Metadata - Summary of data in the Atlas
The Atlas contains 518 water resources which includes 436 lakes and 82 rivers . Data recorded in the Atlas reaches back 123 years, starting on Tuesday, January 1, 1901. The most recent data is from Friday, November 22, 2024. Over 56,692,513 data samples have been included in the Atlas! The samples came from over 76 data sources provided by 26 different data providers. These people and agencies have helped make the Atlas an integral tool for managing our water resources.
Geographic Information Systems Data
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data consists largely of land mapping and spatial data and is used in a wide variety of fields. The lay of the land can affect almost every aspect of life, including an area's culture, government, environment, and commerce, making GIS information important to everyone. Fields such as anthropology, medical science, and natural science use GIS to measure and predict the impact of geography on a region. By mapping water resources, the Atlas provides spatial information useful to citizens, water management professionals, and scientists alike. The following core datasets are processed as part of geospatial analyses, the results of which are presented directly within Atlas components:
| GIS Dataset Name | Data Custodian | Data Current as of: | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 4/1/2001 | |
| 1999 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 3/1/2004 | |
| 2004 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 11/23/2006 | |
| 2006 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 11/23/2007 | |
| 2007 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 3/17/2009 | |
| 2008 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 6/1/2010 | |
| 2009 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 6/6/2011 | |
| 2010 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 7/12/2013 | |
| 2014 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 4/1/2019 | |
| 2014 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | Not Available | |
| 2020 Land-Use and Land-Cover | Southwest Florida Water Management District | Not Available | |
| Bathymetric Maps | No Specific Agency | Not Available | |
| Environmental Protection Agency Lake Regions | Environmental Protection Agency | 8/1/1996 | |
| EPA Impaired Waters & TMDL Data | US Environmental Protection Agency | 10/23/2017 | |
| FDEP Impaired Waters & TMDL Data | Florida Department of Environmental Protection | Not Available | |
| FNAI Managed Lands / Conservation Data | Florida Natural Areas Inventory | 3/8/2019 | |
| Polk County 2016 FEMA Floodplain Boundaries | Polk County | 10/17/2017 | |
| Polk County Hydrography Layer | University of South Florida Water Institute | 10/1/2004 | |
| Polk County Municipality Boundaries | Polk County | 10/17/2017 | |
| Polk County Parks and Boat Ramps | Polk County | 10/17/2017 | |
| Polk County Roads | Polk County | 2/28/2007 | |
| Polk County Watershed Boundaries | Polk County | 1/1/2001 | |
| Population Density (2000) | U.S. Department of Commerce | 1/1/2000 | |
| Population Estimates for Watersheds | U.S. Department of Commerce | 12/31/2021 | |
| SFWMD 1988 Land Use/Land Cover | South Florida Water Management District | 6/1/2011 | |
| SFWMD 1995 Land Use/Land Cover | South Florida Water Management District | 6/1/2011 | |
| SFWMD 1999 Land Use/Land Cover | South Florida Water Management District | 6/1/2011 | |
| SFWMD 2004 Land Use/Land Cover | South Florida Water Management District | 6/1/2011 | |
| SFWMD 2014-16 Land Use/Land Cover | South Florida Water Management District | 4/1/2019 | |
| SJRWMD Radar Rainfall Estimates | St. Johns River Water Management District | Not Available | |
| SWFWMD Bathymetric Maps | Southwest Florida Water Management District | 6/1/2003 | |
| SWFWMD Radar Rainfall Estimates | Southwest Florida Water Management District | Not Available | |
| USGS 1:24,000 National Hydrography Dataset | University of South Florida Water Institute | 9/1/2009 | |
| Water Atlas Sample Site Locations | University of South Florida Water Institute | 9/1/2009 | |
| Waters Not Attaining Standards (WNAS) | Florida Department of Environmental Protection | Not Available |
Monitoring and Sampling Data
Citizens, scientists, and professionals all contribute to monitoring and sampling data in many ways. Citizens often provide information such as water levels data through volunteer programs. Scientists and professionals set up equipment at sampling stations for measuring attributes such as water quality and hydrology. They provide the data in various formats to the Atlas, which compiles, organizes, and presents the data to help people better understand the county's water resources.