Who to Contact for Flooding and Drainage Issues
Latest News
Governing Board Votes to Rescind Water Shortage Order for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board voted today to rescind the Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order enacted in November 2023. This action eliminates one-day-per-week water restrictions for Hillsborough and Pinellas counties; however Pasco County and the City of Tampa will remain on one-day-per-week watering by local ordinance.
Southwest Florida Water Management District Hurricane Milton Post-Storm Resource
• Many rivers in the Tampa Bay region have been severely impacted by flooding from Hurricane Milton. The only flood records higher than what we are experiencing now were in the early 1930s.
• The region received above average rainfall in its rainy season of June through September, and its lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands and aquifer levels were already full before Hurricane Milton brought a tremendous amount of rain to the region.
Read more
Lake Thonotosassa: Setting the Record Straight
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.