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Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Joshua Gamblin and reappointed John Mitten and Michelle Williamson to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Gamblin represents DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties, Mitten represents Hernando and Marion counties, and Williamson represents Hillsborough County. Gamblin, of Arcadia, is the ranch manager of Stolen Saddle Ranch. He earned his bachelor’s degree in natural resource management in wildlife from…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) acquires lands for the conservation and protection of the water and water-related resources, including lakes, rivers, wetlands and estuaries. These conservation lands serve as natural filters improving water quality, storing and retaining flood waters and helping recharge our aquifers. They also are home to many native plants and animals. The District is required to maintain a balance between public access,…

Every year about 2.5 million people visit public conservation lands obtained by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources.Balancing water needs.Protecting the environment. The District was created in 1961 by the Florida Legislature to protect the water resources of the region. The District includes roughly 10,000 square miles in all or part of 16 counties in west-central Florida that were home to a population…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members, District staff, members of the Withlapopka Civic AssociationWhat: The District and the association are celebrating the dedication of Withlapopka Community Park, which is located within the Flying Eagle Preserve. The park was built as a result of a partnership between the District and the civic association.When: Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m.Where: The park is located at 10357 East Gobbler Drive…

Governing Board member Judy Whitehead, far left, and Pasco County commissioners and stakeholders cut the ribbon for the opening of the new connector trail into Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey. Federal stimulus money helped fund the $578,000 project, which improves access to the park for pedestrians and bicyclists. The connector trail improves safety for park users, creating a scenic multiuse path off the park’s main entrance road from Starkey…

Former Governing Board Chair Todd Pressman, right, presents outgoing Governing Board Member Sallie Parks with a memento of her term of service on the Board. Parks was appointed to the Governing Board in 2006 and served as co-chair of the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board until her term expired in March. She also served as Governing Board treasurer.

To make sure that we, as well as future generations, can enjoy quality outdoor experiences, each one of us must share the responsibility of protecting our environment. Rule Changes Effective Oct. 1: The Florida Legislature updated the 40D-9.260 Camping rules during the 2021 legislative session. These rule changes governing camping reservations on District lands will go into effect starting Oct. 1, 2021. Leave No TraceThe District supports the …

John Parker (left), his wife Leslie, daughters Melissa and Jessica, and son-in-law Dylan Nugent gather near “Other Man Lake” in Quetico Provincial Park. Sadness spread across the District’s Brooksville Headquarters as coworkers learned about John Parker’s death in a car accident in May. “When you spend more than 20 years working with someone on projects that define your life, and when you share in a common goal, you have a bond, even if you didn’t hang out…

Construction is under way on a cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Dunedin to restore approximately 30 acres of wetlands within the city’s Hammock Park.Preliminary clearing is being done at select project areas within the park. Hammock Park is located north of downtown Dunedin and east of Alternate U.S. 19 and is one of the last remnants of forest that was typical of this coastal region before the area was…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and staff, Hernando County commissioners and Parks and Recreation Department staff, the Sensitive Lands CommitteeWhat: The District, County and the Sensitive Lands Committee are celebrating the rededication of Bayport Park.Bayport Park was originally developed in the 1950s with boat launch facilities and a fishing pier. The 1.5-acre historic park site, located…

Residents enjoy the park’s new boardwalk. Judy Whitehead, Governing Board member, tells how she has enjoyed going to the park all her life. The District and Hernando County celebrated the completion of the expansion and renovation of Bayport Park with a grand reopening ceremony in May. Park visitors are now able to enjoy additional parking, an upgraded boat ramp, shelters, pavilion, a scenic boardwalk along the coastline, nature trails and new…

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Elijah “Ed” Armstrong, III and John Mitten to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board. Armstrong represents Pinellas County and Mitten represents Hernando and Marion counties. Armstrong, of Dunedin, is an attorney with Hill Ward Henderson, P.A. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland and his juris doctor from Vanderbilt University. Armstrong is appointed to a four-year term…

To improve accuracy, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has upgraded the datum used to record water level elevation.  The District has upgraded the datum, or starting point, used to record water level elevation at its data collection sites. Water elevation is measured in feet above mean sea level. The datum was upgraded from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88…

Geohydrologic DataGeohydrologic data includes aquifer test data, geohydrologic profile data (water level, slug test, and water quality), stratigraphic data, lithologic logs, geophysical logs, and geohydrologic well site reports and summaries. The majority of geohydrologic data are collected through the Regional Observation and Monitor-well Program (ROMP).  More information on the ROMP can be found on the…

At the park dedication, Bo Rooks, Withlacoochee River Basin Board member, talked of how the partnership between the District and the civic association benefits everyone. Citrus County residents have a new park to visit thanks to a partnership between the District and the Withlapopka Civic Association. The Withlapopka Community Park, which is located within the District’s Flying Eagle Preserve in Floral City, was dedicated in April. During the dedication, Bo…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a management agreement that will allow the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department to develop a 70-acre park within the District’s Lake Panasoffkee project area.The agreement will allow the county to construct and maintain a park that will primarily be used for living history events and displays like a Native American village and pioneer settlement structures. There will…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will temporarily close trails during November and December in the Flatwoods Park and Wilderness Park areas of the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County.The "Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve)":/recreation/areas/lowerhillsborough.html is located east of I-75 and north of US 301, approximately three miles northeast…

Gov. Charlie Crist has recognized former Governing Board Member Sallie Parks as a Governor’s Point of Light. “Sallie’s generous efforts are making Pinellas County a better place to live, work and play,” said Gov. Crist. “The extent of her philanthropy and involvement in the community is inspiring. I truly appreciate her selfless commitment to the Sunshine State.” The Governor’s Points of Light Award recognizes Florida residents who…

Todd Pressman, Governing Board secretary, and Sallie Parks, Governing Board member, were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the Rotary Centennial Nature Center at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. The District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board helped support the project by contributing $35,000. Pressman and Parks are co-chair ex officios of the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. The District’s involvement in the project included the design and…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August and September on the District's "Flatwoods Park(Flatwoods Park)":/recreation/areas/lh-flatwoods.html in Hillsborough County.Some entrances or trails at Flatwoods Park may be temporarily closed on weekdays during August and September to facilitate the safe execution of prescribed burns. The entrance at 13630 Morris…