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The Florida House of Representatives and Senate each adopted a resolution last week declaring April 14 through April 21 Peace River Watershed Awareness Week.The Senate resolution was sponsored by Sen. J.D. Alexander. Sens. Michael Bennett, Lisa Carlton and Rhonda Storms co-sponsored the resolution.The House resolution was sponsored by Rep. Michael Grant. Reps. Frank Attkisson, Marty Bowen, Seth McKeel and Dennis Ross co-sponsored the resolution.“We’re pleased that our…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project that will reduce groundwater pumping and stormwater runoff at Parke Family Hydrofarm.The project involves building a half-acre tower hydroponic section. Tower hydroponics is a farming method that involves planting crops in containers and using drip irrigation to deliver water and nutrients to the center of the stacked containers so each plant’s roots are sufficiently saturated.…

Volunteers are a valuable resource for the District, which is why several groups and one individual who take part in the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program were recognized at the Governing Board’s August and September meetings. The Flatlanders, Southcreek Equestrians, Florida Trail Association, Withlapopka Community Volunteers, West Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Kyle DeVary were presented with the President’s Volunteer Service Award — a…

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents who live in the area represented by the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board. The area includes portions of Pasco, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus, Marion, and Levy counties.The advisory session will be held Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires when visiting District lands.The region is experiencing the effects of a three-year drought and October through May is Florida’s dry season. In addition, several freezes over the past month have made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile.The District is asking campers and other outdoor enthusiasts to take the following…

The "Central Florida Water Initiative's":http://cfwiwater.com/ (CFWI) Steering Committee has released two draft documents for public review and comment that will set a path forward for meeting water supply needs in central Florida for the next 20 years.At upcoming meetings, the public will have an opportunity to learn about and comment on the draft 2035 Water Resources Protection and Water Supply Strategies Plan (Solutions Plan) and minor changes to the draft 2015 Regional…

As the difficult task of cleaning up after the deadly Hurricane Charley continues, Southwest Florida Water Management District employees have mobilized to assist local governments clear roads and culverts, and transport and unload vital supplies.District staff and equipment have been dispatched to Polk, Charlotte, Hardee and Highlands counties.Polk CountyTwenty-nine District employees, dispatched from the Bartow Service Office Incident Command Center, are working with Polk…

 Stormwater SystemsA stormwater system is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. They are specifically designed to help prevent flooding and remove pollutants from the water, and they are required for most new development since the 1980s. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground is called stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants such as litter…

Four Citrus County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Citrus County to the strong partnership with Citrus County Schools. Gayle Nobles, the coordinator of special academic programs for Citrus County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to…

Governing Board member Wendy J. Griffin. From the lot they parked on to the prairie landscape they walked by, guests were surrounded by the messages of water conservation. Archbold Biological Station recently unveiled its new education exhibits and signs during a dedication ceremony. The facility, located in Highlands County, is a not-for-profit independent research institution in central Florida. The station is dedicated to long-term ecological research…

Left photo: David Moore, executive director, and Jerry Rice, Governing Board chair, chat before an employee meeting in Brooksville. Right photo: David Moore, executive director, answers a question from Malcolm Hudson, senior tradesworker, between employee meetings in Brooksville. In May, the District’s Governing Board recognized two staff members for their roles on a successful restoration project that received national recognition. Mark Brown, District senior…

Due to extremely dry conditions caused by the ongoing three-year drought, the Southwest Florida Water Management District has suspended controlled burns on District lands and is asking outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires.Dry weather is expected to continue through June. In addition to the lack of rain, several freezes over the past several months have made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile, increasing the potential…

Four Marion County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’s school…

_Media photo/video opportunity on Saturday, July 20, from 9:00-9:30 a.m._The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) is partnering with the Rotary Clubs of Spring Hill Central and Brooksville to remove Lyngbya algae from the waters of Weeki Wachee Springs. This coordinated effort will take place on Saturday, July 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, located at the intersection of State Road 50…

The Southwest Florida Management District and the City of St. Petersburg are working together on three projects that will improve drainage in four St. Petersburg neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are Palmetto Park, Norwood Heights, Ponce De Leon and Jungle Terrace.All of the projects are part of a 1994 stormwater management master plan developed by the city. During heavy rain the neighborhoods experience street flooding because the existing drainage systems are outdated and…

Three DeSoto County projects were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 49 grants Districtwide for a total of $171,444. This is the 10th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is proud to announce the recipients of the 2006 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 34 grants Districtwide for a total of $151,278. Of those 34 grants awarded, five were awarded to groups in Pinellas County.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking for the public’s input on developing a land management plan for the Conner Preserve in Pasco County.A workshop will be held at the Starkey Environmental Education Center on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. The environmental education center is located at the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve at 10500 Wilderness Park Road in New Port Richey.The Conner Preserve encompasses 2,980 acres in the eastern central…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org "Starkey Wilderness Preserve(Starkey Wilderness Preserve)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/starkeywilderness.html, which includes "J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park(J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/starkey-park.html and the "Serenova Tract(Serenova Tract)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas…

Residents encouraged to make a commitment to themselves to “Get Outside!” more oftenThis September the Southwest Florida Water Management District is launching its new “Get Outside!” campaign and revised Recreation Guide to promote the recreational opportunities available to the public on District-owned lands.The District and its partners have acquired more than 436,000 acres of conservation lands primarily through the state’s land acquisition…