Blog Archive - 2014
December 2014
Governing Board Approves Conservation Land Acquisition
December 18, 2014: 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
December 18, 2014: 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:
• Rain barrels are a great way to…
Permits for Phase 2 Hunts Go On Sale Next Week
December 9, 2014: 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
December 1, 2014: 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…
November 2014
Three Sisters Springs Property Open to the Public
November 26, 2014: 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 through…
District Certifies Hillsborough County's First Florida Water Star℠ Community
November 20, 2014: 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.
The new affordable…
Staff Surpasses Burn Record
November 18, 2014: 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
November 13, 2014: 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
November 12, 2014: 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 Amazon River in Southern Colombia and…
October 2014
Staff Work Through Challenging Rainy Season
October 27, 2014: 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 Mike…
Partner Sought to Manage Flying Eagle Nature Center
October 6, 2014: 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…
District to Hold Series of Hog Hunts, Permits Will Be Available Online
October 3, 2014: 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 and…
Governing Board Approves Conservation Land Acquisition
October 2, 2014: 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…
September 2014
District Hosts Boat Tour of Kings Bay
September 26, 2014: 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
September 8, 2014: 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…
August 2014
Springs Restoration Celebrated at City Park Dedication
August 28, 2014: 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
August 27, 2014: 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
August 21, 2014: 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 staff completed the third and…
District Adds Three Spring Systems to SWIM Priority List
August 19, 2014: 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
August 15, 2014: 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
August 14, 2014: 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, and…
District Initiative Promotes ERP eCompliance
August 4, 2014: 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…
July 2014
Projects and Partners: District Hosts International Students
July 28, 2014: 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
July 23, 2014: 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
July 21, 2014: 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
July 14, 2014: 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
July 10, 2014: 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
July 9, 2014: 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
July 8, 2014: 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…
June 2014
Grant Winners Announced
June 30, 2014: 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
June 27, 2014:
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 with Pasco County and…
Students Study Springs at Summer Camp
June 19, 2014: 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
June 17, 2014: 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
June 6, 2014: 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
June 2, 2014: 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 season, four storms – Charley, Frances,…
May 2014
Governing Board Elects Officers
May 20, 2014: 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 positions are:…
District Dedicates First Phase of Terra Ceia Restoration Project
May 15, 2014: 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
May 7, 2014: 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 coordinated effort by the District, the…
Rock Star' Plant Arrives for Restoration Project
May 2, 2014: 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 quality…
April 2014
Staff Member Runs Boston Marathon
April 21, 2014: 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.…