The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Alston Tract at Upper Hillsborough Preserve in Pasco County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 6-8, 2026.

Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 11 permits for these hunts have been sold.

Alston Tract is located at 42144 Deems Road in Zephyrhills.

This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage being caused to the natural habitats.

The District only allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause exceeds unacceptable levels, and damage is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.

Feral hogs live throughout Florida in various habitats, but prefer moist forests and swamps, as well as pine flatwoods. They are omnivorous and feed by rooting with their broad snouts, which can cause extensive damage to the natural habitats. In fact, they can leave an area looking like a plowed field.

Feral hogs are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced by explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539. They can weigh more than 150 pounds, measure over 5 feet in length and travel in herds with their offspring.

For more information, please visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 6-8, 2026.

Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 10 permits for these hunts have been sold.

Chito Branch Reserve is located at 11254 Browning Road in Lithia.

This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage being caused to the natural habitats.

The District only allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause exceeds unacceptable levels, and damage is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.

Feral hogs live throughout Florida in various habitats, but prefer moist forests and swamps, as well as pine flatwoods. They are omnivorous and feed by rooting with their broad snouts, which can cause extensive damage to the natural habitats. In fact, they can leave an area looking like a plowed field.

Feral hogs are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced by explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539. They can weigh more than 150 pounds, measure over 5 feet in length and travel in herds with their offspring.

For more information, please visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board voted today to approve the 2025 Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP). The District’s RWSP provides a framework for future water management decisions and demonstrates how water demands can be met through 2045 using a combination of alternative water sources, fresh groundwater and water conservation measures. 

Updated every five years, the RWSP includes water demand projections for a 20-year planning horizon and identifies strategies to ensure reliable water supplies while protecting natural systems, such as wetlands, lakes, rivers and springs. The District employs a collaborative, transparent planning process with stakeholders. This includes close coordination with water supply utilities on projected population growth, future water demands and identification of water supply project options to meet those demands. 

Key highlights of the 2025 RWSP include:

• 7.8 million residents by 2045, which is a nearly 27% increase from 2020.
• 1,308 million gallons per day (mgd) in water demands by 2045, which is a nearly 20% increase from 2020.
• 53 mgd in projected public supply water conservation savings by 2045.
• Identification of water supply project options, which could provide approximately 125 mgd.
• Nearly 43 mgd is estimated to be provided through District-funded projects that are already under development.

The Public Draft 2025 RWSP was presented to the Governing Board in May, with subsequent online workshops held to solicit input from stakeholders and the public.

All water management districts are statutorily required to permit consumptive water use and develop regional water supply plans to ensure water resource availability to meet projected water demands while protecting the related natural systems.

For more information on the RWSP, visit WaterMatters.org/RWSP.