Charlotte County is emerging as one of the premiere places to live and visit on the west coast. As Charlotte County grows, it is imperative that our policies and practices contribute to the long-term health, enjoyment and availability of our water. The One Charlotte, One Water is a holistic concept for resource management, and treats all water – our harbor, rivers, bays, canals, creeks, potable water, wastewater, stormwater, reclaimed water – as one water.
This plan considers the future and emphasizes a House-to-Harbor approach joining County government, regional agencies, and the citizens we serve to protect our water for future generations.
Current Events
The BETA TideWatch App is Live
Over the last year, Charlotte County has installed water level gauges at key locations throughout Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay. You can now view data collected by these gauges, local USGS water level monitors, and our county weather stations in one place with the beta TideWatch dashboard. Note this system is still in development, so we'd love to hear your suggestions on how we can make this a more useful tool for you; reach out to brandon.moody@charlottecountyfl.gov with your questions and comments.
The One Charlotte, One Water Plan
The One Charlotte, One Water Plan has been adopted by the Board of County Commissioners as the primary document that aligns water quality improvement efforts throughout the County's departments, and defines future strategies to manage water resources for the built and natural environment.
The Plan has seven parts: the Summary, Section 1 and Section 2 set the stage for the need and purpose of the One Charlotte, One Water Plan. Sections 3A-3D detail the four focus areas and present the Visions, Pathways and the Tasks to achieve the Visions. The Appendices are the supporting documents for the plan.
One Charlotte, One Water Task Summary
Section 1: Introduction and Origin of the Plan
Section 2: Charlotte County's Past and Present Water Story
Section 3A: Monitoring, Modeling and Watershed Improvement Planning
Section 3B: Stormwater Management
Section 3C: Drinking Water and Waste Water
Section 3D: Policy, Programmatic and Organizational Activities
Appendix A: Water Related Policies of the Comprehensive Plan
Appendix B: Technical Memorandums
Meetings and Public Input Opportunities
Please check back often to see upcoming events where you can learn about the issues and be a part in planning for the future.
Current Charlotte County Water Quality Monitoring initiatives
Charlotte County implemented the first phase of its county ambient monitoring in June 2022. The goal of Charlotte County's ambient monitoring program is to obtain information on the condition of surface waters flowing within Charlotte County. This is meant to supplement existing monitoring efforts in Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay, such as the monitoring programs maintained by the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership, and the Charlotte Harbor/Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserves just to name a few. This water quality monitoring program monitors local canals and waterways monthly. Information regarding the project and sample locations may be found via the following links:
Monitoring Sites Location Map Charlotte County WQ Monitoring Program Plan Data Dashboard
If you have any questions, concerns, or recommendations regarding any element of the county monitoring strategy for surface water, please contact OneCharlotteOneWater@charlottecountyfl.gov. If your concern is about potable water received from Charlotte County Utilities, please contact the Utilities Department directly.
South Gulf Cove Monitoring Dashboard
Since 2009, the South Gulf Cove MSBU has been funding collection of quarterly samples at five locations in their area.
Please contact OneCharlotteOneWater@charlottecountyfl.gov with any questions or comments about the South Gulf Cove Monitoring Dashboard.
Current Beaches and Waterways Status
- Red Tide Status Map
- Healthy Beaches Monitoring
- Beach Conditions Reporting System – Mote Marine Laboratories
- Charlotte County Health Alerts
- FDEP Water Quality Monitoring Events
- FDEP Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring
- Emergency Utilities Notices – Charlotte County Utilities Department
- FDOH Fish Consumption Advisories