Frequently Asked Questions
The District posts a Notice of Receipt for applications online.
Yes, you may submit applications online through the ePermit portal.
Yes, wetland permits received under the previous rules are valid until their expiration. If previously permitted activity is not completed before the permit expires, a new Environmental Resource Permit may be required under the ERP rule.
According to Florida rules, wetlands means areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and a duration sufficient to support, and under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soils. Florida wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bayheads, bogs, cypress domes and strands, sloughs, wet prairies, riverine swamps and marshes, hydric seepage slopes, tidal marshes, mangrove swamps, and other similar areas. Florida wetlands generally do not include longleaf or slash pine flatwoods with an understory dominated by saw palmetto.
Mitigation is required to offset adverse impacts to the functional value of wetlands and other surface waters. Mitigation types usually consist of restoration, enhancement, creation, or preservation of wetlands, other surface waters, or uplands. Mitigation can also be provided through participation in a mitigation bank. Applicants are encouraged to consult with District staff to help identify appropriate mitigation options.
Depending upon the location of your property, groundwater table levels, and the frequency and duration that the groundwater table stays at or near the surface, there could be wetlands on site. The presence of water is only one component of a wetland. Other indicators include soils that are hydric or alluvial, or possess characteristics that are associated with reducing soil conditions, and vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soils.
If the project includes a dam as defined in Paragraph 2.0(a)27 of ERP Applicant’s Handbook Volume I (Effective Date June 28, 2024) and meets the dam thresholds specified in Subsection 2.8 of ERP Applicant’s Handbook Volume II (Effective Date June 28, 2024), the applicant is to review Subsection 8.4.5 of ERP Applicant’s Handbook Volume I (Effective Date June 28, 2024) and provide all additional information as detailed under Appendix L of the same Volume (Effective Date June 28, 2024). This information also includes the submittal of Form 62-330.301(25), “Dam System Information”.
For dams that have been given a downstream hazard potential of Significant or High Hazard, the applicant must provide an emergency action plan (EAP). An EAP Template is available on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s website at https://floridadep.gov/water/engineering-hydrology-geology/documents/emergency-action-plan-florida-dams.
For projects with existing dams that have been given a downstream hazard potential of Significant or High Hazard, the applicant must provide a completed Form 62-330.311(4), “Condition Assessment Report for Florida Dams.”The Florida Geological Survey Division at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has a number of resources available, including a section for Frequently Asked Questions and a toll-free Sinkhole Helpline that can be called in the event of a sinkhole forming on your property or within your stormwater pond. In the event of a failure, the permittee is to reach out to the District at 850-951-4660 to discuss taking corrective action to remedy the situation. The Florida Geological Survey Division advises the use of broken limestone rip-rap or a concrete plug to be installed in the bottom of the sinkhole, which has been known to help create a stable foundation for the fill. Above that, they encourage the use of clayey sand to be placed above that layer in order to form a barrier that will help prevent water from seeping downward through the hole and enlarging it further. Lastly, they encourage the use of sand and topsoil, and to landscape the surrounding conditions. Additional fill may be necessary over time as the filled material settles and compresses with time.
If a sinkhole occurs, there generally is no permit needed to provide the corrective action in order to fill it. If a sinkhole occurs within wetland areas or if the filling of a sinkhole would alter surface water flows or contribute to water pollution, additional authorizations may be required to be obtained before filling. District staff are available to assist in assessing the need for a permit or authorization.
Information on institutional control areas and where they are located in the Northwest Florida Water Management District can be found by visiting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) website at https://floridadep.gov/waste/waste/content/institutional-controls-registry-guidance.