Blog Archive - 2014

Governing Board Approves Conservation Land Acquisition

: The District purchased Boat Spring located near the Gulf of Mexico at the Hernando and Pasco County line. The purchase is part of the District’s ongoing effort to protect water resources. The spring is part…

Water-Saving Tips Make Holidays Bright

: The District has many last-minute gift and decorating ideas that can save and protect water resources and create new holiday traditions. Here are some gift ideas:  •…

Permits for Phase 2 Hunts Go On Sale Next Week

: District land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on District lands throughout the year to help reduce the wild hog population and permits for Phase 2 go on sale Monday. Wild hogs, which are not…

Volunteers Plant Salt Marsh to Restore Rock Ponds

: From toddlers to grandparents, volunteers of all ages recently planted salt marsh at the District’s Rock Ponds restoration site.  About 275 volunteers from across the Tampa Bay area joined the District’s…

Three Sisters Springs Property Open to the Public

: The public can now get an up close look at the beauty and wildlife of Three Sisters Springs by land.  The District’s Three Sisters Springs property in Crystal River is now open daily to the public…

District Certifies Hillsborough County's First Florida Water Star℠ Community

: When the Friendship Village Apartments recently were built in north Tampa, Carlene Dillard jumped at the chance to live there. “It is so nice and I’m just so happy here,” she said.…

Staff Surpasses Burn Record

: District staff surpassed a record for the amount of acres treated with prescribed fire during Fiscal Year 2014. The prescribed fire team in the Operations and Land Management Bureau burned 40,603 acres this…

Projects and Partners: District Dedicates First Phase of Restoration

: The first phase of one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects to benefit Charlotte Harbor is complete. District staff and other community leaders recently celebrated the dedication of the first phase.…

South American Students Learn Water Issues From Former Intern

: A former student intern used her District experience to emphasize the importance of fresh, clean water to residents along the Amazon.  Kaylie Kushmer traveled to the…

Staff Work Through Challenging Rainy Season

: This past rainy season proved to be one of the busiest in recent history for the District’s Structure Operations staff.  “It was definitely one of the most difficult seasons in the last 10 years,” said…

Partner Sought to Manage Flying Eagle Nature Center

: The District is looking for a partner to enter into a long-term lease agreement for the development, operation and maintenance of its Flying Eagle Nature Center property.The 150-acre Flying Eagle Nature Center…

District to Hold Series of Hog Hunts, Permits Will Be Available Online

: District land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on District lands throughout the year to help reduce the wild hog population.  Wild hogs, which are not native to Florida, feed on roots, tubors…

Governing Board Approves Conservation Land Acquisition

: The District purchased Boat Spring located near the Gulf of Mexico at the Hernando and Pasco County line. The purchase is part of the District’s ongoing effort to protect water resources. The spring is part…

District Hosts Boat Tour of Kings Bay

: Cowboys recently cracked their whips and recreated history on District property. The District hosted the Hernando Southern Heritage Days Cracker Cattle Drive at Potts Preserve in Citrus County. The Cracker…

No Sales Tax on Efficient Appliances

: The District reminds residents that qualifying water and energy-efficient appliances will be tax free Sept. 19-21. The 2014 Sales Tax Holiday is good on the purchase of qualifying ENERGY STAR® and WaterSense…

Springs Restoration Celebrated at City Park Dedication

: District leaders recently attended the dedication of Water Works Park in the City of Tampa, which included the restoration of Ulele Springs. The 5-acre park is part of the city’s plan to revitalize the…

District Supports Veterans With Recreational Events

: The District recently was recognized for its support of wounded veterans by hosting events on District lands. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam thanked the District by letter for its participation…

Project and Partners: Restoration Project Highlights Partnership

: Habitats are thriving at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa thanks to a District project aimed at restoring natural systems and improving water quality for Tampa Bay. …

District Adds Three Spring Systems to SWIM Priority List

: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved adding three first-magnitude spring systems — Weeki Wachee River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River — to the Surface Water Improvement…

Apply for Splash! Grants

: Whether students are testing water quality, building a water-conserving garden or studying an estuary, Splash! grants enhance water education in public schools. The District’s Splash! school grant program…

