Blog Archive
Governing Board Recognizes Springs Coast Community Partner
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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
: 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
: 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
: 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…
Employees Support Tampa Bay Humane Society
: 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
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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 is…
District Improves Canoe Launch to Help Reduce Pollutants
: 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…
District Reports Consistent Seagrass Increases in Tampa Bay
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District scientists continue to see increases in seagrass in Tampa Bay, which is an indicator of water quality.
Scientists with the District’s Surface Water Improvement and…
Rainfall Patterns Expected to Change in 2017
: A change in the global weather pattern in 2016 meant residents also saw a change in rainfall patterns. Most areas of the District saw above-average rainfall in the first part of the year caused by a mild El…
Experts Educate on Water Reuse
: In its ongoing effort to educate on the benefits of alternative water supplies, the District recently hosted a workshop on water reuse, which is when reclaimed water is used for a direct beneficial purpose.
“…
Public Affairs Staff Take on Leadership Roles Across the State
: Several staff members in the Public Affairs Bureau (PAB) are using the leadership skills they’ve built at the District to now direct public relations professionals across the state.
Three PAB employees…
Tour the New Wetland Treatment Project
: Visitors can get a free look at the restoration of the Three Sisters Springs property this Saturday at an open house. The Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Inc. has partnered with the…
District Restored Eroded Shoreline Around Springs
: Editor’s note: Read in tomorrow’s blog how you can visit Three Sisters Springs for free this weekend.
The District recently completed the Three Sisters Springs Bank Stabilization Project in Crystal…
Florida DEP Awards Millions for Projects to Protect Springs
: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants for water-quality enhancement projects in Citrus County to protect the health of Kings Bay and Crystal…
District Scientists Set Up Wetland Monitoring Sites
: District scientists have been working in conjunction with staff at the St. Johns River and South Florida water management districts to set up wetland monitoring sites as part of a regional monitoring program…
FL DEP Awards Millions for Projects to Protect Springs
: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants for water-quality enhancement projects in Citrus County to protect the health of Kings Bay and Crystal…
Staff Members Help Hernando County Resident
: Two weeks ago, Spring Hill resident Beverly Patton went to the Weeki Wachee Preserve to rest and read her Bible, but the August afternoon sun soon started to wear on her.…
District Staff Respond to Hurricane Hermine
: As Hermine descended on Florida’s west coast earlier this month, District staff sprang into action to help respond to and prevent flooding from the first hurricane to hit the state since Wilma in 2005.…
Governing Board Votes to Fund Triangle Ranch Conservation Easement in Manatee County
: The District’s Governing Board approved the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement of more than 1,088 acres of Triangle Ranch in Manatee County, in the upper Myakka River watershed. This action will…
Governor Announces Appointments to District's Governing Board
: Governor Rick Scott appointed two new board members to the District’s Governing Board and also re-appointed a board member.
Mark Taylor and Michelle Williamson were appointed to the board. Taylor represents…
Project Update: Get the Latest Look at the Three Sisters Springs Bank Stabilization Project
: Surrounding the crystal waters of Three Sisters Springs, visitors could easily spot exposed tree roots and an eroded shoreline. The erosion has caused sediments to enter spring vents and trees to collapse. It…
Citizens Snatch Up Free 'Rock Star' Grass
: Citrus County residents recently benefited from a grass giveaway.
About 50 people left with more than 1,000 peat pots of eelgrass grown as part of the District’s Hunters Cove Revegetation Project.…
District Employee Pursues Passion for Paranormal in Print
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At 16 years old, Sandie Will, geohydrologic data manager, set out to pen her first work of fiction – a haunted house story based on her love of horror flicks. Years later, her…
A Conversation With Governing Board Chair Randy Maggard
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The District’s new Governing Board Chair Randy Maggard sat down to chat about how his personal and professional experiences have influenced his decisions. He also discussed his…
Build Your Own Rain Barrel
: With the rainy season upon us, now is a great time to think about adding a rain barrel to your yard.Harvesting rainwater with a rain barrel helps supplement irrigation for a small cost. Storing rainwater also…
Governing Board Appoints Brian Armstrong as Executive Director
: The Governing Board appointed Brian Armstrong as executive director at today’s monthly Board meeting. Robert Beltran, who announced his resignation earlier this month, will stay on temporarily to assist in the…
Project Update: District Restoring Eroded Shoreline Around Springs
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Surrounding the crystal waters of Three Sisters Springs, visitors could easily spot exposed tree roots and an eroded shoreline. The erosion has caused sediments to enter…
Homeless Teen Builds New Life at District
: For Zakk Simpkins, a tradesworker in the Operations & Land Management Bureau, life hasn’t been easy.
He grew up in a rough neighborhood in Lake Panasoffkee, FL and was abandoned by his dad at a young age…
Summer Season: 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,…
New Officers Selected for Governing Board
: The District’s Governing Board elected new officers to the board.
Randall S. Maggard was elected chair of
the Governing Board. Maggard…
District Springs Team Helps Clean Rainbow River
: Sometimes someone’s trash can be a treasure.
Members of the District’s Springs Team came up winners by finding an orange couch cushion while participating in a cleanup Saturday at the Rainbow River. About 175…
District Reports Gains in Seagrass Coverage in Charlotte Harbor
: Charlotte Harbor has about 985 acres of seagrass beds, according to the 2014 seagrass mapping study by the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program.
The District’s study results show…
Tampa Development Earns Florida Water Star℠ Certification
: Tampa residents have new living options that offer water efficiency and affordability.District leaders celebrated Earth Day last week by awarding Florida Water Star℠ Community certification to the…
District Dedicates Largest Coastal Restoration Project in Tampa Bay
: Atop Hillsborough County’s newest “mountain,” visitors got a glimpse of the largest coastal restoration project ever performed for Tampa Bay.
Community leaders helped the District dedicate the Rock Ponds…
Citrus Wins for Best Tasting Drinking Water
: Citrus County Utilities earned this year’s bragging rights for having the tastiest tap water in West Central Florida.
The utility won the annual Best Tasting Drinking Water…
District to Restore Eroded Shoreline Around Springs
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Surrounding the crystal waters of Three Sisters Springs, visitors can easily spot exposed tree roots and an eroded shoreline. The erosion has caused sediments to enter spring…
Celebrate Water Conservation Month
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Outdoor water use typically accounts for up to 50 percent of water consumed by households. You can reduce your outdoor water consumption by taking a few simple steps.While the…
Governing Board Recognizes Springs Coast Steering Committee
: The Governing Board declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month at today’s Governing Board meeting. The move is part of the District’s ongoing effort to restore and protect area springs and encourage…
Reservoir Provides Increased Storage of Reclaimed Water
: Ships may be christened with bottles of champagne, but reclaimed reservoirs are christened with shots of tap water.
At least that was the good luck ceremony performed at the recent celebration for the Boyette…
Check Those Timers When Springing Forward
: 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…