Welcome to the Southwest Florida Water Management District

Despite reports that the District did not take measures to minimize flood risks for Lake Thonotosassa from Hurricane Milton, District structure operators lowered the lake to the maximum amount possible before the storm.

The District also conducted a federally funded debris removal project earlier this year on Flint Creek, which is natural creek where water is released from the lake north to the Hillsborough River. Trees and limbs from a previous storm were removed to help water flow and reduce flood risks.

The District has been receiving questions about its ability to move water out of Lake Thonotosassa through the Flint Creek water control structure. 

The lake was lowered to the maximum amount possible before the storm. However, due to historic rainfall from Hurricane Milton, the Flint Creek water control structure on Lake Thonotosassa is completely under water and the water is flowing over the land around the structure. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday Oct. 22 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.