Southwest Florida Water Management District Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan
This plan outlines strategies for the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program to protect and restore Sarasota Bay. Adopting a 'hold the line' approach, it focuses on maintaining and improving water quality by reducing nitrogen loads, supporting monitoring and research, improving loading models, and identifying water quality improvement projects. Concurrently, it emphasizes natural systems protection and restoration through seagrass mapping, evaluating past restoration efforts, identifying new habitat restoration opportunities, and developing sustainability plans for the estuaries. The plan coordinates efforts with various agencies and partners to ensure the long-term ecological health of Sarasota Bay.