Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Hurricane Dorian and have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during, and after an emergency weather event.

The District is continuing to monitor potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county region. Because of increased summer rainfall, many lakes and waterways are at elevated levels. District staff are operating structures based on current and anticipated water levels.

In addition, the District activated the Tampa Bypass Canal system earlier this month in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area. This involves stopping all or part of the flow of the Hillsborough River before it reaches the City of Temple Terrace and City of Tampa and impounding it in the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area, which assists with flooding from the river in the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa.

Level 2 activation is utilized when a specific weather situation has reached a point where the District may be adversely affected. Level 2 is a partial activation, and the EOC will:

• Mobilize appropriate District emergency personnel to report to the EOC for
  8–12 hour shifts. The rest of the District remains at normal operating conditions.
• Monitor water levels and operate water control structures on water bodies throughout the District’s 16–county area as needed.
• Maintain direct communications with the state and affected county EOCs.
• Ensure current event information is distributed to all District staff.

The EOC also directs District field crews, responds to requests from the state EOC, and provides water resource updates to state and local emergency management agencies, the media and the general public. The District EOC will expand to include additional emergency personnel as the situation demands. For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.

To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit WaterMatters.org and 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.

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

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year.

A public workshop will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, at the District’s Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301. The workshop will provide an important opportunity for local governments, residents and the public to be part of the scheduling of minimum flows and levels for priority water bodies.

A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources or environment. The District’s Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving the balance between meeting water needs and sustaining Florida’s natural systems.

The adopted minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule for 2018 is available on the District’s website here. The draft 2019 list will be published on the site following the Governing Board’s August meeting. The revised schedule will be considered for approval at the Board’s meeting in October.

Written comments on the draft priority list and schedule may be submitted to Doug Leeper, MFLs Program Lead, at doug.leeper@watermatters.org or to 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, Florida, 34604 no later than Oct. 1.

For more information, please contact Doug Leeper at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4272.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be treating hydrilla on the Lake Panasoffkee Outlet River Aug. 21, weather permitting.

Hydrilla will be controlled on the Outlet River which flows from Lake Panasoffkee to the Withlacoochee River. The aquatic herbicide Aquathol K will be applied. There are no restrictions on the use of treated water for swimming, fishing or irrigating turf, ornamental plants and crops. However, do not use Aquathol K treated water for chemigation. Notices of the treatment will be posted at public access points along the river.

Hydrilla is a troublesome, invasive aquatic plant from Southeast Asia that was introduced into Florida lakes and rivers during the late 1950s. It is a fast-growing submerged plant that expands quickly and produces dense mats at the water surface which impact boating, recreation, water flow, native plant communities and dissolved oxygen levels. This treatment has been scheduled to control dense stands of hydrilla, which may be impeding water flow.

For more information, please call the District’s Operations Bureau at 1-800-423-1476 or (352) 796-7211 or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (352) 726-8622.

For general waterbody information, aquatic plant control operation schedules and annual workplans, fishing forecasts, virtual tours, boat ramp information and more, visit the “What’s Happening on My Lake” webpage at myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/habitat/invasive-plants/.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the Lutz Community Center, located at 98 1^st Avenue NW in Lutz. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Sapphire Lake in Hillsborough County.

During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Sapphire Lake. Minimum levels are established to protect lakes and wetlands and the minimum level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment.

The workshop is an opportunity for local government, citizens, and others to provide input regarding the proposed minimum and guidance levels. Information will be summarized and made available to the District’s Governing Board. At the Board’s September meeting, Board members will choose whether to recommend adoption of the minimum levels into District rules. 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 minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. Minimum flows are established to protect streams and rivers from impacts associated with ground water and surface water withdrawals, while minimum levels are established to protect lakes and wetlands. Minimum flows and levels serve as guidelines for the District’s permitting programs and for development of water resource projects.

A draft report summarizing the proposed minimum levels for Sapphire Lake will be posted before the meeting on the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/MFLreports. For more information regarding the proposed minimum levels, please contact Mark Hurst at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4271.

Written comments can be submitted via mail or email to Mark Hurst, Senior Environmental Scientist, Water Resources Bureau, at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604 or mark.hurst@watermatters.org.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Austin Davis Public Library, located at 17808 Wayne Road, in Odessa. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Calm in Hillsborough County.

During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Lake Calm. Minimum levels are established to protect lakes and wetlands and the minimum level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment.

The workshop is an opportunity for local government, citizens, and others to provide input regarding the proposed minimum and guidance levels. Information will be summarized and made available to the District’s Governing Board. At the Board’s September meeting, Board members will choose whether to recommend adoption of the minimum levels into District rules. 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 minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. Minimum flows are established to protect streams and rivers from impacts associated with ground water and surface water withdrawals, while minimum levels are established to protect lakes and wetlands. Minimum flows and levels serve as guidelines for the District’s permitting programs and for development of water resource projects.

A draft report summarizing the proposed minimum levels for Lake Calm will be posted before the meeting on the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/MFLreports . For more information regarding the proposed minimum levels, please contact Donna Campbell at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4236.

Written comments can be submitted via mail or email to Donna Campbell, Staff Environmental Scientist, Water Resources Bureau, at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604 or donna.campbell@watermatters.org.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) may need to activate the Tampa Bypass Canal system in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area. Boat barriers were put in place where I-75 crosses the Hillsborough River, restricting navigation in that area.

The Hillsborough River is nearing an elevation of 25 feet above sea level, which triggers the Army Corps of Engineers activation level of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention (LHFDA) area. This involves stopping all or part of the flow of the Hillsborough River before it reaches the City of Temple Terrace and City of Tampa and impounding it in the LHFDA, which will assist with flooding from the Hillsborough River in the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa.

District staff stops the flow of the river by closing the S-155 structure. The S-155 structure is located north of Morris Bridge Road and east of I-75 and can be seen from I-75 as you cross the Hillsborough River.

The Tampa Bypass Canal system was constructed in response to massive flooding caused by Hurricane Donna in 1960. The system is designed to impound flood waters from the Hillsborough River into the 16,000-acre LHFDA. As the detention area fills with water from the River and the surrounding 450-square-mile watershed, the flows then enter the Tampa Bypass Canal and are safely diverted to McKay Bay, bypassing the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa.

The system is made up of five flood control structures located along the 15.7-mile canal. In addition to providing flood control, the Tampa Bypass Canal also serves as a water supply source to help meet the drinking water needs of the Tampa Bay area.