The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 3 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North.

A public hearing on the FY2024 budget is scheduled for 5:01 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office.

To view the Governing Board meeting and the public hearing on the FY2024 budget 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.

The meeting agenda and 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 (District) invites the public to a virtual workshop Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the virtual workshop is to allow for public comment on recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River in Hillsborough County. These are the first minimum flows being established for this river system and will include both the upper (freshwater) and lower (estuarine) portions of the river.

Members of the public may join the meeting via Microsoft Teams through this link https://bit.ly/LMRMeeting. 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: 827 298 974#.

Minimum flows are limits established by the District’s Governing Board, and required by state law, to protect flowing water bodies from significant harm caused by ground and surface water withdrawals. The District’s scientists use numerous tools to collect, develop and analyze data before recommending a minimum flow. Their work is then evaluated by an independent peer review panel. 

During the workshop, District staff will review the technical basis for the recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River. A draft report for the recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River is available for review and is posted at WaterMatters.org/documents-and-reports. Visit the Minimum Flows for the Little Manatee River webpage for more information and a timeline about the process. 

Also on the webpage, a virtual public comment card will be open now through Oct. 6, 2023, for the public to submit comments to the District. District staff anticipates presenting the recommended minimum flows for Little Manatee River for Governing Board approval this fall.

For more information regarding the recommended minimum flows, please contact Kym Holzwart, Lead Ecologist with the District’s Environmental Flows and Assessments Section at (352) 269-5946. Written comments regarding the minimum flows are also welcome. They can be submitted via mail or email no later than Oct. 6, 2023, to Kym Holzwart, at 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 or kym.holzwart@watermatters.org. 

Campgrounds will Reopen to the Public Tomorrow

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has returned to normal operations after Hurricane Idalia and will lower the activation level of its Emergency Operations Center to a Level 3 at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1. Level 3 activation is a general state of monitoring during the hurricane season. 

District lands have reopened to the public; however, campgrounds will open tomorrow at 3 p.m. 

The Oak Ridge Equestrian Area will remain closed due to wet conditions.

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be open Thursday, Aug. 31, as the District begins to return to normal operations after Hurricane Idalia.

The District will lower the activation level of its Emergency Operations Center to a Level 2 at 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Level 2 activation is a partial activation, and the EOC will:

• Mobilize appropriate District emergency personnel to participate in emergency operations.
• Monitor water levels and operate water control structures on water bodies throughout the District’s 16-county area as needed.
• Present daily (or as-needed) situation reports to the state EOC and maintain direct communications with the state and affected county EOCs.
• Ensure current event information is distributed to all District staff.

All District-managed campgrounds and properties, to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region, remain closed as land staff assess the safety of these properties.

Emergency Operations Center at Level 1 Activation

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 1 as of 7 a.m., as they continue to monitor Hurricane Idalia. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. 

Level 1 activation is utilized when a specific weather situation has developed into an emergency. Level 1 is full activation, and the EOC will:

• Mobilize appropriate District emergency personnel to participate in emergency operations.
• Suspend normal departmental functions throughout the District that might interfere with emergency operations — all others continue.
• Monitor water levels and operate water control structures on water bodies throughout the District’s 16-county area as needed.
• Present daily (or as-needed) situation reports to the state EOC and maintain direct communications with the state and affected county EOCs.
• Ensure current event information is distributed to all District staff.

The EOC also directs District field crews, responds to requests from the state EOC, and provides water resource updates to state and local emergency management agencies, the media and the general public. The District EOC will expand to include additional emergency personnel as the situation demands.

Information concerning District-related meeting cancellations and office closures will also be provided to the media and made available on the District’s website at WaterMatters.org.

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30, due to potential impacts from Tropical Storm Idalia. 

Information regarding District-related meeting cancellations will be provided to the media and made available on the District’s website at WaterMatters.org.

As a reminder, you can follow along for immediate updates on social media at X.com/SWFWMD or Twitter.com/SWFWMD.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region Monday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Storm Idalia. 

Additionally, the District is in the process of cancelling all existing camping reservations through Friday, Sept. 1.

For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org. 

As a reminder, you can follow along for immediate updates on social media at X.com/SWFWMD or Twitter.com/SWFWMD.

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Idalia and have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2 as of 7 a.m. Monday. 

The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during and after an emergency event.

The District is continuing to monitor potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county region. District staff are operating structures based on current and anticipated water levels.

Level 2 activation is utilized when a specific weather situation has reached a point where the District may be adversely affected. Level 2 is a partial activation, and the EOC will:       

• Monitor water levels and operate its water control structures throughout the District’s 16–county area as needed.
• Maintain direct communications with the state and affected county EOCs.
• Ensure current event information is distributed to all District staff.
• Direct the safe use of the District’s recreational facilities such as campgrounds.
• Elevate to a Level 1 Full Activation, when necessary.

The EOC also directs District field crews, responds to requests from the state EOC, and provides water resource updates to state and local emergency management agencies, the media and the general public. The District EOC will expand to include additional emergency personnel as the situation demands. For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) establishment for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District as well as the establishment of water reservations. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year.

The District will hold a virtual public meeting Aug. 23 at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public can join the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting via Teams, please click here. Use of the Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Teams.

To join the meeting by telephone only, dial (786) 749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference ID: 121-548-175#.

A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources or environment. A water reservation defines a quantity of water set aside from the water use permitting process for the protection of fish and wildlife or public health and safety. The District’s Governing Board establishes MFLs and reservations as part of achieving the balance between meeting water needs and sustaining Florida’s natural systems.

The adopted minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule for 2022 is available on the District’s website here. The draft 2023 list will be published on the site following the Governing Board’s Aug. 22 meeting and will be considered for approval at the Board’s October meeting.

Written comments on the draft priority list and schedule may be submitted to Doug Leeper, MFLs Program Lead, at doug.leeper@watermatters.org or to 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL, 34604 no later than Sept. 7.

For more information, please contact Doug Leeper at (352) 269-5863.