The Suwannee River Water Management District is one of the five regional water management districts in Florida that was created by the Florida legislature through the directives of the Water Resources Act of 1972. The district is responsible for the protection of rivers, springs, groundwater and coastal estuaries, as well as providing recreational opportunities for the public in Central Florida. The district specializes in the research and monitoring of water quantity and quality, as well as the acquisition and management of land to achieve its mission. It serves the counties of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union in Florida. The Suwannee River Water Management District maintains an office in Live Oak, Fla.