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The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect officers for the 2026-2027 term. Jack Bispham was elected chair 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 and again in August 2025.Ashley Bell Barnett was elected vice chair of the Governing Board. Bell Barnett represents…

What is the Weeki Wachee Carrying Capacity Study? The Weeki Wachee Carrying Capacity Study is an ecologically-based study of the Weeki Wachee River in Hernando County. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of recreational use on the natural systems of the river, as its growing popularity and increased visitor traffic have led to concerns about potential degradation of the river and its ecosystems. Who conducted the study? Third-party consultant Wood…

Your Questions AnsweredMarch 2019Q:  What are stormwater ponds and why do we need them?A:  A stormwater pond is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground (stormwater runoff) flows into your neighborhood stormwater pond through grates, pipes, shallow swales or ditches.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) created the Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water CHAMP℠) to reduce high water use in the hospitality industry. Water CHAMP has more than 350 participants throughout the 16-county District. Participants receive an environmental self-audit checklist, printed materials for a towel and linen reuse program, staff training materials, and publicity through Water CHAMP’s website and other promotional efforts.An…

The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) recently awarded the Southwest Florida and St. Johns River water management districts with the Technical Merit Award in the area of research for their work on minimum flows and levels (MFLs.) NALMS is a professional organization that produces an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal, Lake and Reservoir Management, as well as a quarterly magazine, LakeLine. The award was presented at the NALMS annual…

More than 500 volunteers who spend thousands of hours a year helping the Southwest Florida Water Management District maintain and improve public lands, as well as restore Tampa Bay, were honored this April during the District’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Day. The third annual celebration was held at the District’s Lake Panasoffkee property and featured an awards presentation, exhibits, live music, a picnic lunch and a nature hike. During the past year,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 25 at 10 a.m. at the Lake Eva Banquet Hall, located at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit Watermatters.org and 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 meeting materials…

 Jointly purchased by the District and Hillsborough County, this property is significant to the protection of the Little Manatee River, a major tributary of Tampa Bay, and is designated an Outstanding Florida Water. The river is the third largest in Hillsborough County and has a dominating influence on the surrounding area, including the intertidal wetlands of the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District today approved an important plan to coordinate efforts with two other water management districts to meet the growing water supply needs of a five-county region in Central Florida while also protecting the water and related natural resources.The Action Plan for the Central Florida Coordination Area is a cooperative effort among the Southwest Florida, South Florida and St. Johns River water management districts. The Coordination…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 28, at 9 a.m. at the Lake Eva Banquet Hall, located at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City.To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit "Watermatters.org":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately…

Your Questions Answered  July 2020 Every year, millions of people visit public conservation lands purchased by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources. Ellen Morgan Morrison, the District’s Operations and Land Management Assistant Bureau Chief explains more about District owned and managed lands and how the public can enjoy these properties. Q: Why does…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 24 at 10 a.m. at the Lake Eva Banquet Hall, located at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit WaterMatters.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Lake Eva Event Center, located at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit WaterMatters.org and click on the “Live Video Stream” link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins…

Homebuilders in the District will soon have an edge over their competitors through a new certification program that will bring “gold” to “green” homebuilding practices. The District’s Florida Water Star℠ Gold (FWSG) certification program, launching this January, will certify and recognize builders who incorporate water-saving efforts into new homes. The program is a points-based certification that addresses indoor, irrigation and landscape conservation components…

The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) recently awarded the Southwest Florida and St. Johns River water management districts with the Technical Merit Award in the area of research for their work on minimum flows and levels (MFLs.)The mission of NALMS is to forge partnerships among citizens, scientists and professionals to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs for today and tomorrow. NALMS produces an international, peer-reviewed scientific…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard voted today to extend modified Phase II water shortage restrictions through June 30, 2010, while lifting restrictions on pressure washing for 15 of its 16 counties. Marion County will continue to follow the "St. Johns River Water Management District's (St. Johns River Water Management District)":http://sjr.state.fl.us year-round water…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 9 a.m. at the Lake Eva Banquet Hall, 799 Johns Avenue, Haines City.The Governing Board holds some of its monthly meetings away from District headquarters to encourage participation from local citizens.To view the meeting agenda, visit "WaterMatters.org":http://www.WaterMatters.org and click on the "…

Governor Rick Scott reappointed John Henslick to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board. Henslick represents Manatee County. Henslick, 66, of Myakka City, is the owner and president of Henslick & Associates, LLC. He received his bachelor's degree from Jacksonville University and his master's degree from the University of Florida. Henslick is reappointed for a term beginning June 5, 2017, and ending March 1, 2021. Governing Board members are…

Tampa Electric Company (TECO) recently received the 2015 Edison Award, the electric power industry’s highest honor, for a cutting-edge reclaimed water project at its Polk County Power Station. District leaders joined other community leaders in Tampa Tuesday to celebrate the honor given by the Edison Electric Institute. The District contributed $49 million to the nearly $100 million project that uses reclaimed water from Lakeland, Mulberry and Polk County pumped to the…