The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a virtual workshop Thursday, Nov. 13, at 5:30 p.m. to collect public comment on the proposed minimum levels for Lake Angelo and Lake Denton in Highlands County.

Members of the public may register to join prior to the workshop at https://bit.ly/LakesAD. For telephone-only participation, dial 1-786-749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference ID: 837 425 385#.

During the workshop, District staff will review the technical basis for the recommended minimum levels for Lake Angelo and Lake Denton. The public will also have an opportunity to give comments and ask questions at the meeting. You may also submit comments through the webpage at WaterMatters.org/projects/mfls/lake-angelo-and-lake-denton-minimum-level-reevaluations.You’ll also find recommended minimum levels for Lakes Angelo and Denton summarized in draft reports. 

All public comments are summarized and shared with the District’s Governing Board for its consideration. District staff anticipate presenting the recommended minimum levels for Lake Angelo and Lake Denton at the December 2025 or January 2026 Governing Board meeting. Governing Board meetings are open to the public, and brief oral comments are permitted on meeting agenda items.

The Florida Legislature requires the District to set MFLs for priority water bodies within the District. Minimum flows are established to prevent significant harm to streams and rivers from impacts associated with groundwater and surface water withdrawals, while minimum levels are established to prevent significant harm to lakes and wetlands. The District’s scientists use numerous tools to collect, develop and analyze data before recommending a minimum flow or level. Minimum flows and levels serve as guidelines for the District’s permitting programs and for development of water resource projects.

For questions regarding the recommended minimum flows and levels, please contact T.J. Venning, senior environmental scientist with the District’s Natural Systems and Restoration Bureau at (352) 269-5980. Written comments regarding the minimum levels are also welcome and can be submitted via mail or email no later than Nov. 30, to T.J. Venning, senior environmental scientist at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604 or TJ.Venning@WaterMatters.org.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve in Marion County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Nov. 4-6.

Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 25 permits for this hunt have been sold.

Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve is located at 15430 SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon.

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 call the District’s Land Management section at (813) 375-0665 or visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Edward W. Chance Reserve - Gilley Creek Tract in Manatee County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Nov. 4-6.

Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 12 permits for these hunts have been sold.

The Edward W. Chance Reserve - Gilley Creek Tract is located at 22310 CR 675 in Parrish.

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 call the District’s Land Management section at (813) 375-0665 or visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers next weekend, which is the end of daylight saving time.

Saturday, Nov. 1 is when we will turn our clocks back one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with year-round water conservation measures.

All 16 counties throughout the District’s boundaries are on year-round water conservation measures, with lawn watering limited to twice-per-week unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours. Local governments maintaining once-per-week watering by local ordinance include Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sarasota counties and the cities of Dunedin, Tampa and Venice.

Know and follow your local watering restrictions, but don’t water just because it’s your day. Irrigate your lawn when it shows signs of stress from lack of water. Pay attention to signs of stressed grass:

• Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard.
• Grass blades appear blue-gray.
• Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.

For additional information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Water101.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,138 in grants to 52 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county. 

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Polk County:

• Cypress Junction Montessori - Erica Harrison          
• Discovery Academy of Lake Alfred - Heather Matousek      
• Highland City Elementary - Cynthia Kuhlman           
• Janie Howard Wilson Elementary - Betty Finnell      
• Medulla Elementary - Natalie Harris   
• Polk Avenue Elementary - Melissa Kelly      
• Purcell Elementary - Cynara Appling
• South McKeel Academy - Cheryl Jacques     

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,138 in grants to 52 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county. 

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Pasco and Pinellas counties:

• Dayspring Academy - Chris Anzalone (Pasco)         
• Dunedin High School - Terri Stevens (Pinellas)       
• East Pasco Education Academy - Dr. Jose Olmo (Pasco)
• J. W. Mitchell High School - Dennis Koslin (Pasco)
• John M. Sexton Elementary - Kianna Pintado (Pinellas)      
• Wendell Krinn Technical High School - Keri Helmus  (Pasco)
• West Pasco Education Academy - Shamsher Lamba (Pasco)            

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,138 in grants to 52 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county. 

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Manatee and Sarasota counties:

• Alta Vista Elementary School - Andrew Jaffee (Sarasota)   
• Ashton Elementary School - Tiffany Lloyd (Sarasota)          
• Bashaw Elementary - Richard Smith (Manatee)
• Bay Haven School of Basics Plus - Kandace Budai (Sarasota)           
• Bayshore Elementary - Angel Calcorzi Sr. (Manatee)
• Bayshore High - John Silva (Manatee)
• Englewood Elementary School - Veronica Grannan (Sarasota)      
• Lakewood Ranch High - Tana Phelp (Manatee)         
• Skye Ranch School - Lorri Alba (Sarasota)   

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,138 in grants to 52 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county. 

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Hillsborough County:

• Alonso High School - Katherine Stolt
• Chamberlain High School - Michael Sipes    
• Dowdell Middle Magnet School - Springs Pacelli       
• Kenly Elementary - Tiffany Brown       
• Lincoln Elementary Magnet School - Patrick LaPointe         
• Lutz K-8 School - Nicole Baldwin      
• Morgan High School - Natalie Richard          
• Oak Park Elementary School - Kaylin Schemmel     
• Pepin Academies - Shanon Snodgrass        
• Pierce Middle School - Sigrun Ragnarsdottir
• Riverview High School - Sandhya Chandel  
• Sulphur Springs K-8 School - Joanna Cade   
• Sumner High School - Kathy Hockman         
• Tampa Bay Technical High School - Julie Sackles  
• Yates Elementary School - Shana Creel       

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,138 in grants to 52 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county. 

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Highlands County:

• Lake Placid Middle School - Lucretia Roberts
• Park Elementary School - Krystal Brown Cobb
• Sun ‘N Lake Elementary School - Shonda Zimmerman

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,138 in grants to 52 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county. 

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in its northern region:

• Central High School – Rachel Kingdom (Hernando)
• Citrus Springs Middle School – Alberta Okoro (Citrus)
• Dunnellon Elementary School – Nancy Garvin (Marion)
• Harbour View Elementary School – Melissa Leon (Marion)
• South Sumter High School – Stephanie Yarbrough (Sumter)
• Sumter P.R.E.P. Academy – Robert A. Piwowar (Sumter)
• Webster Elementary School – Brandon Cockayne (Sumter)
• Wildwood Elementary School – Paul Mannino (Sumter)
• Wildwood Middle High School – Brittny Sanders (Sumter)
• Williston Middle-High School – Kristen Brown (Levy)

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are  focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.