The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board approved the purchase of Jordan Ranch, a 191-acre parcel of land adjacent to District-owned Two-Mile Prairie State Forest in Citrus County.

This important property purchase is within 1,000 feet of the Withlacoochee River and will allow the District to provide enhanced protection of natural systems, including wetlands and uplands with well-drained soils that contribute to aquifer recharge. This acquisition meets all four of the District’s Areas of Responsibility, which are water supply, water quality, flood control and natural systems. 

Jordan Ranch is approximately 45% wetlands and includes xeric hammock (an evergreen forest on well-drained sandy soils), pine flatwoods and freshwater marshes. The western boundary of Jordan Ranch adjoins Two-Mile Prairie State Forest which is owned by the District and managed by the Florida Forest Service (FFS). 

The parcel is being purchased for approximately $1.5 million with funds from the Florida Forever Trust Fund. Acquisition of Jordan Ranch is consistent with the District’s Florida Forever Workplan and falls almost entirely within the Florida Wildlife Corridor identified within the Nature Coast Critical Linkages.

The Jordan Ranch is located within unincorporated Citrus County along State Road 200.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.2043 mill for the fiscal year 2024 budget.

The millage rate is 9.6% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2260 mill, which will save taxpayers $13.9 million.

For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $20.43 a year, or about $1.70 per month.

The total fiscal year 2024 proposed budget for the District is $224.8 million and includes $92.4 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants.

Through these cooperative funding partnerships, District funds will be leveraged resulting in a total regional investment of $175.2 million for sustainable alternative water supply development, water quality improvements, and other water resource management projects. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.

The District will hold a tentative budget hearing on Sept. 12 at 5:01 p.m. at the Tampa Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301.

The Governing Board will vote on the final budget on Sept. 26 at 5:01 p.m., at the Tampa Office.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, July 25, 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.” 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a virtual public meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 20, to discuss updates to several of the District’s land management plans. 

The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public about updates to these plans, to solicit input from stakeholders, and to incorporate feedback from the public and stakeholders into the development of the new 10-year plans. 

The land management plans to be updated include: 
 

• Conner Preserve in Pasco County 
• Flatford Swamp in Manatee County 
• Flying Eagle Preserve in Citrus County 
• Prairie Shell Creek Preserve in Charlotte County 

Members of the public may participate in the meeting via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/LMPs2023. 

More information and virtual comment submission is available at WaterMatters.org/LMPupdates. Proposed plans will be posted one week before the public meeting.

The District adopts land management plans to ensure its public conservation lands are being managed in ways that are consistent with Florida Statutes and the District’s mission. District lands are acquired to preserve and protect water resources and natural systems while also providing public access for recreation. 

District policy requires management plans for District-owned conservation lands be reviewed and updated every 10 years, unless otherwise directed by the District’s Governing Board. District lands are open to the public and community input is vital in determining how these lands are managed and used.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold an independent, scientific peer review of recommended minimum flows for Horse Creek and Charlie Creek beginning this month. Horse Creek and Charlie Creek are located in portions of DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties and are two tributaries of the Peace River.

A minimum flow sets a limit on how much water can be withdrawn from various water resources to prevent significant harm occurring to those resources or the ecology of the area. The review will be conducted by a three-member panel virtually via Microsoft Teams, teleconference and a web board established specifically for the peer review. 

The meetings will take place: 

• July 17 at 12:30 p.m.
• July 24 at 1 p.m.
• July 31 at 1 p.m.
• Aug. 7 at 1 p.m.
• Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.
• Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.

Members of the public can join the meetings virtually and register to use the web board to post comments regarding the peer review process. Links to the Teams meetings can be found on the District’s Boards, Meetings and Events calendar at WaterMatters.org/calendar. The web board will be open for posting comments through Oct. 9, 2023, and open for viewing through June 30, 2024.

The draft documents on the scientific peer review to be considered by the panel will be made available on the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/documents-and-reports. Based on findings of the peer review panel, District staff anticipate using the scientific peer review to support development of minimum flows that will be recommended to the District’s Governing Board for rule adoption to support water use regulation and water supply planning.

District staff have identified approximately 233 acres of land in the Annutteliga Hammock in Hernando County and the Green Swamp in Polk County, which may be recommended for surplus to the Governing Board. A link to the properties can be found at WaterMatters.org/business/land-sale.

Members of the public may join the workshop via Microsoft Teams through this link: https://bit.ly/3N53vCP. The Google Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Microsoft Teams. For telephone-only participation, dial (786) 749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference code ID: 180 489 0#. 

More information and virtual comment submission is available through July 5 at WaterMatters.org/projects/surplus-lands/comments.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, June 27, 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) will hold a virtual public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, to review and solicit public feedback on the 2023 Tampa Bay Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) plan.

The SWIM Program evaluates priority water bodies, identifies potential problems and implements projects to improve their water quality or habitat. The draft Tampa Bay SWIM Plan is available for review at WaterMatters.org/SWIM/Tampa Bay. 

Members of the public may join the workshop via Microsoft Teams through this link: https://bit.ly/SWIMTampaBay. The Google Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Microsoft Teams. For telephone-only participation, dial (786) 749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference code ID: 128 430 022#.

Public comment may also be submitted after the public workshop by emailing swimplanupdate@swfwmd.state.fl.us until 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 28. The meeting agenda can be found on the District’s calendar.

In 1987 the Florida Legislature created the Surface Water Improvement and Management (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.

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 June through September on the Prairie Shell Creek Tract in Charlotte County.

Prairie Shell Creek is located at 3081 Duncan Road (U.S. Highway 17) in Punta Gorda. 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 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 June through September on Potts Preserve and Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps in Citrus County.

Potts Preserve is located approximately 2 miles east of the city of Hernando and 3.5 miles north-northeast of Inverness. The property is east and southeast of State Road 200 and north of Turner Camp Road and is bordered by the Withlacoochee River on the east. Approximately 300 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps is located south of the city of Homosassa and approximately 1.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 19. Approximately 50 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.