The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect officers for the 2026-2027 term. 

Jack Bispham was elected chair of the Governing Board. Bispham represents Manatee County and is the owner and operator of Red Bluff Plantation. Bispham was appointed to the Governing Board in November 2019 and was reappointed in May 2021 and again in August 2025.

Ashley Bell Barnett was elected vice chair of the Governing Board. Bell Barnett represents Polk County, is a former educator and serves in a variety of capacities at organizations across the community, some of which include the Board of Governors for the State University System, Polk State College District Board of Trustees and the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation Board of Directors. Bell Barnett was appointed to the Governing Board in December 2020 and was reappointed in August 2023.

John Hall was elected secretary of the Governing Board. Hall represents Polk County and is the owner of Polk Community Association Management, director of City of Bartow Utilities and is a former Polk County Commissioner. Hall was appointed to the Governing Board in May 2021 and reappointed in August 2025.

Dustin Rowland was elected treasurer of the Governing Board. Rowland represents Pasco County and is the president and owner of Rowland Truck Lines, Inc., Rowland Cattle Company, LLC, and Dustin Rowland, LLC. Rowland was appointed to the Governing Board in February 2023.

The officers will assume their positions for the 2026-2027 term 24 hours before the June Governing Board meeting.

Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks, and ensure the public’s water needs are met.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has reopened the Brogden airboat slide after completing required maintenance. The airboat slide is located at the Brogden Bridge Water Control Structure on East Turner Camp Road in Citrus County. It is located between the Inverness and Hernando pools of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes.

Upper Peace River Expected to Go Dry Within Days

Due to extreme dry conditions from a continued lack of rainfall and declining water levels, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is closing the Lake Hancock P-11 water control structure this week to maintain minimum lake levels. Without discharge from the lake, portions of the Upper Peace River (UPR), from Lake Hancock to Fort Meade, are expected to go dry and become non-navigable within days. The river is expected to remain dry until the summer rainy season begins in June.

District staff will close the water control structure slowly and discharges to the river are expected to reach zero by this weekend. The District has no other options as these conditions can only be resolved with significant rainfall.

Dry river conditions were common in the UPR before 2015, prior to the District’s Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification project. Since its completion, the District has been able to store water in the lake and release it to the river during the dry season, with the exception of a short period at the end of the dry season in May 2017. However, the District received below average rainfall during its 2025 summer rainy season and currently has a 12.8-inch regional rainfall deficit compared to the average 12-month total. Because of this sustained lack of rainfall, lake levels are expected to drop lower and the UPR may remain dry longer.

Fish kills are expected downstream of the P-11 structure, as closing off the flow of water to the river will lead to fish being trapped in isolated pools in the river channel with low dissolved oxygen levels. Water quality conditions are also expected to worsen in Lake Hancock as the lake level continues to drop from evaporation. Fish kills are also expected in the lake due to low dissolved oxygen.

The Peace River runs about 120 miles from Polk County to Charlotte Harbor. Learn more about it here.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, April 28 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville. 

To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time. 

Public comment will be taken only at the meeting location. Public input for issues not listed on the published agenda will be heard shortly after the meeting begins.

The meeting agenda and materials are posted one week before the meeting and can be found online at WaterMatters.org by clicking on the “Meeting & Events Calendar.” 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will temporarily close the Brogden airboat slide due to required maintenance. The airboat slide is located at the Brogden Bridge Water Control Structure on East Turner Camp Road in Citrus County. It is located between the Inverness and Hernando pools of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes.

Maintenance activities will start April 13 and are scheduled to be completed by mid-May. Attempts to use the slide in its current condition could damage airboats.

For more information, please call the Operations Section at the District’s Brooksville Headquarters at 1-800-423-1476 or (352) 796-7211.

Leaks are the biggest water waster, both inside and outside of your home. You can use your water meter to check for leaks. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Wait for the hot water heater and ice cube makers to refill and for regeneration of water softeners. Go to your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes. (Remember, no water should be used during this period.) Read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.                    

For additional information about the Modified Phase III Water Shortage Order, visit the District’s website WaterMatters.org/Restrictions. For water conserving tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.