The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, June 25, at 9 a.m. at Tampa Bay Water, located at 2575 Enterprise Road in Clearwater.

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 “Meetings & Events Calendar” link.

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 June through August at Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County.

Annuteliga Hammock is located east of U.S. Highway 19, north of Centralia Road and south of the county line. Approximately 400 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Weekiwachee Preserve is located west of U.S. Highway 19 between Spring Hill and Hernando Beach. Approximately 400 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:

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

•           Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants

•           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 (District) is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rainy season and “watch the weather, wait to water.”

During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than ½ to ¾ inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, turn off the irrigation system and turn it back on when needed.

The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for these visual clues:

• 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.

Follow these tips when you “watch the weather, wait to water”:

• If your yard is showing signs that it needs water, check your local forecast to see if rain is on the way.
• Use a rain gauge to determine how much rain your yard has received.
• If you have a rain sensor, make sure that it is working properly.
• Take full advantage of the rain. Make sure gutter downspouts are directed into landscaped areas or lawn.
• Install a rain barrel to capture excess rainwater.

For additional information, visit WaterMatters.org/WatchTheWeather.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a public workshop Tuesday, June 11, to share information about the proposed minimum flow reevaluations for the Chassahowitzka and Homosassa River Systems. The meeting will take place at the College of Central Florida, Citrus Campus, Citrus Conference Center Building C4, located at 3800 S. Lecanto Highway in Lecanto.

The workshop will begin at 5 p.m. with an open-house style allowing the public to arrive at their convenience to view posters and talk with staff about the reevaluations. Staff will give a presentation about the proposed minimum flows at 5:30 p.m. followed by public comment. Attendees are welcome to submit a comment card during the meeting to provide written feedback.

Minimum flows and levels are limits established by the District Governing Board, and required by state law, to protect water bodies from harm caused by ground and surface water withdrawals. Minimum flows for these systems were adopted in 2013 and scheduled for reevaluation in 2019 to allow the District to use updated data and improved models.

Draft reports summarizing the proposed minimum flow reevaluations are available for review and are posted on the District’s website at WaterMatters.org. For more information, please contact Gabe Herrick, Ph.D., senior environmental scientist with the District’s Springs & Environmental Flows Section at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4275.

Written comments regarding the minimum flows are welcome and can be submitted via mail or email to Gabe Herrick, at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 or Gabe.Herrick@WaterMatters.org.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be treating hydrilla on Lake Panasoffkee June 5, weather permitting. This treatment is being performed to maintain boating access within an area of the lake that is important for navigation.

The aquatic herbicide Aquathol K will be applied to hydrilla on a 100-acre portion of the 4,460-acre lake east of Tracy’s Point.

There are no restrictions on the use of treated water for swimming, fishing, or irrigating turf, ornamental plants and crops. Maps indicating the treatment area will be posted at the local fish camp boat ramps.

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, can grow densely from the bottom to the water surface and replace less problematic native plant species which are abundant on Lake Panasoffkee.

For more information, please call the District’s Brooksville Headquarters at 1-800-423-1476 or (352) 796-7211. Additional information on aquatic plant control operational schedules and annual waterbody workplans is available on the “What’s Happening on My Lake” website at MyFWC.com/Lake.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, May 21, at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North.

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 “Meetings & Events Calendar” link.