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*_Phase III Could Be Declared for Tampa Bay Area if Conditions Worsen_*The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ voted today to give the District's executive director the authority to issue an emergency order to increase water restrictions in the Tampa Bay area if conditions continue to worsen.Executive Director Blake Guillory is expected to declare a "Modified Phase III":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl…

Todd Pressman, vice chair; Neil Combee, chair; Jennifer Closshey, secretary; and Ron Oakley, treasurer, are serving a one-year term as the Governing Board’s officers. Three Governing Board members are moving into new leadership roles this year, while a fourth has been given his first opportunity to serve as an officer. C. A. “Neil” Combee was unanimously elected by his peers in May to serve as the District’s Governing Board chair. “It’s an absolute honor…

Your Questions Answered  July 2020 Every year, millions of people visit public conservation lands purchased by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources. Ellen Morgan Morrison, the District’s Operations and Land Management Assistant Bureau Chief explains more about District owned and managed lands and how the public can enjoy these properties. Q: Why does…

Four Governing Board members have the opportunity to lead the Board this year; three of whom will be taking on new roles. Judith C. “Judy” Whitehead was unanimously elected to serve as Governing Board chair. She previously served as Board vice chair and looks forward to her new role. “We have a wonderful cross section of representation and I am grateful that such intelligent, cooperative people have been chosen to serve on the Board. I’m gratified that…

 Still primarily natural, the property is a mixture of pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes and oak scrub forest. The western portions contain some of the oldest and largest trees in the area. The boundary of this property extends over three miles along the eastern floodplain of the Withlacoochee River.The property was acquired to protect and preserve pristine river corridor along the Withlacoochee River and adjoining floodplain system. Preservation of this property…

 A bay is a shallow body of salt water between a larger barrier island and the mainland. A barrier island is a long, narrow sandy island parallel to the shore. Palma Sola Bay is located between the barrier island of Anna Maria and the city of Bradenton.In the 1880s, a fishing village called “Cortez” was formed here and was bustling with fishermen. It's one of the last commercial fishing villages in Florida and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tarpon,…

Summer rains not enough for water resources to fully recoverThe Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted today to extend the current Water Shortage Order, which restricts lawn watering throughout the District to one-day-per-week, through Feb. 27, 2009.The Governing Board chose to extend the term of the water shortage order because the region is still impacted by the two-year drought and portions of the District did not receive enough rain…

Florida may soon have a new 5,000-acre state park in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve in Polk County.On April 24 the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will consider a joint acquisition of the property known as the Overstreet parcel with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Polk County.As the lead agency, District staff negotiated a price of approximately $53,700,000 for the 5,118-acre property. Under the agreement, Polk…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Citrus County. Residents living in the Chassahowitzka River watershed are invited to attend an open house Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Citrus County Government Building, located at 3600 W. Sovereign Path in Lecanto. District representatives will present preliminary data for flood prone areas,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a series of virtual meetings to discuss the District’s Land Management Plans. The purpose of these meetings is to inform the public about updates to these plans, to solicit input from stakeholders and to incorporate feedback from the public and stakeholders into the development of the new 10-year plans. The District adopts land management plans to ensure its public conservation lands are being…