Staff Help With Coral Project in Florida Keys

: District staff and their family members recently took a volunteer trip to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to help transplant coral.  Patricia Williams, senior revenue compliance coordinator,…

District Initiative Promotes ERP eCompliance

: Permittees can now save time and resources by submitting compliance reports online. With the District’s new Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) eCompliance option, permittees can submit online compliance…

Projects and Partners: District Hosts International Students

: Blog note: Projects and Partners is a WaterMatters Blog series that highlights various innovative projects of the District and its partners to benefit the community and water resources. They came from…

Projects and Partners: Reclaimed Water Project to Benefit Springs

: Blog note: Projects and Partners is a WaterMatters Blog series that highlights various innovative projects of the District and its partners to benefit the community. District leaders recently helped celebrate…

Projects and Partners: Marion County Utilities Expands Wastewater Reclamation Facility

: Blog note: Projects and Partners is a WaterMatters Blog series that highlights various innovative projects of the District and its partners to benefit the community. District leaders recently helped Marion…

New Exhibit Features Chassahowitzka Springs Artifacts

: History buffs can now get an up-close look at the artifacts recovered during the Chassahowitzka Springs Restoration Project. More than 700 artifacts were recovered during the District’s project, which removed…

Governor Appoints Armstrong to Governing Board

: Ed Armstrong recently was appointed to the District’s Governing Board by Gov. Rick Scott. Armstrong, of Dunedin, is an attorney with Hill Ward Henderson in Clearwater. He was appointed to succeed Todd…

Habitat Homes Get Florida Water Star℠ Certification

: District leaders recently helped celebrate the dedication of Habitat for Humanity homes that received the Florida Water Star℠ certification. The four homes were built in the Laurel Gardens Community in…

District Employee Dives for Cleanup Event

: Some people dive for treasure, Adam Hange dives for trash. The Field Services supervisor recently participated in the Dive Against Debris event at Spanish Rock Reef in Holmes Beach in Manatee County. The…

Grant Winners Announced

: The Tampa Bay Estuary Program recently announced the winners of the 2014 Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund. Nearly $625,000 was awarded to nine agencies or organizations for important restoration,…

First Pasco County Off-Road Bike Trail on District Land

: Mountain bikers have a new place to pedal. The District opened a new off-road bike trail in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey. The project is in partnership…

Students Study Springs at Summer Camp

: Just two days into their weeklong summer camp and the students of Camp Citrus were looking at water in a whole new way. Their snorkel at Three Sisters Springs wasn’t just a leisurely swim in the pristine…

Projects and Partners: Reclaimed Water Project Will Bring Resource Benefits

: Blog note: Projects and Partners is a new WaterMatters Blog series that highlights various innovative projects of the District and its partners to benefit the community. District leaders recently celebrated…

Watch the Weather, Wait to Water

: The District encourages residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards…

District Remembers Anniversary of Historic Hurricane Season

: Sunday marked the start of another hurricane season and the 10th anniversary of one the most destructive  and costly seasons in Florida. During the 2004 hurricane…

Governing Board Elects Officers

: Michael Babb will remain the chair of the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The Governing Board voted today to keep its current officers.  The other officer…

District Dedicates First Phase of Terra Ceia Restoration Project

: As mullet jumped and birds soared, guests celebrated the success of the Terra Ceia Ecosystem Restoration Project. District and other community leaders dedicated the first phase of the largest ecosystem…

Volunteers Join District Staff to Clean Weeki Wachee Springs

: About 30 volunteers and District staff recently spent an evening cleaning invasive algae out of Weeki Wachee Springs in Hernando County.  The volunteer event was a…

Rock Star' Plant Arrives for Restoration Project

: It started with a single blade of eelgrass, actually thousands of them.  District springs experts are hoping those blades of grass will thrive and grow into dense vegetation that will improve water…

Staff Member Runs Boston Marathon

: When the opportunity came, Jerry Mallams didn’t hesitate. Before the District’s resource evaluation manager could think about the hours of training or the security concerns or his own health, he just did it.…