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Your Questions Answered October 2022 Q: What is a water control structure? A: The primary purpose of the District’s water control structures is to manage the flow of water. Water control structures vary greatly in size and are used for multiple purposes. The District’s water control structures can be classified into three main categories: flood control, salinity barriers, and water conservation structures. These…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has activated the Tampa Bypass Canal System in response to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby to help protect the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa from river flooding.The Hillsborough River has reached the activation criteria and the District has closed Structure S-155 as of 6 p.m. tonight. The Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA) is now considered activated, and the empty reservoir will begin to fill with…

A completed road project in Auburndale will help reduce flooding and improve water quality thanks to a partnership between the District and the city. Auburndale city leaders recently dedicated the PK Avenue project, which made improvements to the roadway that reduced residential flooding and helped improve water quality. The project was co-operatively funded by the District, the Auburndale Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Auburndale. This $4.5…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March on the Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.The site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately eight miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, controlled burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days in November and December on the Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.The site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately eight miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, controlled burns are a part of routine maintenance of…

At its August 8 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) millage rate of 0.205 mill, which is .03 mill below the FY2006 rate of .235 mill. This reduction was based on the estimated increase in property values for FY2007.The budget for FY2007 is $8,329,310, which is an increase of $88,868 from the adopted FY2006 budget. The main reason for this budget increase is due to increased property…

Asks the public to help our water resources recoverThe Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted unanimously today to extend the current Water Shortage Order, which restricts lawn watering throughout the District to one-day-per-week, through Sept. 30.The Governing Board chose to extend the term of the water shortage order because impacts from the two-year drought continue despite the start of the annual rainy season. In…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Deep Creek Preserve":http://www2.swfwmd.state.fl.us/hoghunt/deepcreek.php will be closing early to the public for hog hunts Nov. 27-29.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All of the permits for these hunts have been sold.The Deep Creek Preserve is located at 10797 SW Peace River Street in Arcadia.The hunt is one of a series of hog hunts being held on District lands in an effort to…

The District preserves hundreds of miles of freshwater shoreline along many of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in the region.Fishing is allowed along the banks of District water bodies and by boat unless an area is posted closed to fishing. All fishing on District lands is subject to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission license requirements and regulations.How to contact…

Residents are invited to give input on the District’s Withlacoochee River Watershed Initiative during a series of public workshops. The initiative is a multi-year effort designed to better understand the dynamics of the river and watershed, identify how alterations have affected the system, and evaluate alternatives to better manage the water resources.  Nineteen river model scenarios have been identified through years of citizen input. These scenarios were…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be spot treating infestations of water hyacinth and water lettuce on the Braden River Aug. 3-7. The portion of the river that will be treated is located south of State Road 70 in Manatee County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Treated river…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be spot treating infestations of water hyacinth and water lettuce on the Braden River June 15-19. The portion of the river that will be treated is located south of State Road 70 in Manatee County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Treated river…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be spot treating infestations of water hyacinth and water lettuce on the Braden River Aug. 18-22. The portion of the river that will be treated is located south of State Road 70 in Manatee County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Treated river…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be spot treating infestations of water hyacinth and water lettuce on the Braden River July 28-31. The portion of the river that will be treated is located south of State Road 70 in Manatee County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Treated river…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be spot treating infestations of water hyacinth and water lettuce on the Braden River May 19-22. The portion of the river that will be treated is located south of State Road 70 in Manatee County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Treated river…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be spot treating infestations of water hyacinth and water lettuce on the Braden River April 14-17. The portion of the river that will be treated is located south of State Road 70 in Manatee County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Treated…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinths and water lettuce on portions of the Withlaccochee River June 13-16.Two sections of the river will be treated. The first site is located between County Road 581 to State Road 200 in Citrus, Marion and Sumter counties. The second site is located between County Road 48 and the Panasoffkkee Outlet River in Citrus and Sumter counties.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide…

This is a reminder that the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has prohibited campfires and other sources of open flames in all District campgrounds because of dry conditions and prolonged freeze. This is also in conjunction with numerous county burn bans.Lack of rainfall has made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile, increasing the potential for wildfires. Burning is prohibited on these District properties with camping…

A Hardee County project expected to reach up to 2,000 people was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/. The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues including conservation, protection and preservation. Funded by the "District's Basin Boards(Basin Boards)":/about/basinboards/, the program is intended to…