What are “Coastal Ecosystems”?
Coastal Ecosystems within SFWMD are coastal water bodies and their respective tributary watersheds. They are informally named by the coastal water body in which they respectively reside. Each possesses unique hydrologic, biologic and anthropogenic features, and includes both land (watershed) and water (estuary, lagoon, river, etc.) components. There are eight major coastal ecosystems within the SFWMD jurisdiction; these include: St. Lucie Estuary / Indian River Lagoon, Loxahatchee River, Lake Worth Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Florida Keys, Florida Bay, Estero Bay, and Caloosahatchee Estuary.
