The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a public workshop Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss updates to the Lake Tarpon Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan. The workshop will take place at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center Auditorium, located at 3940 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs.
In 1987 the Florida Legislature created the SWIM Act to protect, restore and maintain Florida's highly threatened surface water bodies. Under this act, the state's five water management districts identify a list of priority water bodies within their authority and implement plans to improve them.
SWIM plans are designed to improve or maintain the health of a water body, focusing on management actions, projects, initiatives, and quantifiable objectives within the District’s areas of responsibility.
During the workshop, District staff will present an updated SWIM plan for Lake Tarpon and facilitate public comment. Lake Tarpon is considered a healthy system and is the largest freshwater lake in the Tampa Bay area with 2,534 acres of surface area. Designated an Outstanding Florida Water and a Fish Management Area, Lake Tarpon is located in Pinellas County.
The draft SWIM plan includes refinements to data collection processes and adjustments to vegetation goals based on advancements in technology and updates in standard practices. The plan will continue to monitor nutrient loads, maintain water level elevations consistent with flood control, and support a healthy aquatic vegetation community.
Members of the public can view the draft Lake Tarpon SWIM plan and submit public comment at WaterMatters.org/Projects/SWIM/Lake-Tarpon. Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28.