Blog Archive - 2017
December 2017
Career Comes Full Circle for District Employee
December 18, 2017:
From an early age, Senior Environmental Scientist Philip Rhinesmith knew he wanted to work in natural resources.
Through an independent study course at Saint Leo University, Philip worked in the…
New System Streamlines Application Process for Job Seekers
December 6, 2017: The District has made it easier for job seekers to find and apply for career opportunities at the District thanks to a new streamlined system.
The new system, launched this month, allows potential job…
District Internship Program Helps Students Succeed
December 1, 2017: Finance Intern Joe Powanda starts his day in Procurement by running reports to help the specialists as well as preparing documents for site visits. He also has a hand in proofing contracts and assists with…
November 2017
Soaring to New Heights
November 9, 2017: Imagine the excitement of boarding an airplane with 15 of your closest friends to jump out at 1,500 feet with only the wind in your face. For Senior Environmental Scientist Jeff Whealton, this is a regular…
Citrus County Home Earns Florida Water Star Certification
November 2, 2017:
When Wayne Rubow designed his new Citrus County home, he wanted water conservation to be a central concept of the design.
Inside, he chose low-flow faucets, showerheads and…
October 2017
Rock Ponds Project Honored by Planning Commission
October 23, 2017: The Rock Ponds Ecosystem Restoration Project was recognized last week by the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission for excellence in planning, design and execution.
The District, along with…
South Venice Celebrates Restored Waterway
October 20, 2017:
Homeowners in South Venice have long touted water quality as a top neighborhood issue, and they recently celebrated a project that will create additional habitat and help…
District Scientists Complete Second Year of Wetland Monitoring Program Setup
October 19, 2017: District scientists have completed a second year of setting up wetland monitoring sites as part of a regional monitoring program.
The project is part of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), a water…
September 2017
Governing Board Approves SWIM Plans
September 28, 2017: The District’s Governing Board recently approved SWIM plans for the Homosassa and Chassahowitzka rivers, meaning all five first-magnitude springs in the District now have established plans for improvement of…
August 2017
Springs Advocate Remembered at Governing Board Meeting
August 29, 2017:
The District’s Governing Board honored Bob Mercer at its meeting Tuesday for his passion and dedication to improving the Crystal River/Kings Bay spring system. Mercer passed…
Gov. Scott Announces Millions in Funding for Springs Restoration Projects
August 11, 2017: The Southwest Florida Water Management District will receive a portion of $50 million in the state budget for projects that help restore area springs.
Gov. Rick Scott announced the Florida Department of…
July 2017
District Restoration Projects Approved to Receive $15 Million in Funding
July 27, 2017: Seven springs restoration projects in Citrus and Hernando Counties will receive $12 million in state funding from Legacy Florida through the department’s Division of Water Restoration Assistance program. This…
SWIM Program Celebrates 30 Years
July 26, 2017:
For three decades, District staff have managed hundreds of projects that provided water quality improvement for surface water bodies and restored thousands of acres of habitats through the SWIM program…
District Maintains Water Restrictions in Northern Region
July 25, 2017: Due to lingering drought effects and water resources not recovering as quickly as other areas, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted today to maintain once-per-week lawn…
Need for Water Prompts Investigation Deep Underground
July 21, 2017:
The District is conducting exploratory well research more than a half mile below the surface. It’s happening at the Crooked Lake well site, located in southeastern Polk County. Central Florida has used…
District Acquires Rainbow River Ranch Property
July 17, 2017: Purchase Made in Partnership with The Nature Conservancy
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has closed on the purchase of the environmentally important Rainbow River Ranch.
This important land…
CFWI Projects Taking Shape Throughout the Region
July 12, 2017: Drilling more than half a mile below ground to find new sources of water in the Lower Florida aquifer (LFA).
Finding new ways to reuse reclaimed water.
Combining stormwater and reclaimed water to build a…
June 2017
Partnership Funds Largest Man-Made Groundwater Recharge Wetland in the World
June 13, 2017:
A District-funded project to construct the largest man-made groundwater recharge wetland in the world will benefit the aquifer in Pasco County.
The Central Pasco Beneficial Water Reuse Project will…
Florida Water Star Celebrates 10 Years
June 7, 2017: Six local organizations and individuals were recently recognized for their work to further water conservation.
