South Florida Water Management Model: Regional-Scale Water Management Tool

Regional-scale water resources planning and management are critical in south Florida. Balancing the competing needs of the environment, agriculture and urban communities has been the central theme among the numerous water-related issues pertinent to the area. Specifically, water resources planning involves the enhancement and restoration of natural flow and water levels in the Everglades, and the provision of water supply and flood protection to the residents of south Florida. Computer simulation modeling is perhaps the only feasible way of assessing systemwide impacts of the various proposed modifications to the water resources system in the region. The South Florida Water Management Model is used as the primary regional-scale modeling tool for water resources planning in south Florida. This paper provides an overview of the South Florida Water Management Model, its theoretical basis, areas of applicability and a brief description of significant projects where the model has been successfully used as the analytical tool for evaluating the technical merits of various water resources alternatives.