WaterMatters Magazine Archive

Brian Townsend, District senior heavy equipment operator (left), and Stephanie Green, senior land management specialist, supported the Florida Division of Forestry at the Santa Fe fire. With less than 24…

Disaster struck the District over the Independence Day weekend when a fire sprinkler flooded Building 4 at District Headquarters in Brooksville. The problem began just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 3. A…

Governing Board Chair H. Paul Senft Jr. After graduating from Emory University in Atlanta, H. Paul Senft Jr. entered the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where his education was put to good use. “The Air Force…

Riprap and filter socks were installed at the end of Bayhouse Point Avenue to filter out nutrients entering Little Sarasota Bay. A Sarasota community has reduced polluted stormwater runoff into Little…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the Southwest Florida Water Management District for its part in the Three Sisters Springs land acquisition project. Eric Sutton, former District Land…

William S. Bilenky The Governing Board appointed the District’s General Counsel William S. Bilenky to serve as interim executive director following the resignation of Executive Director David L. Moore on…

Babb Will Represent Hillsborough County Michael A. Babb Gov. Rick Scott appointed Michael A. Babb to the District’s Governing Board in June. Babb is from Hillsborough County and is president of Two Rivers…

Rutter Earns Professional Certification Roger Rutter, a tradesworker at the District Headquarters in Brooksville, was recently certified by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association as an FNGLA…

Cole Kolasa stands with Craig McLean, assistant administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), at the annual Capitol Hill Ocean Week. A District senior environmental scientist’…

Left to right: (1) A Lake Placid resident reviews a map of potential flooded areas associated with a catastrophic failure at the G-90 structure. (2) The G-90 water control structure is located on Jack Creek…

The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve West Tract is an ideal place for visitors to explore some of central Florida’s flora and fauna in their natural state. Rainwater drains across the Green Swamp region’s…

Meetings & Information See meeting calendar Governing Board Members See Governing Board profiles Service Office Information See contact us

Staff has contributed to the community through events such as the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and holiday gift-giving to families in need. As the District reaches its 50th anniversary this year…

From left: Kevin Stover, 33 years, Field Technician Supervisor, Resource Data & Restoration. Richard Gant, 34 years, Field Technician Supervisor, Resource Projects. Kevin Love, 35 years, Manager, Land…

Originally purchased as part of the Four River Basins project, the Green Swamp is the headwaters of the Withlacoochee, Ocklawaha, Hillsborough and Peace rivers. Protecting the Green Swamp is vital to…

  The drowning of thousands of chickens at several Masaryktown chicken farms was one of the catalysts for the creation of the District. From devastating flooding caused by hurricanes to severe…

Donna Brooks weighs food donations during the Thanksgiving food drive. A last-minute idea to help feed the needy over the holidays was a stunning success thanks to the generosity of District staff. The…

You can save water, time and money by taking steps now to make your yard Florida-friendly. A properly maintained Florida-friendly yard can help homeowners conserve water…

Camping, hiking, boating, freshwater and saltwater fishing; a full range of outdoor activities are available at the District’s Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps property in southwestern…

Brian Armstrong, District Water Supply & Resource Development manager, taught students at Watergrass Elementary School in Pasco County during the Great American Teach-In. More than 1,400 students in 16…

Chassahowitzka Property Offers Much to Do at an Outstanding Waterway Camping, hiking, boating, freshwater and saltwater fishing; a full range of outdoor activities are available at the District’s …

Meetings & Information See meeting calendar Governing Board Members See Governing Board profiles Service Office Information See contact us

Reuse of Wastewater Is Vital to the Region’s Future Reduce, reuse and recycle — the three R’s of reducing waste — is a phrase that traditionally applies to the trash we throw away. But a District program…

Left: Merry Mott from the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, far left; Lou Kavouras, District deputy executive director, second from right; and Sylvia Durell, District senior communications…

Left: Philip Rhinesmith, District senior environmental scientist, demonstrates animal track plaster casting techniques to a group of students. Center: Students examine and identify macroinvertebrates in a…