The awards were given as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Florida Water…
Enter Your Water-Wise Yard
June 2, 2017:
Residents have just a few weeks left to enter their water-wise yard in Tampa Bay Water’s annual Water-Wise Awards. If you live in Pasco, Pinellas or Hillsborough counties or…
May 2017
District Tightens Water Restrictions
May 23, 2017:
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted today to increase water restrictions throughout the region. The modified Phase III water shortage order…
District Conducts Study at Flatford Swamp
May 19, 2017: A study of Flatford Swamp in Manatee County could lead to a project that could help improve groundwater levels, reduce saltwater intrusion and benefit the 3,000-acre habitat.
District staff will conduct a…
Experts Educate Public About Water Issues
May 17, 2017:
Community leaders recently gathered with water experts to discuss the needs to protect and restore springs. It was part of Hernando County’s “Water You Doing?” workshop…
Governor Appoints Two New Board Members
May 15, 2017: Governor Rick Scott appointed Joel Schleicher and Rebecca Smith to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Schleicher represents Charlotte and Sarasota counties and Smith represents…
Central Florida Water Initiative Brings Collaboration
May 9, 2017:
For about 2.7 million residents in a five-county area of Central Florida, the Floridan aquifer system is the main source of stored freshwater.
And while Florida generally receives 50 to 55 inches of…
Rock Ponds Project Recognized by Regional Planning Council
May 3, 2017:
The Rock Ponds Ecosystem Restoration Project has become a showcase project for habitat restoration through community partnerships. That’s why the project was just recognized…
District Hosts Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
May 1, 2017:
The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently held its annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. This event allows the children of District parents to…
April 2017
District Purchases Portion of Rainbow River Ranch Property in Partnership with The Nature Conservancy
April 26, 2017: The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently purchased land along the Rainbow River that will help protect the Rainbow Spring run.
The District purchased a significant portion of the eastern bank…
District Declares Expanded Phase I Water Shortage
April 25, 2017: The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted today to modify its existing Phase I water shortage, expanding it to cover the District’s entire 16-county area beginning May 8.
Under…
Competitors Face Off for Best Tasting Drinking Water
April 19, 2017:
Regions IV and X of the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) held their respective drinking water taste-testing competition at the Three Sisters…
District Continues to Support Environmental Competitions
April 10, 2017: Hillsborough and Pinellas County high schools participated in the 2017 Tampa Bay Regional Envirothon. This annual environmental education program allows students to use critical thinking skills to investigate…
Project Update: District Improves Canoe Launch to Help Reduce Pollutants
April 4, 2017: The District is restoring an area of the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park canoe launch in Hernando County. The restored area will benefit the Weeki Wachee spring system by reducing stormwater pollutants and…
Save Water Indoors for Water Conservation Month
April 3, 2017: April is Water Conservation Month. This month is traditionally one of the driest of the year and marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers.
The District especially encourages conservation…
March 2017
Governing Board Recognizes Springs Coast Community Partner
March 28, 2017:
Environmental Specialist Jeff Sowards has spent the past 15 years working to protect the Rainbow Spring System. That why he was recognized Tuesday by the District’s Governing…
District Staff Participate in Environmental Competition for 20th Year
March 16, 2017: High school students from Pasco, Hernando and Sumter counties displayed their knowledge for the 2017 Nature Coast Envirothon. The competition is a problem-solving, natural resources education program which…
District Committed to Protecting Springs
March 14, 2017: Just as building a house takes more than one tool, protecting springs requires many tools. It takes a combination of scientific expertise, studying, planning, personal passion and more among District staff and…
Don't Forget Timers When Springing Forward
March 10, 2017: When you reset those clocks this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time, don’t forget to check the timers on your irrigation system controllers.
Sunday is when we reset the clocks forward one hour. The…
February 2017
Employees Support Tampa Bay Humane Society
February 23, 2017: When Krista McKean and Deborah Ammendola learned that hundreds of dogs were rescued from a meat farm in South Korea and headed to the Tampa Bay Humane Society, they knew they would need donations. And the…
District Improves Flood Control Structure in Citrus County
February 17, 2017:
The District is refurbishing a flood control structure in Citrus County that will improve reliability and the life of the structure.
The S-353 flood control structure, which…
District Improves Canoe Launch to Help Reduce Pollutants
February 15, 2017: The District has started restoring an area of the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park canoe launch in Hernando County this week. The restored area will benefit the Weeki Wachee spring system by reducing stormwater…