The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $119,000 in grants to 65 schools 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:

• Ashton Elementary School - Kelly Griffith
• Bayshore High School - John Silva
• Booker High School - Toni Riebe
• Brookside Middle School - Katie Hill
• Marjorie G. Kinnan Elementary School - Meggan Lutes
• Louise R. Johnson K-8 School of International Studies - Deborah Peters
• Manatee High School - Boontarika Elswick
• Myakka City Elementary School - Anna Kuehn
• Phillippi Shores Elementary School - Suzette Trapani
• Toledo Blade Elementary School - Madeleine Tarsek
• Venice Middle School - Beth Mayberry

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. Last year’s Splash! grants brought water resources education to nearly 10,487 students throughout the District. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $119,000 in grants to 65 schools 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:

• Colson Elementary - Jackie MacLean          
• Community Charter School of Excellence - Debra Gwyn    
• Dowdell Middle Magnet School - Candice LaRussa 
• Dr. Carter G. Woodson PK-8 - Candace Johnson Thornton
• Dr. Carter G. Woodson PK-8 - Maria Carvalho
• East Bay High School - Michelle Laycock    
• George M. Steinbrenner High School - Timothy B Harris     
• Heritage Elementary School - Susan Hopper           
• Inez Doby Elementary School - Pamela Vasquez    
• Jackson Elementary School - Elizabeth Damsel      
• Lawton Chiles Elementary - Linda Rosen     
• Learning Gate Community School - Adam Wolford  
• Pizzo K-8 School - Alyssa Mormon  
• Pride Elementary School - Lindsay Green    
• Robinson High School - Tiffany Oliver          
• South County Career Center - Ryan Lerch   
• Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School - Michael Wiggs      
• Terrace Community Middle School - Elizabeth Mila 
• Turner Bartels K-8 - Jennifer Cogan

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. Last year’s Splash! grants brought water resources education to nearly 10,487 students throughout the District. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $119,000 in grants to 65 schools 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:

• Avon Park High School - Sheri McCall-Villone         
• Sun 'n Lake Elementary School- Aleida Ruano        

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. Last year’s Splash! grants brought water resources education to nearly 10,487 students throughout the District. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $119,000 in grants to 65 schools 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:

• Brooksville Elementary - Rachel Vascellaro
• Bushnell Elementary - Tiffany Ward
• Crystal River Middle School - Julie Bolton, Mary Branch and Maurisa Applegate
• Dunnellon Elementary - Nancy Garvin and Mary Blanchette
• Gulf Coast Academy - Joseph Gatti
• Hernando Elementary School - Danita Consol
• Lake Panasoffkee Elementary - Brittny Sanders
• Lecanto High School - Meg Richardson
• South Sumter Middle School - Michelle Alberto
• South Sumter High School - Thomas Allison
• Sparr Elementary - Rachel Keene
• Williston Elementary School - Sarah Freeman

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. Last year’s Splash! grants brought water resources education to nearly 10,487 students throughout the District. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns October through December at Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and Myakka River - Schewe Tract in Sarasota County.

Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and Myakka River - Schewe Tract are located west of North Port, east of the Myakka River, and north and south of Interstate 75. Approximately 500 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:

•           Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires

•           Promoting plant diversity

•           Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat

•           Maintaining access for public recreation

The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year. Click here to learn more about why igniting prescribed burns now prepares lands for the next wildfire season.

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns October through December at Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County.

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 500 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:

•           Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires

•           Promoting plant diversity

•           Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat

•           Maintaining access for public recreation

The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year. Click here to learn more about why igniting prescribed burns now prepares lands for the next wildfire season.

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns October through December on the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA).

The LHFDA is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Morris Bridge Road near Thonotosassa. Approximately 300 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.  

Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:

• Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires
• Promoting plant diversity
• Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat
• Maintaining access for public recreation

The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year. Click here to learn more about why igniting prescribed burns now prepares lands for the next wildfire season.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22, 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.

On Tuesday, the Southewest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board adopted a $202.7 million budget for FY2020, including more than $81 million for the Cooperative Funding Initiative and District grants for water resources projects.

The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the District’s FY2020 budget include:

• $25.7 million for development of alternative water supplies to ensure an adequate supply of water resources for all existing and future reasonable and beneficial uses.
• $20.8 million for springs initiatives to restore springs and spring-fed rivers to improve water quality and clarity as well as restore natural habitats.
• $5.7 million for water quality improvements to treat stormwater runoff before discharging directly or indirectly to water bodies.
• $24.4 million for Watershed Management Program plans and projects to reduce flooding and improve water quality based on a comprehensive evaluation of a watershed’s historical and existing features.

Through cooperative funding partnerships, District funds are matched up to 50 percent and will result in a total regional investment of more than $146 million for sustainable alternative water supply development, water quality improvements and other water resources management projects.

The adopted FY2020 millage rate is 0.2801 mill, 5.2 percent lower than the current fiscal year which will help lessen the tax burden for Florida residents by saving taxpayers approximately $6.5 million in property taxes. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $28.01 a year, or about $2.33 per month. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2020.