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The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum and guidance levels for Crooked Lake in Polk County.Two public workshops will be held Monday, Nov. 5, at Weber International University in the Rex Yentes Conference Center, 1201 North Scenic Highway, Babson Park, FL 33827. The workshops will be held at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.A minimum flow or level (MFL) is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County will celebrate the completion of the Fred & Idah Schultz Preserve with a dedication ceremony Wednesday, Nov 10th at 3 p.m.The preserve, which is located in southeastern Hillsborough County, is part of a 204-acre ecosystem restoration project known as the “Kitchen.” This area includes Port Redwing, Dug Creek and the Davis Tract. Restoration of the 60-acre Davis Tract was completed in 2002…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) staff, Sen. Mike Bennett, Rep. Michael Grant, local elected officials, Department of Environmental Protection staff, Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center staff, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program staffWhat: The District will host an event in the Charlotte Harbor watershed to celebrate 20 years since the Florida Legislature passed the Surface Water Improvement and Management…

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, six were awarded to groups in Polk County.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is…

h2. District to Answer Homeowner, Grower Questions on Freeze Management PlanThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will answer questions about new water use permitting rules for the Dover/Plant City area at a public open house 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at the Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City.The District will present its "frost/freeze management plan and associated…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored two Citrus County projects at the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the event.

• Jennifer Jabo and Marie Bienkowski, Forest Ridge Elementary School teachers, were recognized for their hands-on water conservation education program. This 2007–2008 Splash! mini-grant project helped students…

2007 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Surface Water Improvement and Management ActThe Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today passed a resolution announcing October 2007 “Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Month” to recognize 20 years of improving water quality and restoring habitats in 10 priority water bodies.In 1987, the Florida Legislature created the SWIM Act to protect, restoreand maintain Florida’s surface water bodies…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) staff, state and local elected officials from Pinellas, Manatee and Hillsborough counties, Department of Environmental Protection staff, former Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) staff, SWIM volunteers, SWIM cooperators and consultantsWhat: The District will host an event at Cockroach Bay to celebrate 20 years since the Florida Legislature passed the SWIM Act. The event…

Left: Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve — Hampton Tract entrance. Right: Hampton Tract is most popular for equestrian activities. Each issue of WaterMatters features a different District property ready for you to explore. These public lands are close to home and are free or very inexpensive to use. This issue features the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve’s Hampton Tract in northwestern Polk County. The 11,052-acre Hampton Tract is ideal for…

 Left to right: Fritz Musselmann, land resources director; Jerry Rice, Governing Board chair; Heidi McCree, past Governing Board chair; and David Moore, executive director, at a ceremony for the Little Everglades Ranch. Fritz Musselmann has played a major role in protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of land in his 31 years with the District, prompting a state senator to commend him for being a leader in land protection and management. In a letter…

Above: “Before” and “after” photos show Florida-friendly landscaping installed. Right: Angela Maraj, District regional builder/developer landscape education specialist, met with Stephen Bissonnette (left), Alafia River Basin Board secretary, and Scott Coulombe (right), Polk County Builders Association executive director, at a recent builder/developer workshop in Polk County. A change is taking place in the Florida homebuilding industry. As public and industry…

Top: Hange, his coworkers and family pose for a picture after participating in a volunteer planting at Newman Branch Creek. Hange is on the left. Others pictured include Brian Townsend, equipment operator; Randy Hinkle, field operations coordinator; Danielle Hange, Adam’s daughter; and Karen Hange, Adam’s wife. Bottom: Hange and his daughter working together to plant marsh grass. Adam Hange, a District senior heavy equipment operator, may work with machines that…

St. Petersburg Attorney Represents Pinellas Jeffrey M. Adams Jeffrey M. Adams was sworn into office at the District’s April Governing Board meeting. Adams, an attorney who lives in St. Petersburg, was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to represent Pinellas County on the District’s Governing Board. He will also serve as the co-chair of the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. An Illinois native, Adams graduated from Carl Sandburg…

Nestled just north of the Inverness city limits in Citrus County is 8,500 acres of pristine Florida wilderness with more than 30 miles of trails and four camping areas where you can hike, camp, bike, boat, fish — even bring your horses. Freshly restored to its historic natural flow patterns, Potts Preserve is bordered by the Hernando pool of the Tsala Apopka Lake system to the west and the Withlacoochee River to the east. Purchased by the District to protect the area’…

table(webalert). |*Who:*|Southwest Florida Water Management District, City of Gulfport and City of St. Petersburg. Additional funding provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.||*What:*|The Clam Bayou Restoration and Stormwater Treatment Project marks the final step in a multi-agency effort to restore 64 acres of estuarine and coastal habitats and create 20 acres of ponds to treat stormwater runoff…

h2. _Public Meeting Scheduled This Month_The "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.watermatters.org will begin monthly audible testing in July of an emergency siren located at a water control structure on Jack Creek in Lake Placid. The siren was installed as an additional safety measure in the unlikely event of an emergency that could result in the failure of the water control structure. The structure, located on Jack Creek at 1152 Peachtree Drive,…

Brian Townsend, District senior heavy equipment operator (left), and Stephanie Green, senior land management specialist, supported the Florida Division of Forestry at the Santa Fe fire. With less than 24 hours notice, the District was called upon by the Florida Division of Forestry (FDOF) to send staff and equipment to help fight two wildfires outside the District’s 16-county region. District Land Manager Kevin Love received the call from the FDOF on the…

Information on how residents can conserve water during the drought will be a focal point at this year’s Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival being held Jan. 19-20 at Al Lopez Park in Tampa.The Southwest Florida Water Management District will promote water conservation and Florida-friendly landscaping with its water-conserving restroom at the annual event.“Because the area is experiencing a severe drought, water conservation is even more crucial,” said Melissa…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday recognized Talmadge G. “Jerry” Rice for his dedication to public service as an outgoing member of the Governing Board and the Withlacoochee River Basin Board.Rice was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in March 2003. He served as the Governing Board chair from June 2006 until May 2007. Before serving as chair Rice was also the Board’s vice chair and treasurer. As a Governing Board member…

Visitors of the 13th Annual Marion County Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival will have the opportunity to experience water conservation in action when they stop in and use the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s water conservation restroom station.The festival is being held March 10 and 11 at the Marion County Extension Service Office in Ocala. The office is located at 2232 N.E. Jacksonville Rd.Community festivals allow the District to spread the word…