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

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is prohibiting campfires and other sources of open flames on District conservation lands in conjunction with numerous county burn bans and dry conditions.

Lack of rainfall this spring has made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile, increasing the potential for wildfires. Burning is thereby prohibited on these District properties with camping until sufficient rains occur and county burn bans are lifted:

• Cypress Creek Preserve
• Deep Creek Preserve
• Flying Eagle Preserve
• Green Swamp East – Hampton Tract
• Green Swamp East Tract
• Green Swamp West Tract
• Lake Panasoffkee
• Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve
• Potts Preserve
• Serenova Tract
• Upper Hillsborough Preserve 

In addition, the District is asking campers and other outdoor enthusiasts to take the following precautions when on District lands:

• Be careful with gas lanterns, gas stoves and anything that can be a source of ignition for a wildfire.
• All vehicles must stay on designated roadways or trails. Avoid driving vehicles on roads with tall, dead grass.
• Vehicle catalytic converters get very hot and can quickly ignite dry brush or other vegetation like pine needles or dead leaves. Avoid parking vehicles in areas of dead grass, brush or other vegetation. Park in areas with little or no vegetation or over low “green” vegetation.
• Dispose of smoking materials properly; do not toss them on the ground.
• Carry a shovel and fire extinguisher in your vehicle.

The District also asks that if people see a fire while on a District land, please call 911. For updates on District land restrictions, visit WaterMatters.org/Recreation.

The District owns and manages approximately 460,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands for water resource and natural systems protection.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect officers for the 2024-2025 term. 

Michelle Williamson was elected chair of the Governing Board. Williamson represents Hillsborough County and is the operations manager of G&F Farms. Williamson was appointed to the Governing Board in August 2016 and reappointed in December 2020. 

John Mitten was elected vice chair of the Governing Board. Mitten represents Hernando and Marion counties and is the franchise owner of Chick-fil-A in Spring Hill. Mitten was appointed to the Governing Board in October 2020. 

Jack Bispham was elected secretary of the Governing Board. Bispham represents Manatee County and is the owner and operator of Red Bluff Plantation. Bispham was appointed to the Governing Board in November 2019 and was reappointed in May 2021.

Ashley Bell Barnett was elected treasurer of the Governing Board. Bell Barnett represents Polk County and is a former educator and community advocate. Bell Barnett was appointed to the Governing Board in December 2020 and was reappointed in August 2023.

The officers will assume their positions for the 2024-2025 term 24 hours before the June Governing Board meeting.

Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks, and ensure the public’s water needs are met.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, May 21 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.” 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, April 23 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. 

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.” 

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns April through June on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.

The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near Thonotosassa. Approximately 200 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 see aerial footage from a prescribed fire in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve where District land management staff burned 320 acres.

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns April through June on Starkey Wilderness Preserve and Cypress Creek Preserve.

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 300 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. 

Cypress Creek Preserve is located east of Ehren Cutoff, one mile south of State Road 52. Approximately 100 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 see aerial footage from a prescribed fire in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve where District land management staff burned 320 acres.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a virtual workshop Tuesday, April 9, at 5:30 p.m. to collect public comment on the proposed minimum levels for Lake Tulane and Lake Verona in Highlands County.

Members of the public may join the meeting via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/minimumlevels. The Google Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Microsoft Teams. For telephone-only participation, dial 1-786-749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference ID: 906 393 601#.

During the workshop, District staff will review the technical basis for the recommended minimum levels for Lake Tulane and Lake Verona. Recommended minimum levels for Lake Tulane and Lake Verona were summarized in draft reports and are available for review at WaterMatters.org/documents-and-reports.

All public comments are summarized and shared with the District’s Governing Board for its consideration. District staff anticipates presenting the recommended minimum levels for Lake Tulane and Lake Verona at the May Governing Board meeting. 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 prevent significant harm to streams and rivers from impacts associated with groundwater and surface water withdrawals, while minimum levels are established to prevent significant harm to lakes and wetlands. The District’s scientists use numerous tools to collect, develop and analyze data before recommending a minimum flow or level. Minimum flows and levels serve as guidelines for the District’s permitting programs and for development of water resource projects.

For more information regarding the recommended minimum levels, please contact T.J. Venning, Staff Environmental Scientist with the District’s Natural Systems and Restoration Bureau at (352) 269-5980. Written comments regarding the minimum levels are also welcome and can be submitted via mail or email no later than April 16, to T.J. Venning, Staff Environmental Scientist at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604 or TJ.Venning@watermatters.org.