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For decades, the District’s five advisory committees have played an important role in providing input on water management programs, projects and related issues. The diverse committees are made up of volunteers from different industries who serve as liaisons between the District and their organizations. At quarterly meetings, committee members are presented with items of interest from District staff, and other subject matter experts, that relate to their industries. They…

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s newly merged Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.2421 mill. The Hillsborough River Basin Board area covers Hillsborough County and portions of Pasco and Polk counties.The Hillsborough River and the Northwest Hillsborough Basin Boards were merged effective Jan. 1, 2009. For FY2009, the Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a millage rate…

Seven Hillsborough County projects that will reach up to 35,275 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 32 grants Districtwide. This is the 12th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is…

This summer the District coordinated restoration efforts on two tracts of District-owned land in Manatee County — the Little Manatee River Southfork Tract and the Edward W. Chance Reserve’s Gilley Creek Tract. Inmates Assist With Restoration Efforts at Gilley Creek Tract  Will VanGelder, District senior land manager, and Greg Taylor, District senior heavy equipment operator, supervised and assisted the inmates who worked on the restoration project. The…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard voted today to let the modified Phase II water shortage restrictions expire on June 30.Local governments will have the option of returning to the "District's twice-per-week, year-round water conservation measures(District Water Restrictions)":/conservation/restrictions/swfwmd.php starting July…

It’s official. District employees in Tampa now have a new home. While the subject of maintaining flood control structures caught the nation’s attention after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, structures have always been at the top of the District’s priorities. Flood protection is one of the District’s areas of responsibility. The District’s goal is to minimize the potential for damage from floods by protecting and restoring the natural water storage and…

Dave Orner, District facilities and construction project administrator, and Mark Leytze, District facilities and construction service manager, recently completed the LEED professional accreditation program. Two of the District’s General Services Department staff members, Mark Leytze and Dave Orner, recently became professionally accredited in Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). The LEED…

Judy Whitehead, Governing Board member and former chair, presents Patsy Symons, Tom Dabney and Heidi McCree with plaques in honor of their service on the Governing Board. The District’s Governing Board recognized two former Governing Board chairs and a former member for their dedication to public service. During the May meeting, the Governing Board honored Tom Dabney, Heidi McCree and Patsy Symons…

The District is hosting a public meeting 5 p.m. April 16 to provide information and get feedback on the Weeki Wachee Channel Restoration Project. The purpose of this multi-year project is to evaluate accumulated sediments in the river and identify where future removal of sediments will benefit the river’s ecosystem…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) has launched a contest on the social media site Instagram to raise awareness of springs throughout the District. Springs sites are a popular hot spot with both local residents and tourists during the summer months and especially holiday weekends. This summer, whether you are tubing, kayaking, swimming or just relaxing near one of the many springs in our District, you can share those…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored six outstanding Hillsborough County projects that focused on water resources education. A total of 27 projects were recognized during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Lake Mirror Complex in Lakeland.The Hillsborough County recipients are listed below. Projects in Hillsborough County received funding from one or more of the following District Basin Boards: Alafia River, Hillsborough…

Three reappointed members of the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board took their oaths of office during the Basin Board’s August meeting.Rufus Lazzell, Paul Samuels and Fred Trippensee were all reappointed by Governor Charlie Crist in June.Lazzell is from Punta Gorda. He is a retired US Army Brigadier General and former mayor of Punta Gorda. His term ends March 1, 2012.Trippensee is from Avon Park. He is the president of…

Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed several members to one of the seven Basin Boards of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Peace River Basin Board:

• Rufus Lazzell of Punta Gorda was reappointed. He is a retired US Army Brigadier General and former mayor of Punta Gorda. His term began June 22 and ends March 1, 2012.
• Fred Trippensee of Avon Park was reappointed. He is the president of Trippensee & Co. Inc. His term began June 22 and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during June, July and August on the District’s Chito Branch Reserve and the District’s Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area, which includes Flatwoods Park and the Oak Ridge and Washburn Equestrian areas.The Chito Branch Reserve is approximately 10 miles south of Plant City and borders Tampa Bay Water’s C.W. “Bill” Young Regional…

Environmentally conscience residents can learn about water conservation, Florida-friendly landscaping and composting at a Haines City Earth Day Celebration.The event, which is Saturday, April 11 from 10am-6pm, is being held at The Health Chic House, 12 N. 5th St. in Haines City.Workshops include Florida-friendly landscaping, composting, rain barrels, micro-irrigation, aquaponics, and other water saving tips.Additional workshops are available as well as several activities,…

Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District staffWhat: The District is installing a pump and pipes at the Morris Bridge Sink. The pump system will allow the District to test to see if it is feasible to pump water from the sink to augment the Hillsborough River. In addition, the water pumped from the sink will be made available to Tampa Bay Water as a water supply source.When: Friday, April 3, 10 a.m.Where: Morris Bridge Sink, just east of I-75 and the Tampa Bypass…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with Pinellas County Utilities to promote water conservation by providing toilet rebates of up to $100 for each high-volume toilet replaced with a low-flow model.High-volume toilets can use three gallons or more per flush, while low-flow toilets use up to 1.6 gallons per flush.The program targets residential and commercial customers of Pinellas County Utilities and the cities of Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Safety…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Kristen Russell-Milford, an Inverness Primary School teacher, for her students’ outstanding water resources education project. A total of 27 projects were recognized during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Lake Mirror Complex in Lakeland.Through Russell-Milford’s project, “Water is Part of the Solution,” Inverness Primary School students learned about Florida-…

Families coming out to see the Friday Extra Concert series this week will be treated to some extra entertainment before the main event.Stages Productions will perform “Aesop’s Aqua Adventures,” a live, interactive water resource and conservation theatre presentation, at 6:15 p.m. this Friday, April 29 at Lowry Park band shell. A concert featuring Molten Mike and Freight Train Annie will follow the performance.Updating several classic fables, “Aesop…

The first phase of one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects to benefit Charlotte Harbor is complete. District staff and other community leaders recently celebrated the dedication of the first phase. The Coral Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project is a multi-phased initiative involving 2,600 acres within the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. It was spearheaded by the District, in collaboration with Charlotte County and the Florida Department of Environmental…