▁ 2 , 0 0 0 ▁miles ▁of ▁can als ▁and ▁more ▁than ▁ 2 , 8 0 0 ▁miles ▁of ▁le ve es / ber ms , ▁ 6 9 ▁p ump ▁stations , ▁ 6 4 5 ▁water ▁control ▁structures ▁and ▁more ▁than ▁ 7 0 0 ▁cul ver ts ▁– ▁helps ▁to ▁protect ▁regional ▁water ▁supplies ▁and ▁provide ▁flo od ▁control . ▁ ▁We ather ▁extrem es ▁dram atically ▁affect ▁South ▁Florida ' s ▁water ▁supply ▁and ▁flo od ▁protection ▁actions . ▁In ▁response , ▁the ▁District ▁act ively ▁oper ates ▁and ▁maintain s ▁the ▁water ▁management ▁system , ▁prom otes ▁water ▁conservation ▁and ▁works ▁with ▁communities ▁to ▁develop ▁alternative ▁water ▁supplies . ▁ ▁The ▁management ▁is ▁currently ▁working ▁to ▁restore ▁water ▁flow ▁to ▁the ▁Ever gl ades . ▁ ▁Program s ▁The ▁South ▁Florida ▁Water ▁Management ▁District ▁man ages ▁many ▁programs , ▁including ▁the ▁controvers ial ▁Water ▁Farm ing ▁program , ▁which ▁results ▁in ▁minimal ▁returns ▁for ▁tax pay ers ▁and ▁would ▁be ▁much ▁che aper ▁on ▁state ▁owned ▁land . ▁ ▁Public ▁areas ▁Many ▁of ▁the ▁lands ▁protected ▁by ▁the ▁District ▁are ▁open ▁to ▁the ▁public ▁for ▁recre ational ▁use . ▁▁▁ ▁Al lap att ah ▁Fl ats ▁▁ ▁Arthur ▁R . ▁Marshall ▁L ox ah atch ee ▁National ▁Wild life ▁Ref uge ▁▁ ▁Atlantic ▁R idge ▁Pres erve ▁State ▁Park ▁in ▁Martin ▁County ▁ ▁Bl ind ▁Creek ▁in ▁St . ▁Luc ie ▁County ▁ ▁Cat fish ▁Creek ▁( F lor ida ) ▁in ▁Pol k ▁County ▁