The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county. 

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Polk County:

• Discovery Academy of Lake Alfred - Heather Matousek
• Gause Academy of Leadership - Melissa Konkol
• Lake Wales Senior High School - Heather Cain
• Polk Avenue Elementary School - Melissa Kelly
• South McKeel Academy - Cheryl Jacques
• Southwest Middle School - Katrina Lynn
• Walter Caldwell Elementary School - Amanda Shockley

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has deactivated the Tampa Bypass Canal System and the Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA) as water levels in the Hillsborough River have declined following Hurricane Milton.

The District opened Structure S-155 over the weekend and the boat barriers were removed this morning, restoring navigation on the Hillsborough River. The S-155 structure is located north of Morris Bridge Road and east of I-75 and can be seen from I-75 as you cross the Hillsborough River.

On Oct. 8, the District activated the Tampa Bypass Canal System in response to heavy rains from Hurricane Milton to help protect the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa from river flooding.

The Tampa Bypass Canal System, constructed in response to massive flooding caused by Hurricane Donna in 1960, and is made up of three elements: the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA) or Reservoir, the Tampa Bypass Canal and the Harney Canal. Flood waters from the Hillsborough River are impounded into the 16,000-acre HFDA. As the reservoir fills with water from the river and the surrounding 450-square-mile watershed, the flows then enter the 15.7-mile Tampa Bypass Canal, which is made up of five flood control structures located along the canal. The flows are then safely diverted to McKay Bay, protecting the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa from river flooding.

In addition to providing flood control, the Tampa Bypass Canal also serves as a water supply source to help meet the drinking water needs of the Tampa Bay area.

For more information on the Tampa Bypass Canal System, visit WaterMatters.org/projects/tampa-bypass-canal-system.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers next weekend, which is the end of daylight saving time.

Saturday, Nov. 2 is when we will turn our clocks back one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with year-round water conservation measures.

All 16 counties throughout the District’s boundaries are on year-round water conservation measures, with lawn watering limited to twice-per-week unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours. Local governments maintaining once-per-week watering by local ordinance include Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sarasota counties and the cities of Dunedin, Longboat Key, Tampa and Venice.

Know and follow your local watering restrictions, but don’t water just because it’s your day. Irrigate your lawn when it shows signs of stress from lack of water. Pay attention to signs of stressed grass:

• Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard.
• Grass blades appear blue-gray.
• Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.

For additional information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Water101.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board voted today to rescind the Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order enacted in November 2023. This action eliminates one-day-per-week water restrictions for Hillsborough and Pinellas counties; however Pasco County and the City of Tampa will remain on one-day-per-week watering by local ordinance.

All 16 counties throughout the District’s boundaries are now on Year-Round Water Conservation Measures, with lawn watering limited to twice-per-week unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours. Local governments maintaining once-per-week watering by local ordinance include Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sarasota counties and the cities of Dunedin, Longboat Key, Tampa and Venice.

The District's Governing Board declared a Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order in November 2023 and voted to extend that order in February and again in June and August as the water resources and public water supplies continued to recover from below-normal rainfall during the 2023 summer rainy season (June-September).

However, the District’s 16-county region has received above-average rainfall during the 2024 summer rainy season, which includes rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby. Provisional data show the District also received up to 10-15 inches of rainfall in some areas due to Hurricane Milton in October. Lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands and aquifer levels have improved and Tampa Bay Water’s 15.5-billion-gallon C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir is nearly full.

The District appreciates the public’s cooperation during the Phase I Water Shortage to conserve water and urges residents to continue watching the weather and only watering on their assigned day(s) when needed during the dry season.

For additional information including watering schedules and local government links, visit the District’s website WaterMatters.org/Restrictions. For water conserving tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.

• Many rivers in the Tampa Bay region have been severely impacted by flooding from Hurricane Milton. The only flood records higher than what we are experiencing now were in the early 1930s.
• The region received above average rainfall in its rainy season of June through September, and its lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands and aquifer levels were already full before Hurricane Milton brought a tremendous amount of rain to the region.
• Preliminary data shows Hurricane Milton brought 10-15 inches of rainfall, with pockets of 18 inches in some areas. See graphic attached for preliminary data from Oct. 9 and 10.
• Water flows across land and through waterbodies as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast. When those bodies of water have already reached capacity, there’s nowhere for the water to go except to flood the land, which can continue for days and weeks following a storm event such as Hurricane Milton. 
• Places that haven't flooded in decades are now inundated with water.
• Some areas that didn't receive as much rainfall are still filling up as water continues to move across the land.  
• It will take time for the floodwaters in many of these areas to recede from the historic flooding our region is experiencing due to historic rainfall.

