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The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Sarasota recently approved an agreement to work together on a project that will extend reclaimed water service to Payne Park.The Payne Park Reuse Project consists of the construction of approximately 4,280 linear feet of reclaimed water transmission line to connect Payne Park with the city’s downtown loop reclaimed water system.Payne Park is being developed in phases on a former mobile home park site and…

What is a datum?A datum is a standard position or level (i.e., starting point) from which measurements are taken.What is the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29)?Originally called the Sea Level Datum of 1929, it was created for vertical control surveying in the United States. This datum was used to measure elevation above (altitude) and depression below (depth) mean sea level. However, as technology improved and the demand for greater accuracy increased,…

Please read these important details: 

• If requesting Splash! grant funds to support an on-site or virtual field trip, please select a program (not just location) from this list.
• Field trip locations must be one hour or less drive time from your school. Notice the counties listed in parenthesis next to the field trip programs. This indicates that most schools within that county are likely to meet the travel requirement.  
• Notice the grade…

Reclaimed water is highly treated wastewater and can be used for irrigation and other uses to extend our water supplies.Our RoleThe District works with local utilities and water users to maximize the beneficial use of reclaimed water as an alternative water supply. The use of reclaimed water helps meet current and future water supply needs in the region and is a vital component of the District’s…

The sun sparkled on the lakes at Colt Creek State Park as dozens of anglers sank their lines while hundreds of other visitors gathered to celebrate the park’s grand opening. “It really made me feel good when we came in this morning and saw people fishing and enjoying the park,” said Michael Bullock, Florida State Parks Service director. “That’s what state parks are all about.” The 5,118-acre park, located within the District’s Green Swamp Preserve in Polk…

 As you venture into the Springs Coast Watershed, you will notice the numerous plants and animals that have made this watershed their home, and the many parks and wildlife refuges that have been established to protect these unique areas. The Springs Coast is home to the second largest seagrass area in the continental United States. Some of these areas provide critical habitat for manatees during the winter months. But something is missing! If you are looking for the…

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will treat stormwater runoff in the Hillsborough River State Park.Located in Hillsborough County, the well-known park was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corp. The park opened in 1938 and was one of Florida’s first state parks.The goal of this multi-phased project is to treat stormwater runoff from several parking lots before…

Viewing the pine flatwoods, cypress ponds and wildlife-filled wetlands on horseback is one of the many great recreational experiences that can be enjoyed on District lands. A Time-Honored Tradition Long-distance rides, multiday rides and overnight trail camping are some of the unique equestrian opportunities offered. Lands that have enough trail miles for a half-day ride or longer are generally open for equestrian use. Equestrian parking areas have been designed to…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will temporarily close trails during November and December in the Flatwoods and Morris Bridge 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 of…

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County will improve water quality within tidal portions of Walls Springs Park and help restore small wetland areas.Located in western Palm Harbor, the well-known park experiences high use and is named after a small surficial spring in the park that discharges water into a small pond that flows into Boggy Bayou. The spring discharges about 3.5 million gallons of water per day during…

A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.The majority of people in this watershed live within 10 miles from the Gulf of America. This means that many of the activities that take place in the watershed where people live — from maintaining attractive landscapes to creating new roads and buildings — directly impact the gulf and every water body leading up to it. The Southern…

Wetland and upland areas in Manatee County's new Tom Bennett Park are being restored thanks to a partnership between the county and the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.Manatee County began construction of the 180-acre park, located just east of Bradenton, in May 2010, and the park is scheduled to open Nov. 12. The county turned former pasture and woodlands into a passive park, offering residents a tranquil place to…

*Public meeting scheduled on Dec. 3* The Southwest Florida Water Management District has scheduled a public meeting for Dec. 3 to discuss an upcoming restoration project at Sawgrass Lake Park.Sawgrass Lake Park is a 330-acre natural oasis in urban Pinellas County. Located just west of I-275 and south of Gandy Boulevard, the park is owned by the District and managed by Pinellas County. A lake and wetland system on the property provides natural water treatment to enhance the…

 With nearly 30 percent of the watershed being conservation lands, there are many opportunities for recreation throughout the Withlacoochee River watershed. Many people enjoy visiting public conservation lands obtained by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources. The lands are open to the public for family activities such as hiking, bicycling, hunting, horseback riding, fishing, camping, nature study, paddling…

h2. District to Brief the Public on Lake Isis, Tulane Stormwater Treatment ProjectsThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to an informational meeting on the Lake Isis and Lake Tulane stormwater treatment projects, which will improve water quality in the lakes. The meeting will be held from *6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18*, 2011 at the *City of Avon Park Council Chambers*, 123 East Pine Street in…

Left: The loader machine strips the branches off the tree, cuts it to length and loads it onto the semitrailer. Center: Trees being loaded onto the semitrailer. Right: Will VanGelder, District senior land management specialist, counts the rings on a harvested sand pine. Starkey restoration area in southwestern Pasco County. The sound of chainsaws and heavy equipment ushered in the beginning of a three-year restoration project at the District’s J.B…

Unlike the clear, cool waters of the Springs Coast Watershed's spring-fed rivers, the Pithlachascotee is a blackwater stream that is more than 20 miles long and originates in the Crews Lake area of Pasco County. Along with the Anclote River, the locally nicknamed "Cotee" River crosses the District's Starkey Wilderness Park and meanders through Pasco County. It…

District leaders recently attended the dedication of Water Works Park in the City of Tampa, which included the restoration of Ulele Springs. The 5-acre park is part of the city’s plan to revitalize the Riverwalk District and Tampa Heights. Ulele Springs is a unique natural spring systems within downtown Tampa. Initiated in 2012, the Ulele Springs Restoration project is a  cooperative funding partnership between the District, city and Ecosphere Restoration…

Communications & Board Services Bureau Chief As bureau chief of Communications & Board Services, Robyn Felix oversees the District’s communications and outreach to internal and external audiences, including the news media, strategic planning and support services to the District’s Executive Team and 13-member Governing Board. Felix has more than 12 years of experience at the District serving in a variety of non-management and management roles, including…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Pinellas Park recently signed an agreement to move forward on the next phase of a project to collect and treat stormwater runoff, which will improve water quality in Sawgrass Lake.This multi-year funded project has several phases, including the design, development of construction documents, construction permitting, land acquisition, bidding and contractor selection and the actual construction of two stormwater…