Blog Archive
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
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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.…
Take These Steps at Home to Protect Springs During Springs Protection Awareness Month
: The District’s Governing Board, along with the Florida Legislature and Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month. There are many actions you can take…
Save Water Outdoors for 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…
Save Water Outdoors for 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…
Governing Board Recognizes 2014 Springs Community Partners
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The Governing Board has declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month.
The proclamation was approved at last week’s Governing Board meeting after a presentation on the…
Students Square off in Envirothon
: They tackled topics that ranged from soils and forestry to aquatics and wildlife.
More than 300 students from four counties recently participated in the 2014 Nature Coast Envirothon at Weeki Wachee Springs…
Volunteers Plant Trees at Conner Preserve in Pasco County
: About 40 volunteers recently came out to Conner Preserve in Pasco County to plant 2,000 longleaf pines.
The seedlings were grown from a native seed source and provided by the Florida Forest Service and…
Check Your Irrigation Timer When You Spring Forward to Daylight Saving Time
: 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…
Additional Artifacts Identified at Chassahowitzka Springs
: The District’s recent restoration project of Chassahowitzka Springs has revealed more important artifacts.
Researchers have identified two more of the artifacts found last year during the District’s…
District Extends Phase II Water Shortage Order in Tampa Bay area
: The District’s Governing Board voted to extend the Phase II Water Shortage the Tampa Bay; however, the extended order will allow up to two watering days per week.
In December 2013, the…
District Kicks Off Restoration Project
: Dozens of state and community leaders joined the District last week in kicking off the Rock Ponds Ecosystem Restoration Project.
The project, located just north of the Manatee County line in Ruskin, will…
District Plans to Add Three Spring Systems to SWIM Priority List
: The District’s Governing Board recently voted to begin the process of adding three first-magnitude spring systems — Weeki Wachee River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River — to the Surface Water…
Marc Rutenberg Homes Earns Florida Water Star Designation
: Proving you don’t have to give up luxury for efficiency, Marc Rutenberg Homes recently earned the Florida Water Star residential certification for its Castaway III model home in Palm Harbor.
The Florida Water…
District Asks Homeowners to "Skip A Week" of Irrigation This Winter
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The District is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” or more of watering during the cooler months of January and February.
According to research by…
Project Reduces Flooding Issues
: There is a new house on the block in north Tampa, and behind the doors of this quaint cottage is a powerful system that will bring significant reductions to flooding in the area.
The City of Tampa recently…
District Declares Phase II Water Shortage in Tampa Bay Area
: The District’s Governing Board voted today to declare a Phase II Water Shortage and implement one-day-per-week watering restrictions in the Tampa Bay area due to reduced river levels and increasing water…
District Hosts Cowboys and Cattle
: 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…
Bobcat Returns After Rescue
: A furry feline recently returned to District property after getting injured in a wire fence.
The District welcomed the release of a young male bobcat at Cypress Creek…
District Holds Chassahowitzka Springs Restoration Project Dedication
: Through the crystal waters of the Chassahowitzka, guests could spot schools of fish swimming near the spring vent and even a young manatee swimming nearby.
The wildlife at the beloved Citrus County waterway…
District Hosts Wounded Veterans for Hunt
: The District recently hosted wounded veterans on its Lake Hancock property for an alligator hunt.
The event was facilitated by Operation Outdoor Freedom and the…
Check Your Irrigation Timer When You Fall Back to Standard Time
: 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…
Schools Awarded Grants for Water Resources Education Projects
: Sixty-six school teachers across the District’s 16-county region will teach issues surrounding our freshwater resources with the help of Splash! school grants from the District.
The goal of the Splash! school…
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…
District Employees Rescue Missing Couple
: District employees Don Kaskie and Violet Woodard thought it would be another typical work day.
The vegetation specialists spent a day last month in airboats treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on…
Regional Water Supply Plan Public Workshop
: The public is invited to learn more about the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) at a public workshop Thursday.
The Southwest Florida, South Florida and St. Johns River water management districts are…
Beltran Appointed New Executive Director
: A familiar face is the District’s newest leader.
Robert Beltran is now the District’s executive director. He replaces Blake Guillory who became the executive director of the South Florida Water Management…