Hydrologic Conditions – Rainfall Overviews

National Weather Service Data (as of Oct. 17, 2024) 

• According to the US National Weather Service Tampa Bay Florida, much of the region is receiving well above normal rainfall this year. In fact, Tampa has already set a New Yearly Rainfall record at 77.41 inches through Oct. 15 breaking the old record of 76.57 inches set in 1957, which was for the entire calendar year. The rainfall total (30.66 inches) for January through Oct. 15, 2023, was 46.75 inches less than that timeframe for 2024.
• According to the US National Weather Service Tampa Bay Florida, their Tampa station has received nearly 33 inches of rain above the normal amount from Jan. 1 through Oct. 15 of this year.
• According to the US National Weather Service Tampa Bay Florida, their Lakeland Linder station has received more than 20 inches of rain above the normal amount from Jan. 1 through Oct. 15 of this year.
• According to the US National Weather Service Tampa Bay Florida, rainfall amounts are more than double the amounts for last year from Jan. 1 through Oct. 15, even triple at their Sarasota-Bradenton station.

District Regional Summer Rainfall by Inches 

• The District has a network of 171 total near-real time rain gauges that collect rainfall data. 
• According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the region has received almost 9 inches above average rainfall for June through October by the first half of October alone.
• The Tampa Bay Region (Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk) had about 5.5 inches above average rainfall in June through September before Hurricane Milton brought a tremendous amount of rain to the region. 
• The District’s Southern Region (Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota) had more than 6 inches above average rainfall in June through September before Hurricane Milton brought a tremendous amount of rain to the region. 
• The District’s Northern Region (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion and Sumter) had nearly 3 inches above average rainfall in June through September before Hurricane Milton brought a tremendous amount of rain to the region. 
• According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the region has received three times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data. 
• The Tampa Bay Region (Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk) received nearly four times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
• The District’s Southern Region (Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota) received more than two times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
• The District’s Northern Region (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion and Sumter) received more than 2.5 times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

District Regional October Data 

• According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the region has received three times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data. 
• The Tampa Bay Region (Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk) received nearly four times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
• The District’s Southern Region (Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota) received more than two times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
• The District’s Northern Region (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion and Sumter) received more than 2.5 times its monthly rainfall average for October in the first half of the month alone according to preliminary data from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

District Structures

• The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not have the ability to control water on all rivers and water bodies throughout its 16-county region. 
• It can control water flows in some areas through 84 structures it maintains and operates. These structures help provide flood protection, manage lake water levels and prevent salt water from flowing up freshwater streams and creeks.
• Before Hurricane Milton arrived, the District lowered water levels on all structures it operates to make room to accommodate as much water as possible.
• These water bodies were full due to above average rainfall received this rainy season of June through September, but the District did all it could to move out water where it has structures.
• Learn more about the structures in each county on our website.

Withlacoochee River/Green Swamp

• The Withlacoochee River is experiencing historical flooding.
• The Withlacoochee River begins in the Green Swamp, which received record rainfall. Some areas of the Green Swamp received close to 16 inches of rain.
• Above average rainfall this summer had already saturated soils and filled wetlands and swamps that are no longer able to store additional rainfall. 
• The Withlacoochee River naturally floods when its watershed is saturated and continues to receive high rainfall.
• The Green Swamp lies between Tampa and Orlando in 560,000 acres of Florida backcountry and includes portions of Polk, Lake, Sumter, Hernando and Pasco counties. 
• It is an area of ecological and hydrologic importance because of its ability to store surface water and slow floodwaters.
• In addition to the Withlacoochee River, the Hillsborough, Ocklawaha and Peace rivers all emerge from the Green Swamp. The Hillsborough River is also seeing record highs near Zephyrhills.

Despite reports that the District did not take measures to minimize flood risks for Lake Thonotosassa from Hurricane Milton, District structure operators lowered the lake to the maximum amount possible before the storm.

The District also conducted a federally funded debris removal project earlier this year on Flint Creek, which is natural creek where water is released from the lake north to the Hillsborough River. Trees and limbs from a previous storm were removed to help water flow and reduce flood risks.

It’s important to note, due to historic rainfall from Hurricane Milton, the Flint Creek water conservation structure on Lake Thonotosassa is completely under water and the water is flowing over the land around the structure. 

Under normal circumstances, water naturally flows from the south in Baker Canal and Baker Creek into Lake Thonotosassa. The Flint Creek water conservation structure helps maintain water levels on the 800-acre lake, which is Hillsborough County’s largest lake, and water can be released through the structure north to the Hillsborough River.