A watershed (also called a drainage basin) is an area on the land surface from which water flows or has the potential to flow to a common destination. Watersheds are naturally separated from adjacent basins by topographic divides. In this Atlas, the watersheds are composed of groups of creeks that flow to a single bay or group of bays. Drainage basins are subunits of watersheds and are defined by the main creek that flows through them.
Manatee County has six major watersheds, named after bays or rivers, and numerous subbasins, typically named after the creeks. One of Manatee County's major watersheds, the Manatee River Watershed, is located almost entirely within Manatee County. The county receives the majority of its potable water from this watershed. The following two watersheds represent the portions of the Manatee River Watershed that are the primary sources of potable water in the County.
The Manatee River Watershed is located within Manatee County and spans 351.4 square miles. The watershed contains 30 named lakes/ponds, 40 named rivers/streams/canals and 2 named bays/bayous.
Click the link below to view the water resources in this watershed.
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Who to call about environmental concerns and to report environmentally harmful activities. For potentially life threatening emergencies dial 911.
Concern or Activity | Contact(s) |
---|---|
Dangerous Boating / Accidents | FWCC, Division of Boating Safety |
Algal Blooms | FDEP 1-850-305-3903 |
Fish Kill | FWCC, Fish Kills |
General Concerns/Complaints |
FDEP Manatee County Citizen's Action Center (CAC) |
Industrial Waste/Spill |
FDEP State Watch Office Manatee County Citizen's Action Center (CAC) |
Injured Wildlife or Illegal Activities | FWCC, Wildlife Violations |
Shoreline Alterations, Wetland Impacts | FDEP |
Aquatic Plant Removal | FWCC |
Water Pollution, Residuals Landspreading |
FDEP Manatee County Citizen's Action Center (CAC) |
Wetlands Issues/Dredge and Fill |
FDEP Manatee County Citizen's Action Center (CAC) |
Legend:
FWCC - Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
FDEP - Florida Department of Enviromental Protection
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Visit the following links to view historical information on this water resource: