Southwest Florida Water Management District
Water & Air Research, Inc. (Water & Air) was contracted by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) to assess the condition and performance of Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) restoration projects throughout the District. Water & Air assessed 56 restoration sites, with an additional contract covering 36 sites completed the following year. The assessments evaluated whether targeted improvements to natural system function had been achieved and sustained.
The restoration projects varied in size and scope and included large-scale habitat mosaic creation and restoration, hydrologic restoration and enhancement, upland and wetland plant community improvements, and living shoreline restoration. Each project was evaluated in the context of its specific goals and objectives. Prior to each field assessment, Water & Air ecologists reviewed project plans and supporting information, including design and construction plans, maintenance and management plans, and GIS mapping.
Field assessments utilized a modified form of the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM), with scoring based on three categories: Location and Landscape Support, Water Environment, and Vegetation Community. Water & Air ecologists documented wildlife use, vegetation and community structure, planting success, invasive exotic species, stressors, indicator and dominant species, and, where applicable, hydrology, erosion and sedimentation, aquatic species, water quality, and water treatment. Field observations, public utilization, and site photographs were also documented using mobile GIS software.
Following each assessment, Water & Air generated weighted scores for the three evaluation categories and prepared conclusions regarding the success of restoration activities, along with recommendations for future management or maintenance. The assessments provided District staff with consistent, site-specific information to determine whether restoration projects were functioning as intended and identify where additional actions may be needed to maintain or improve project performance.