Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on the Prairie Shell Creek Tract in Charlotte County.
Prairie Shell Creek is located at 3081 Duncan Road (U.S. Highway 17) in Punta Gorda.Approximately 200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
The District emails and/or texts prescribed burn alerts directly to members of the public who sign up through the District’s website. The prescribed burn alerts explain where and when the burns will take place and how many acres will be burned. You can sign up to receive email and/or text alerts about scheduled prescribed burns in your region and learn more about the process of a prescribed burn by visiting WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 35,000 acres each year.
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on the Deep Creek Preserve in DeSoto County.
Deep Creek Preserve is located at 10797 Peace River Street in Arcadia, east of State Road 769. Approximately 600 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
The District emails and/or texts prescribed burn alerts directly to members of the public who sign up through the District’s website. The prescribed burn alerts explain where and when the burns will take place and how many acres will be burned. You can sign up to receive email and/or text alerts about scheduled prescribed burns in your region and learn more about the process of a prescribed burn by visiting WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 35,000 acres each year.
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on Weekiwachee Preserve.
The Weekiwachee Preserve is located west of U.S. Highway 19 between Spring Hill and Hernando Beach. Approximately 250 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. Some trails may be temporarily closed during prescribed burn events.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
The District emails and/or texts prescribed burn alerts directly to members of the public who sign up through the District’s website. The prescribed burn alerts explain where and when the burns will take place and how many acres will be burned. You can sign up to receive email and/or text alerts about scheduled prescribed burns in your region and learn more about the process of a prescribed burn by visiting WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 35,000 acres each year.
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.
The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near Thonotosassa. Approximately 500 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
The District emails and/or texts prescribed burn alerts directly to members of the public who sign up through the District’s website. The prescribed burn alerts explain where and when the burns will take place and how many acres will be burned. You can sign up to receive email and/or text alerts about scheduled prescribed burns in your region and learn more about the process of a prescribed burn by visiting WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 35,000 acres each year.
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Conner Preserve, Upper Hillsborough Preserve and Cypress Creek Preserve.
Starkey Wilderness Preserve is located east of New Port Richey, west of the Suncoast Parkway, north of State Road 54 and south of State Road 52. Approximately 1,000 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Conner Preserve is located south of State Road 52 and west of Ehren Cutoff. Approximately 250 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Upper Hillsborough Preserve is located east of Zephyrhills, south of County Road 54 and east of Chancey Road. Approximately 300 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Cypress Creek Preserve is located east of Ehren Cutoff, one mile south of State Road 52. Approximately 250 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
The District emails and/or texts prescribed burn alerts directly to members of the public who sign up through the District’s website. The prescribed burn alerts explain where and when the burns will take place and how many acres will be burned. You can sign up to receive email and/or text alerts about scheduled prescribed burns in your region and learn more about the process of a prescribed burn by visiting WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 35,000 acres each year.
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September at the Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve in Sarasota County.
Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve is located west of North Port, east of the Myakka River, and south of Interstate 75. Approximately 700 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
The District emails and/or texts prescribed burn alerts directly to members of the public who sign up through the District’s website. The prescribed burn alerts explain where and when the burns will take place and how many acres will be burned. You can sign up to receive email and/or text alerts about scheduled prescribed burns in your region and learn more about the process of a prescribed burn by visiting WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 35,000 acres each year.
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 District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday for the latest slate of officers for the 2026-2027 term.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, May 19 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North.
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.”
