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 The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve (LHWP) contains one of the largest premier contiguous recreation areas in Hillsborough County. Within the LHWP are park sites managed by the Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department: Dead River Park, Flatwoods Park,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday adopted proposed Fiscal Year 2007 (FY2007) millage rates. The District’s proposed millage rate remains the same as last year for the District’s General Fund. The proposed millage rates for seven District Basin Boards also remain the same. The Coastal Rivers Basin Board lowered its millage rate.The eight Basin Boards will meet in August to adopt their final FY2007 millage rates. The final millage rates…

Twenty Manatee County teachers and one private school teacher are among the educators who were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year 206 "Splash! grants(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants were awarded to educators across "the District's 16-county region":/data/map.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant…

District scientists and planners recently completed an updated Regional Water Supply Plan to assess projected water demands and identify potential sources of water to meet those demands through the year 2025. The Regional Water Supply Plan was first developed in 2001 and is periodically revised based on updated information such as the demand for water. The plan, which was created for a ten-county area from Pasco County to Charlotte County, also identifies the…

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…

 Alligators, turtles, water snakes, frogs, fish, hawks and wading birds are commonly seen on this property. Located on the Hillsborough River, the park is best known for its river fishing.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored six outstanding Polk 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 Polk County recipients are listed below. Portions of Polk County are represented by each of these District Basin Boards, Alafia River, Hillsborough River, and Peace River.Scott Nelson, a…

One of the District’s agricultural cooperative funding programs may have a positive impact on the health of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. A group of Australian sugar cane growers interested in improving water quality recently traveled to Sarasota to meet with staff to discuss the District’s Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Program. A sugar cane industry representative discovered the program while surfing the Internet. “I have to admit…

It is important to remember that you cannot tell very much about the quality of water simply by looking at it. Most pollutants are invisible to the naked eye. There are three major types of pollutants that affect water quality. Let’s take a look at each type. Dirt Rain can wash dirt into rivers and streams. The dirt can smother tiny organisms and kill fish eggs clinging to rocks on the riverbed. Dirt can also clog gills and suffocate fish. Too much…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will host a public workshop Wednesday, Feb. 27, to share information about changes to the current structure operational guidelines for the North Winter Haven Chain of Lakes in Polk County. The meeting will take place at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center’s Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Citrus Hall, located at 700 Experiment Station Road in Lake Alfred. Lakefront residents of Lakes Conine, Fannie, Haines…

Located near the mouth of Trout Creek, this property on the Hillsborough River is popular for fishing, canoeing and group picnics. It is a pleasant place to get away for a midday break or to take small children for a mini-adventure. Prior to District acquisition, development of a small housing subdivision had begun on the north side of the river. Concrete foundations and other artifacts remain for the astute observer. The lakes east of the entrance road are all man-…