News

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.

February 4, 2009 – Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District Basin Board members and staff, Friends of the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve, Yankeetown School middle-grade students, Mayor Dawn Clary and other Yankeetown representatives

February 4, 2009 – District introduces new color-coded map to identify water shortage levelsDespite some recent rainfall, a continuing drought is keeping the 16 counties of the Southwest Florida Water Management District on a Water Shortage Alert.

February 4, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is once again advising homeowners with wells who live near Plant City and Dover to switch off the pumps on their wells tonight and Thursday night. A hard freeze is expected both nights.

February 2, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared a water shortage emergency and authorized the Englewood Water District to help the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (Authority) by providing water to Charlotte County Utilities.

February 2, 2009 – Who: K–12 educators, Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, Project Learning Tree representatives, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff and the Girls Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.

February 2, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Management District and Hillsborough County are working together on a project that will improve water quality in the Tampa Bay watershed.

January 29, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Monday approved the renewal and consolidation of five water use permits (WUP) for Hernando County Utilities’ east service area.

January 29, 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 Feb. 10-13 and Feb.24-27.

January 26, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough property, will be the site of hog hunts Feb. 6-8 and Feb. 20-22.

January 21, 2009 – Most of the Tampa Bay area will see freezing temperatures tonight.

January 21, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.

January 21, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March on the Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.

January 21, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March on the Deep Creek property in DeSoto County.

January 21, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.

January 20, 2009 – Monthly Governing Board meeting to followThe Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold a joint workshop with Tampa Bay Water on Monday, Jan. 26 at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, located at 3940 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs.

January 20, 2009 – Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, University of Central Florida researchers, and volunteers from the local chapters of the Audubon Society and the Florida Ornithological Society

January 14, 2009 – Most of the Tampa Bay area will see temperatures near freezing tonight through Friday night.

January 14, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Safety Harbor recently signed an agreement for a project to prevent erosion and improve water quality within the Mullet Creek watershed.

January 14, 2009 – Who:Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District; Doris Heitzmann, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods homeowners association outreach coordinator with the Pinellas County Extension office, members of the condominium association’s (COA) landscape committee and the Royal Stew

January 13, 2009 – In an effort to promote increased water conservation during the ongoing drought, the Southwest Florida Water Management District will bring its water-conserving restroom to several area festivals and events.

January 13, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District issued a water shortage emergency order for the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority to protect the drinking water supply for more than 250,000 residents.

January 8, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve will be the site of a hog hunt Jan. 15-18. The preserve will be temporarily closed to the public and only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these days.

January 8, 2009 – Note: The new year-round water conservation measures will not go into effect until the current water shortage order, which restricts lawn watering to one-day-per-week, is lifted.

January 7, 2009 – Who: Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing and Basin Boards, Pasco County elected officials, Bay City Flyers and Pasco County elementary school students

January 7, 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.

January 5, 2009 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hampton Tract, which is part of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, will be closed to the public Jan. 16-18.

January 5, 2009 – In an effort to conserve water during the ongoing drought, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to “skip a week” during the cooler months of January and February.

December 30, 2008 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough property, will be closed to the public Jan. 9-11.

December 29, 2008 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Deep Creek Preserve will be the site of a hog hunt Jan. 9-11. The tract will be temporarily closed to the public and only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these days.

December 23, 2008 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is extending a water shortage emergency authorization that allows Tampa Bay Water to withdraw additional water from the Alafia River because Tampa Bay Water cannot use the full storage capacity of the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir.

December 22, 2008 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires when visiting District lands.

December 18, 2008 – Charlotte County Utilities residential customers are now eligible to participate in a toilet rebate program aimed at conserving water.

December 17, 2008 – The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday to combine the Hillsborough River and Northwest Hillsborough Basin Boards.