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.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Lake Eva Event Center, located at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City.

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.

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 April through June 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 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.