RFP 22-3970 Legal Matters Software Public Meeting Notice #1

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will hold a Preliminary Evaluation Committee Meeting on Monday, October 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (local time) to evaluate responses to RFP 22-3970 Legal Matters Management Software Solution. The committee members will discuss their review of the responses and may select a firm to award, select firms to be shortlisted for further evaluation, or reject all responses. 

District Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Funds Water Resources Projects

On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board adopted a $224.8 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2024, including approximately $92.4 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants for water resources projects.

 

The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the District’s FY2024 budget include:

 

  • $65.2 million for development of alternative water supplies to ensure an adequate supply of water resources for all existing and future reasonable and beneficial uses.

 

  • $17.8 million for Watershed Management Program plans to support floodplain management decisions and initiatives, and projects to address potential and existing flooding problems.

 

  • $17.1 million for the management and improvement of critical flood control and water conservation structures, canals, culverts and levees.

 

  • $6.6 million for springs initiatives to improve water quality and clarity of springs and spring-fed rivers as well as restore their natural habitats.

 

Through cooperative funding partnerships, the District will leverage funds for a total regional investment of more than $175 million for sustainable alternative water supply development, water quality improvements and other water resource management projects. 

 

For the 12th year in a row, the District’s Governing Board has adopted a millage rate equal to or less than the rolled-back millage rate, for a cumulative rate reduction of 48%. The adopted FY2024 millage rate is 0.2043 mill, 9.6% lower than the current fiscal year which will help lessen the tax burden for Florida residents by saving taxpayers more than $13.9 million in property taxes. 

 

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 fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.

 

Subject
Governing Board

District to Hold Series of Hog Hunts in 2023-2024, Permits Will Be Available Online

District land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on District lands throughout the year to help reduce the feral hog population. 

Prospective hunters can purchase permits for Phase I hunts beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 3, on the District’s WaterMatters.org/HogHunts. Permits will be available on a first come, first serve basis until they are sold out. The cost is $75 for each permit. A complete list of hunts with locations and dates is also available online.

The District has a three-phased hunting system. The first two phases of hunts will have separate registration processes. The single top producer from each Phase 1 and Phase 2 hunt will be asked to participate in hog management activities for Phase 3.

All hunts will adhere to the hog-dog format. No still hunts will be available. The program works like this:

Phase 1 Hunts 

  • Registration will occur Oct. 3, 2023, at 9 a.m.
  • Includes five hunts that occur October through November 2023.
  • A $75 nonrefundable fee must be paid for each permit.
  • Permits are transferable.
  • The top producer on each Phase 1 hunt will be placed on the District’s ‘top producer’ list and will be awarded participation in our Phase 3 hunts, free of charge. We no longer award free admission into Phase 2 for our top two producers of the Phase 1 hunt.
  • Failure to follow regulations or poor behavior issues will disqualify registrants for incentive consideration at the sole discretion of District staff. Participants will be provided the opportunity to refute the decision. 

Phase 2 Hunts

  • Registration will occur Dec. 5, 2023, at 9 a.m.
  • Includes five hunts that occur January through February 2024.
  • A $75 nonrefundable fee must be paid for each permit.
  • Permits are transferable.
  • The top producer on each Phase 2 hunt will be placed on the District’s ‘top producer’ list and will be awarded participation in our Phase 3 hunts, free of charge. We no longer award free admission into Phase 2 for our top two producers of the Phase 1 hunt.
  • Failure to follow regulations or poor behavior issues will disqualify registrants for incentive consideration at the sole discretion of District staff. Participants will be provided the opportunity to refute the decision.

Phase 3 “As-Needed” Management Hunts 

  • Includes management hunts that can occur between March through October 2024.
  • Only those registrants that qualify as top producers following the Phase 1 and 2 hunts will be contacted to take part in management hunts during this period.
  • Management hunts offered to top producers will be free of charge and non-transferable.
  • Phase 1 and Phase 2 top producers, without rule violations, will be offered participation on a minimum of four management hunts occurring March through October 2024.

The District-managed properties will be temporarily closed to the public during the hog hunts. Only permitted hunters will be allowed access.

Feral hogs, which are not native to Florida, can cause damage with their broad snouts and can leave an area looking like a plowed field. They also prey on native wildlife, compete with native species for food and transmit diseases to other wildlife, livestock and humans. Additionally, hogs may facilitate the spread of exotic plant species by transporting seeds and/or providing germination sites through rooting.

This is the 15th consecutive year for the hunts. Last year’s hunts removed 523 hogs on nine different tracts of land throughout the District.

Subject
Nature & Land

Governing Board to Meet in Tampa (Note: 3 p.m. start time)

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.

 

 

Subject
Governing Board

District to Hold Virtual Workshop on Minimum Flows for Little Manatee River in Hillsborough County

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. 

Subject
Water Management

RFQu 23-4106 General Engineering Services Chapter H Public Meeting Notice #2

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will hold a Final Evaluation Committee Meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) for RFQu 23-4106 General Engineering and Professional Services, Chapter H – Watershed Management Program: Watershed Evaluation, Modeling, and Planning and Associated Peer Review.