Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWs)

This story map provides an overview of Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWs), designation of OFWs, what protection designation provides, and the petition process. 

What are Outstanding Florida Waters?

An OFW is a water designated worthy of special protection because of its natural attributes (e.g., excellent water quality or exceptional ecological, social, educational, or recreational value). This special designation is intended to protect and preserve existing good water quality.

Locating OFWs

There are over 350 waters in the State of Florida that are designated as OFWs. To view the current list of OFWs, please see subsection  62-302.700(9), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) .

You may also view the OFW layer by  MapDirect . The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP or Department) OFW spatial coverage can also be downloaded through the  FDEP Geospatial Data Portal . For directions on how to use MapDirect or FDEP Geospatial Data Portal, please go to the  MapDirect Quick Start Guide  or the  FDEP Geospatial Open Data Portal Help Guide .

The embedded web map below to explore the OFW layer. The web map legend is located in the left box. To find a specific location, type in an address or place in the top right search bar. For additional information about an OFW, zoom in and click on the feature and a pop-up box will bring up the information on that specific OFW. If you would like to view an OFW in the context of other department spatial layers that are publicly available, such as surface water class boundaries, please use Map Direct.

Managed Areas

Most OFWs are areas managed by the state or federal government as parks, including wildlife refuges, preserves, marine sanctuaries, estuarine research reserves, certain waters within state or national forests, scenic and wild rivers, aquatic preserves, or other types of acquired lands (see the  OFW Factsheet  for additional examples of types of managed areas OFWs). Generally, the waters within these managed areas are OFWs because the managing agency has requested this special protection.

Managed areas must be specifically designated as OFWs. If there is a new or expanded managed area, those do not be become OFWs until adopted by the Environmental Regulation Commission.

Special Waters

While most OFWs are areas managed by the state or federal government as parks, other waters may be designated as OFWs if they meet certain criteria. "Special Waters" OFWs are designated after the Environmental Regulation Commission makes a finding that the waters are of exceptional recreational or ecological significance and a finding that the environmental, social, and economic benefits of the designation outweigh the environmental, social, and economic costs.

The waters currently designated as "Special Waters" are listed in paragraph 62-302.700(9)(I), F.A.C., and are also listed in the Department's OFW Factsheet.

What does an OFW designation mean for a waterbody?

An OFW designation is used to prevent the lowering of existing water quality due to permitted activities, and to preserve other aspects of the waterbody, such as exceptional ecological and recreational significance.

In general, OFWs are protected through more stringent requirements for certain activities permitted by the DEP or a Water Management District (WMD), such as dredge and fill (Environmental Resource Permitting [ERP]) or surface water discharge permits. Please contact the appropriate  ERP  or  wastewater  program staff for specific permitting questions.

Please see our  OFW Question and Answer sheet  for more details on permitted activities that may be affected by OFW designation.

How does a waterbody become designated as an OFW?

There are three ways to designate an OFW:

1. DEP may propose designation of waters that are within managed areas (e.g., a state park or an aquatic preserve).
2. The legislature can designate a water as an OFW.
3. A substantially interested person may submit a petition requesting that DEP designate a waterbody to be a “Special Waters” OFW.

How do I learn more about the OFW petition process?

Before submitting a petition, we suggest that any interested individual or entity follow the steps below.

1. Review the list of waters currently designated as OFWs in subsection 62-302.700(9), F.A.C. The area of interest may already be an OFW.
2. Consider the significance of the waterbody. Is the waterbody of exceptional ecological or recreational significance as defined in subsections 62-302.200(12) and/or 62-302.200(13), F.A.C. respectively?
3. Visit our  Outstanding Florida Waters webpage  and read the OFW Factsheet that provides information about the requirements for a "Special Waters" OFW designation. The OFW designation process is conducted through formal rulemaking with public participation through notification of all local county or municipal governments and state legislators whose districts or jurisdictions include all or part of the watershed about the potential OFW, at least one public workshop held in the affected area to both inform and solicit comments from the public on the proposal, and an ERC hearing. The authority to approve or deny a new OFW designation lies with the Environmental Regulation Commission.
4. Contact the Standards Development Section before starting the OFW petition process. Early communication is important for an OFW petition.