the Peace Creek Watershed, which also includes all or parts of Auburndale, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, Dundee, Lake Wales, Alturas, Wahneta, Bartow, Eagle Lake and unincorporated Polk County.  The Peace Creek Watershed is approximately 150,000 acres and is at the headwaters of the Peace River which begins at the outflow of the Peace Creek near Bartow and travels to Charlotte Harbor before entering the Gulf of Mexico.

Click the links below to review the plan.

Chapters 1 - 3

Chapter 4

Appendices A - E

Public Workshop Presentation

Documents/Downloads:

Nutrient Criteria 2010 May (pdf: 2.37MB)

City of Winter Haven Area Lakes & Amenities 11 x 17" Map (PDF:2.34MB)

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Permit Application: Aquatic Plant Removal form for Lakefronts (PDF:66KB)

Water Resource Sustainability Summary 2010 (PDF:249KB)
 

Web Links:

Polk County Lakes Atlas (Lake Information)
http://www.polk.wateratlas.usf.edu/

Lakes Education / Action Drive (LE/AD)
http://www.le-ad.org/

Lake Region Lakes Management District (Canal Commission)
http://www.lakesmgmtdist.com/

Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP - Home)
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(NPDES Stormwater Program for Construction Activity)
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/stormwater/npdes/construction1.htm

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) - Lakefront Permits
(Aquatic Plant Control Permit and Field Office Information)
http://myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/InvasivePlants_FieldOperationsProgram.htm

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC - Fishing Licenses and other information)
http://myfwc.com/

Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA - Home)
http://www.dca.state.fl.us

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA - Home)
http://www.epa.gov/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Water)
http://www.epa.gov/water/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Clean Lake Homepage)
http://www.epa.gov/owow/lakes/

Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce (Chain of Lakes)
http://www.winterhavenfl.com/

Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful (KWHCB)
http://www.keepwinterhavenbeautiful.org

Winter Haven Wildlife Habitat Area Team (WHWHAT)
http://www.whwhat.org

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC)
http://www.fleppc.org/

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI)
http://www.fnai.org/

University of Florida - Extension (IFAS)
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP)
http://www.charlotteharbornep.org/

Polk County Environmental Lands
http://www.polk-county.net/