News - 2009

December 30, 2009 – *Editor's note: See included map of county and watersheds* The Southwest Florida Water Management District is gathering input needed to improve identification of flooding risks in the county.

December 27, 2009 – h3. District lands offer a fun, easy and low-cost way to spend time with family and friends in 2010 Why make a New Year's resolution to join a gym in 2010, when you can "Get Outside!" on more than 343,000 acres of public recreation lands to hike, bike and camp for little or no cost?

December 20, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during January and February on the District's Upper Hillsborough Preserve in Pasco and Polk counties.

December 20, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during January and February on the District's Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County.

December 16, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during December, January and February on the Flatwoods Park and Oak Ridge Equestrian areas of the District's Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County.

December 15, 2009 – *District to begin habitat improvement activities*The Morris Bridge Bicycle Area's off-road trails and parking lot will be closed intermittently from mid-December through mid-January, except for weekends and holidays.

December 14, 2009 – h2. One-day-per-week watering limit remainsEditor's note: Contact Robyn Felix at Robyn.Felix@WaterMatters.org to receive a color map via email.

December 7, 2009 – *Streaming Internet coverage now available*The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will meet two weeks early for its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 12:30 p.m. in Thonotosassa.

December 1, 2009 – Editor's note: See last page for map of county and watersheds The Southwest Florida Water Management District is gathering input needed to improve identification of flooding risks in the county.

November 29, 2009 – *Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and disease*The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently launched a new campaign to encourage residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" of watering during the cooler months of December, January and February.

November 22, 2009 – *Public meeting scheduled on Dec. 3* The Southwest Florida Water Management District has scheduled a public meeting for Dec. 3 to discuss an upcoming restoration project at Sawgrass Lake Park.

November 18, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Hampton Tract, which is part of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, will be temporarily closed to the public for hog hunts Dec. 8-10.

November 15, 2009 – _More than 272,000 acres of dense seagrass digitally mapped_The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently completed a seagrass mapping project to monitor the long-term health of seagrass beds along the Springs Coast.

November 12, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on Shell and Prairie creeks upstream of the Henderson Dam during the week of November 16-20.

November 9, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will meet a week early for its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. in Brooksville.

November 9, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Starkey Wilderness Preserve, which includes J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park and the Serenova Tract, will close early at 4 p.m. Dec. 1-3 for nighttime hog hunts.

November 8, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December for two District sites in Sarasota County – the Schewe Tract and the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve.

November 8, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December on the Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.

November 8, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December on the Deep Creek Preserve in DeSoto County.

November 8, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.

November 5, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board has teamed up with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Pinellas County Animal Services, and the Humane Society of Pinellas to sponsor "Pooches for the Planet," which kicks off with an event this weekend.

November 3, 2009 – Charlotte County Utilities residential customers are now eligible to participate in a toilet rebate program aimed at conserving water.

November 3, 2009 – City of Lakeland Water Utilities customers are still eligible to participate in a toilet rebate program aimed at conserving water.

November 1, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a monthly audible test of the three sirens installed near the Edward Medard Park reservoir in southeast Hillsborough County this Saturday at noon.

November 1, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough Preserve, will be temporarily closed to the public for hog hunts Nov. 17-19.

October 28, 2009 – Restrictions eased for Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte countiesEditor's note: Contact Robyn Felix at Robyn.Felix@WaterMatters.org to receive a color map via email.

October 28, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River from the Withlacoochee River to upstream of the Rainbow Springs State Park Campground during the week of November 2-6.

October 27, 2009 – table(webalert).

October 27, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on the section of the Braden River south of Highway 70 during the week of October 26-30.

October 27, 2009 – When residents set their clocks back one hour this weekend, the Southwest Florida Water Management District would like them to also check the timers on their irrigation system controllers.

October 23, 2009 – Polk county residents and families are invited to attend Water, Wings & Wild Things at Circle B Bar Reserve this Halloween. The free, annual event takes place Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

October 22, 2009 – On Thursday, November 5, six Hidden Creek community families will receive the keys to their new water-conserving, affordable homes they helped to build.

October 15, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street in Punta Gorda.

October 12, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Edward W. Chance Reserve’s Gilley Creek Tract in Manatee County will be closed to the public Oct.17 and Oct. 24 during two youth hog hunts.

October 12, 2009 – The public is invited to share ideas concerning potential water resources restoration projects when the Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council meets on Oct. 19.

October 6, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to comment on proposed minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for the Anclote River at a public workshop on Monday, Oct. 12. The workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the District’s Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. Hwy. 301 N.

October 5, 2009 – The public is invited to share ideas concerning potential water resources restoration projects at the upcoming Citrus County Task Force meeting.The meeting is being held Monday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m. at the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 West Sovereign Path, Room 166 in Lecanto.

October 4, 2009 – A new way to learn about Sarasota County’s watersheds will be unveiled during this year’s Watershed Awareness Week, Oct. 12-18.

October 1, 2009 – Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed Terry England and appointed Housh Ghovaee to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board.

October 1, 2009 – _First test this Saturday, Oct. 3 at noon_The Southwest Florida Water Management District will begin monthly audible testing on Saturday, Oct. 3 of three sirens installed near the Edward Medard Park reservoir in southeast Hillsborough County.