News - 2009

April 2, 2009 – A Sarasota condominium association received statewide recognition for a project it completed with the help of a Southwest Florida Water Management District Community Education Grant.

April 1, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is unveiling a new tool to help residents determine how much water they can conserve at home.

April 1, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is unveiling a new online tool to help students and teachers determine how much water they can conserve at home and pledge to make a difference.

April 1, 2009 – Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District staff

March 31, 2009 – Region at highest alert level and subject to modified Phase IV water restrictionsThe Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted to enact Modified Phase IV (or Critical) Water Shortage restrictions for potable water use in the Tampa Bay Water service area.

March 26, 2009 – The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is inviting greenhouse, nursery, foliage, strawberry and vegetable growers to attend a free tour and workshop promoting the use of recycled and reclaimed water in the horticulture industry.

March 20, 2009 – Due to extremely dry conditions caused by the ongoing three-year drought, the Southwest Florida Water Management District has suspended controlled burns on District lands and is asking outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires.

March 19, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is preparing to repair a berm breach in the Morrison Pool.The berm surrounds the north sinkhole in the Morrison Pool and prevents water from Morrison Pool and Little Lake Henderson from flowing into the sinkhole when the lake is low.

March 17, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with the City of Winter Haven Utilities to promote water conservation by providing toilet rebates of up to $100 for each high-volume toilet replaced with a low-flow model.

March 16, 2009 – A Tampa Bay area developer is the first to sign on with the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s new, comprehensive water conservation program for new home construction, Florida Water Star (FWSG).

March 16, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is going for the “gold” when it launches its Florida Water Star Gold (FWSG) certification program March 25. The premier event will be at 10 a.m. at Glencairn Cottages, a new development in downtown Dunedin.

March 15, 2009 – Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and staff; City of Dunedin and Pinellas County elected officials and staff; Carl Krave, Pocket Neighborhoods, Inc. president; Tampa Bay Builders Association and the Greater Tampa Bay Association of Realtors

March 11, 2009 – Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and staff, hundreds of volunteersWhat: District volunteers, awards presentation, youth educational activities, picnic lunch, games, hay ride, and live music.

March 11, 2009 – Three Sarasota County projects expected to reach nearly 6,200 residents were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.

March 11, 2009 – TheHighlands Soil and Water Conservation District will receive a $4,950 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District to talk to homeowner associations about water conservation and rain sensors.

March 11, 2009 – TheDeSoto County Parks and Recreation Department will receive a $5,000 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a three-part environmental education event at Morgan Park in Arcadia.

March 11, 2009 – Two Manatee County projects expected to reach nearly 2,650 residents were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.

March 10, 2009 – Five Polk County projects that are expected to reach approximately 27,100 residents were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

March 10, 2009 – Eight Pinellas County projects that have the potential to reach approximately 298,800 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

March 10, 2009 – Seven Hillsborough County projects that will reach up to 35,275 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

March 9, 2009 – TheSumter County Extension Office will receive a $5,000 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for its “Watering Smart- Living Green in The Villages” project.

March 9, 2009 – Two Citrus County projects that are expected to reach approximately 730 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

March 9, 2009 – Approximately 200 people will have the opportunity to learn about karst features such as sinkholes, caves and springs, and their relationship to ground water through a Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

March 9, 2009 – TheFriends of the Dunnellon Public Library will receive a $4,550 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a Florida-friendly demonstration garden.

March 6, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers this weekend, which is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time.

March 5, 2009 – Festival coincides with first Springs Awareness WeekThis year’s Marion County Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival, which is being held March 14 – 15 at the Marion County Extension Service Office in Ocala, coincides with the first Springs Awareness Week.

March 5, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority are working together on a project that will connect Sarasota County’s Carlton Water Treatment Facility to an existing water line to the north.

March 4, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County are working together to gather input needed to improve identification of flooding risks in the county.

March 4, 2009 – March 14 – 21, 2009The Southwest Florida Water Management District, together with Citrus and Marion counties and the cities of Crystal River and Dunnellon, will proclaim March 14-21 as the first Springs Awareness Week.

March 3, 2009 – A Southwest Florida Water Management District project will help a Citrus County blueberry farm improve water quality.

February 27, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County are working together to gather input needed to improve identification of flooding risks in the county.

February 27, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hampton Tract, which is part of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, will be the site of hog hunts March 10-13 and March 24-27.

February 27, 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, March 9, 3 p.m. at the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 West Sovereign Path, Room 166, Lecanto, 34461.

February 23, 2009 – Almost half of the counties within the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 16-county region are now under a Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Alert.

February 18, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County are working together to gather input needed to improve identification of flooding risks in the county.

February 16, 2009 – Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director David Moore signed two water shortage emergency orders last week that will allow the City of Tampa to withdraw additional water from Sulphur Springs and Tampa Bay Water (TBW) to withdraw additional water from the Tampa Bypass Canal to

February 13, 2009 – Who: Hillsborough Education Foundation representatives and the Hillsborough County School Board, Southwest Florida Water Management District Board members and staff

February 11, 2009 – Governor Charlie Crist recently appointed Kelly S. Rice to the Withlacoochee River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

February 9, 2009 – The public is invited to attend a meeting to learn about a proposed pump test at the Morris Bridge Sink.The meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Tampa Service Office, which is located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North in Tampa.

February 5, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on portions of Shell and Prairie creeks Feb. 9-12. The sites are located upstream of the Henderson Dam in Charlotte County.