Engineers Vital to District Mission
It's National Engineers Week, a time when engineers are recognized for their vital work, including at the District where they help minimize flood risks and protect water resources.
Governing Board to Meet in Brooksville
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.
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.”
Subject
Governing Board
District’s Alston Tract Closed for Hog Hunts Feb. 25-27
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Alston Tract at Upper Hillsborough Preserve in Pasco County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Feb. 25-27.
Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 11 permits for these hunts have been sold.
Alston Tract is located at 42144 Deems Road in Zephyrhills.
This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage being caused to the natural habitats.
The District only allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause exceeds unacceptable levels, and damage is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.
Feral hogs live throughout Florida in various habitats, but prefer moist forests and swamps, as well as pine flatwoods. They are omnivorous and feed by rooting with their broad snouts, which can cause extensive damage to the natural habitats. In fact, they can leave an area looking like a plowed field.
Feral hogs are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced by explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539. They can weigh more than 150 pounds, measure over 5 feet in length and travel in herds with their offspring.
For more information, please visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts.
Subject
Nature & Land
District’s Chito Branch Reserve Closed for Hog Hunts Feb. 25-27
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Feb. 25-27.
Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 10 permits for these hunts have been sold.
Chito Branch Reserve is located at 11254 Browning Road in Lithia.
This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage being caused to the natural habitats.
The District only allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause exceeds unacceptable levels, and damage is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.
Feral hogs live throughout Florida in various habitats, but prefer moist forests and swamps, as well as pine flatwoods. They are omnivorous and feed by rooting with their broad snouts, which can cause extensive damage to the natural habitats. In fact, they can leave an area looking like a plowed field.
Feral hogs are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced by explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539. They can weigh more than 150 pounds, measure over 5 feet in length and travel in herds with their offspring.
For more information, please visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts
Subject
Nature & Land
Governing Board Workshop
March 25, 2025 Governing Board Workshop
2024 Public Supply Annual Report Workshop
Reservations and Information:
Although the meeting is online, reservations are encouraged. To register, please indicate the workshop you plan to attend and send your name, title, utility name, email address, and telephone number to:
Kaitlyn Maze at Kaitlyn.Maze@swfwmd.state.fl.us.
2024 Public Supply Annual Report Workshop
Reservations and Information:
Although the meeting is online, reservations are encouraged. To register, please indicate the workshop you plan to attend and send your name, title, utility name, email address, and telephone number to:
Kaitlyn Maze at Kaitlyn.Maze@swfwmd.state.fl.us.
District to Hold Public Workshop for Lake Tarpon Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a public workshop Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss updates to the Lake Tarpon Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan. The workshop will take place at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center Auditorium, located at 3940 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs.
In 1987 the Florida Legislature created the SWIM Act to protect, restore and maintain Florida's highly threatened surface water bodies. Under this act, the state's five water management districts identify a list of priority water bodies within their authority and implement plans to improve them.
SWIM plans are designed to improve or maintain the health of a water body, focusing on management actions, projects, initiatives, and quantifiable objectives within the District’s areas of responsibility.
During the workshop, District staff will present an updated SWIM plan for Lake Tarpon and facilitate public comment. Lake Tarpon is considered a healthy system and is the largest freshwater lake in the Tampa Bay area with 2,534 acres of surface area. Designated an Outstanding Florida Water and a Fish Management Area, Lake Tarpon is located in Pinellas County.
The draft SWIM plan includes refinements to data collection processes and adjustments to vegetation goals based on advancements in technology and updates in standard practices. The plan will continue to monitor nutrient loads, maintain water level elevations consistent with flood control, and support a healthy aquatic vegetation community.
Members of the public can view the draft Lake Tarpon SWIM plan and submit public comment at WaterMatters.org/Projects/SWIM/Lake-Tarpon. Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28.
Subject
Water Management
Eastern Hillsborough County Homeowners with Wells Should Be Prepared for Near-Freezing Temperatures This Weekend
According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near- to below-freezing temperatures Saturday morning.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District advises residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps before temperatures dip.
During a freeze or near-freezing temperatures, water is pumped to protect crops and fish farms, causing aquifer levels to temporarily drop. Once aquifer levels fall below a well’s pump level, the pump can burn out if it is not shut off manually or automatically by a low-pressure shut-off device. An electrical switch located on or near the well can turn off most pumps.
Residents should wait until the temperatures warm up and water levels begin to recover before turning their pumps back on. Residents should consult their local well contractor for questions about restarting their pumps.
To report a dry well, visit WaterMatters.org or contact the District’s Regulation Division at (813) 985-7481.
Subject
Water Conservation